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Webber Opts for SkyBet Chase with In-Form Laskari
20/01/09

Laskari (10/1 with sponsor SkyBet ) is primed to seek his second victory at Doncaster this season in the £85,000 SkyBet Chase (3.25pm) as trainer Paul Webber hopes to strike while the iron is hot. The 10-year-old is set to line up in the three-mile Listed contest on Saturday, January 24, having already triumphed at the course in December.

Webber’s charge was successful at Kempton in November prior to clinching the two mile, three furlong Doncaster Racecourse Sponsorship Club Handicap Chase, staged at Town Moor on soft ground, on December 13. Laskari stepped up to three miles in a handicap chase at Kempton’s Christmas meeting and ran with great credit to finish runner-up behind Fleet Street under top-weight of 11st 12lb.

Webber revealed this morning: “The plan is for Laskari to run in the SkyBet Chase so long as the ground doesn’t get too soft. He keeps coming forwards since his run at Kempton and seems in great form. He worked this morning - Dominic Elsworth schooled him - and we all couldn’t be more pleased with him. We felt he was in such good form that it was not advisable to wait for the Racing Post Chase because things could change by then.

“I’m very pleased with how things have gone for him this season. He won at Doncaster in December when the ground was just a bit softer than he would have liked and that is what frightens me - the worry is all the rain that is forecast for Thursday.

“I ride him quite a bit at home and I think he’ll stay as far as you want him to stay as long as the ground is alright.

“If he runs well at Doncaster then the Racing Post Chase would be on the agenda. Obviously, if things go very well in the SkyBet Chase he may actually handicap himself out of the Kempton race but we will just have to see after Doncaster.”

The Malcolm Jefferson-trained novice According To Pete and Big Fella Thanks, trained by Paul Nicholls, are the 8/1 joint-favourites for the SkyBet Chase which was won by An Accordion in 2008. Runner-up last year was the Keith Reveley-trained Ungaro (12/1), who will again take his chance. There were 41 entries made on Monday for this year’s SkyBet Chase, for which the safety limit is 22 runners.

The fantastic seven-race card could see the Nicky Henderson-trained Chomba Womba bid for back-to-back successes in the £50,000 Grade Two Bet & Watch All Horseracing At Skybet.com Mares’ Hurdle (2.15pm) over an extended two miles.

The John Quinn-trained John Smith’s Grand National hope Character Building could line up in the competitive “£100 Welcome Bonus At skyvegas.com” Handicap Hurdle (1.05pm) over an extended two miles and three furlongs, while the 21 entries for the £15,000 skyvegas.com Novices’ Chase (12.35pm) include the classy French Opera, the hat-trick seeking pair of Heathcote and Palomar, Rathmulen, Lightning Strike and Oh Crick.

The £30,000 Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3.25pm) over three miles and half a furlong has attracted some high-class novices with Cheltenham Festival hopes including the Alan King-trained Grade Two winner Junior, who was runner-up to Diamond Harry in the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle in December.

SkyBet Prices For The SkyBet Chase

Big Fella Thanks 8/1, According To Pete 8/1, Possol 9/1, Alexanderthegreat 9/1, Laskari 10/1, Fier Normand 12/1, Ungaro 12/1, Alderburn 14/1, Battlecry 14/1, Aimigayle 16/1, Montgermont 16/1, Native Coral 18/1, That's Rhythm 18/1, Ellerslie George 20/1, Flying Enterprise 20/1, Aleron 20/1, Noir Et Vert 20/1, Yardbird 20/1, Thunder Rock 20/1, Without A Doubt 20/1, Boychuk 20/1, Turko 22/1, Crozan 25/1, Hot Weld 25/1, Ice Tea 25/1, L'Aventure 25/1, Lacdoudal 25/1, Lysander 25/1, Tom Sayers 25/1, Irish Raptor 28/1, The Dark Lord 28/1, Always Waining 28/1, Billyvoddan 28/1, My Immortal 33/1, Verasi 33/1, You're Special 33/1, Morgan Be 40/1, Raining Horse 50/1, Rare Society 50/1, Silly Wupple 50/1, Sweet Diversion 66/1

Each Way terms: 1/4 of odds for 1st 4 places