Staged at Doncaster racecourse the Sky Bet Chase (formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase) is a Listed Handicap run over 3m. The race can often throw up some Grand National clues, although no winner in the last 16 runnings has gone onto win the Aintree marathon.
In recent years, the Alan King, Paul Nicholls and Pipe stables have dominated the race with two wins a-piece since 2003, while in the last 16 runnings we’ve seen just two winning favourites – the 2021 Skybet Chase was won by the Nicky Richards-trained 12 year-old Takingrisks at a massive 40/1.
Here at RACING AHEAD we look back at recent winners (note, the 2010 and 2011 runnings were abandoned) and gives you the key stats to take into the 2022 renewal – this year being run on Saturday 29th January.
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Recent Sky Bet Chase Winners
2021 – TAKINGRISKS (40/1)
2020 – OK CORRAL (9/1)
2019 – GO CONQUER (8/1)
2018 – WAKANDA (8/1)
2017 – ZIGA BOY (10/1)
2016 – ZIGA BOY (8/1)
2015 – IF IN DOUBT (4/1 fav)
2014 – RAINBOW HUNTER (25/1)
2013 – Meeting Abandoned
2012 – CALGARY BAY (12/1)
2011 – Meeting Abandoned
2010 – Meeting Abandoned
2009 – BIG FELLA THANKS (9/2)
2008 – AN ACCORDION (11/2 fav)
2007 – SIMON (7/1)
2006 – A GLASS IN THYNE (16/1)
2005 – COLOURFUL LIFE (9/1)
2004 – TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN (7/1)
2003 – BARRYSCOURT LAD (9/2)
Sky Bet Chase Betting Trends
15/16 – Had won between 0-3 times over fences before
13/16 – Carried 11-2 or less
13/16 – Officially rated 130 or higher
13/16 – Had won over at least 3m (fences) before
12/16 – Aged 9 or younger
11/16 – Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
10/16 – Unplaced favourites
10/16 – Irish bred
9/16 – Carried 10-12 or less
9/16 – Had raced within the last 4 weeks
9/16 – Finished unplaced last time out
8/16 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
5/16 – Raced at Cheltenham last time out
3/16 – Won last time out
2/16 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/16 – Trained by the Pipe stable
2/16 – Winning favourites
2/16 – Trained by Alan King
The average winning SP in the last 16 runnings is 11/1
Note: The 2007 running was staged at Southwell
Other Stats:
4 of the last 16 winners of this race went onto contest the William Hill Trophy (now JLT Chase) at the Cheltenham Festival that season (1 winner)
6 of the last 16 winners went onto run in that season’s Grand National (no winners, all unplaced)
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: 17 runners here but with 13 of the last 16 winners carrying 11st 2lbs or less then this might be seen as a negative for the top five on the card – Nuts Well, Midnight Shadow, Fusil Raffles, who has been very popular in the build-up to this race, Cloudy Glen and Janika. Cap Du Nord, who was third in this 12 months ago, continues to drop down the handicap and you’d feel that he’d be dangerous soon – he’s rated 10lbs lower than last year. He’s only got 10st to carry too but was well down the field last time at Kempton and is now 9 runs without a win. KAPCORSE came back from a year out to win at Newbury last time out and could have more to offer for the Paul Nicholls yard. He is 8lbs higher here and you’d fear about the ‘bounce factor’ but has had another 2 months off to freshen up for this and ticks a lot of the main trends. The other JP McManus runner in the field – CANELO (e/w) – represents the Alan King yard, that have a good record in the race. He was fourth 12 months ago in the race too, but is now rated 11lbs lower and does seem to run well here at the track. He’s got a bit to prove – however, might be worth chancing in a race his trainer likes to target and one that he’s gone okay in before. The 11 year-old – Debece – is lightly-raced for his age and is now with the Dan Skelton yard – having previously been with Tim Vaughan. He’s another with a light weight (10-6) and returns from a wind op. But is also back from almost a year out and is not getting any younger at 11.
