Doncaster Racecourse

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Montgermont Comeback Continues in the SkyBet Chase
21/01/09

The Caroline Bailey-trained Montgermont (16/1 with sponsor SkyBet ) will attempt to prove that the high-class ability he exhibited in his novice days remains intact when he lines up for the £85,000 Listed SkyBet Chase (3.25pm) at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Northamptonshire trainer revealed today: “If we get the rain that is forecast, Montgermont will run in the SkyBet Chase on Saturday. The owners have Laskari (10/1) entered as well and while that one wants good ground, mine wants soft. I think it will be soft so we are planning to go.

“He is fine after his antics at Haydock at the weekend - that was very frustrating. He was almost too fresh - he was full of himself. He tanked into the first, threw himself at it and just didn’t get high enough.”

Montgermont pleased connections on his return from a two-year absence on November 29, when staying on to take third behind Classic Fiddle in a Newbury handicap chase. December brought a close fourth in the two and a half-mile Northumberland Chase at Newcastle, before that frustrating blunder last Saturday saw hopes of victory in Haydock’s Grade Two Peter Marsh Chase disappear at the first fence.

The nine-year-old heads to the SkyBet Chase with high-class form in the bag, having defeated the likes of The Listener, Bob Bob Bobbin and Idle Talk when winning the Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase as a novice in 2006 for his then trainer Lavinia Taylor. Montgermont was switched to the care of Charles Egerton to finish seventh behind State Of Play in the Hennessy at Newbury in November of that year before injuries temporarily curtailed his promise.

Bailey continued: “He came to us in the autumn and before Haydock he had pleased us with two nice runs after a long time off the track. He had a slight leg injury and a few back problems - he was just generally not quite right. He was put back together and then sent to me to get him going again.

“He was a classy novice and I think he still has the ability. He’s not a natural jumper, it doesn’t come easy to him because he’s very tall and narrow. We have done as much as we can with him at home so now we’ll keep our eye on the weather and hope for the best.”

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 9/1 shot Possol is one of three possible runners for trainer Henry Daly, the others being Billyvoddan (28/1) and Alderburn (14/1).

LATEST GOING UPDATE
Doncaster Clerk of the Course, David Williams, is looking forward to Saturday’s exciting card and revealed today: “The going is still GOOD TO SOFT following one millimetre of rainfall last night. We are still forecast a substantial band of rain coming through Thursday night and continuing into the early hours of Friday.”

SkyBet Prices For The SkyBet Chase

According To Pete 8/1
Big Fella Thanks 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
Noir Et Vert 20/1
Aleron 20/1
Thunder Rock 20/1
Without A Doubt 20/1
Yardbird 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
Verasi 25/1
Irish Raptor 28/1
The Dark Lord 28/1
Always Waining 28/1
Billyvoddan 28/1
My Immortal 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