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Sky Bet Chase 2008 |
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Nicky Richards Hopes for Harmony in Sky Bet Chase
21/01/08
The Listed £75,000 Sky Bet Chase on Saturday 26th January which returns to Doncaster following the Yorkshire track’s stunning £34-million redevelopment, has gained a bumper entry of 48.
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The three-mile contest, run at Southwell for the last two years, usually
attracts some of the season’s leading chasers and this year’s
renewal looks set to be another top quality affair.
Nicky Richards hopes that Harmony Brig will line up in Saturday’s
feature race at Doncaster and the Cumbrian-based handler is confident that
the nine-year-old gelding will be suited to a return to three miles.
Richards said: “Harmony Brig has been entered in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on Saturday and he will hopefully run. He’s come out of his last run at Cheltenham fine, and he probably needs a good three miles anyway.”
Harmony Brig, currently a 20/1 chance for Saturday’s contest with sponsors Sky Bet, was an impressive winner of the three-mile Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on December 1, before finishing down the field over half a mile shorter at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Richards has few concerns over the ground and reckons that Harmony Brig
has the class to run a big race in the Sky Bet Chase on the gelding’s
first start at Doncaster.
He continued: “I wouldn’t want to risk him on heavy ground,
but he’s won three of his four starts on soft ground and should line
up on Saturday if the ground is not bottomless.
“He’s a very decent performer on his day, having won the Rehearsal Chase and having been placed in Grade Two company over hurdles. He shouldn’t have any problem with Doncaster as he needs to go left-handed, and I hope to see a good run on Saturday.”
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The Paul Nicholls-trained Opera Mundi, a game winner of a three-mile handicap
chase at Haydock on his latest start in November, heads the sponsor’s
market for the Sky Bet Chase and the six-year-old is rated a 5/1 chance
to give the champion trainer his second victory in te race following Colourful
Life’s success in 2005.
The Ditcheat-based handler could also be represented by Grade One novice
chase winner New Little Bric (14/1 with Sky Bet), while Charlie Mann has
engaged Bagan (10/1), who was impressive on his first start over three
miles when scoring in novice company at Newbury in December.
Other notable entries include David Pipe’s unexposed chaser An Accordion (12/1), Keith Reveley’s Borders National hero Rambling Minster (14/1) and the Alan King-trained Yardbird (12/1), who was an impressive winner of a three mile handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas.
Sponsor’s prices for the SkyBet Chase:
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Opera Mundi 5/1, Bagan 10/1, An Accordian 12/1, Yardbird 12/1, Alderburn 14/1, New Little Bric 14/1, Rambling Minster 14/1, Standin Obligation 14/1, Ungaro 14/1, Brooklyn Brownie 16/1, Dream Alliance 16/1, Model Son 16/1, Maljimar 18/1, Butler's Cabin 20/1, Caipiroska 20/1, Dusky Warbler 20/1, Harmony Brig 20/1, Idle Talk 20/1, Jaunty Times 20/1, Juveigneur 20/1, L'Ami 20/1, Limited Edition 20/1, Aztec Warrior 20/1, Bob Hall 20/1, Kelami 22/1, Kerry Lads 22/1, Ma Yahab 22/1, Ardaghey 22/1, Burntoakboy 25/1, Captain Corelli 25/1, Henry's Pride 25/1, Lidjo De Rouge 25/1, Our Armageddon 25/1, Royal Rosa 25/1, Thistlecraft 25/1, Aleron 28/1, Herecomestanley 28/1, Mister McGoldrick 28/1, Hard Act To Follow 33/1, Alright Now M'Lad 33/1, Himalayan Trail 33/1, The Reverend 33/1, Brooklyn Breeze 33/1, Lampion Du Bost 40/1, Undeniable 40/1, Korelo 66/1, Red Scally, 66/1, Arumun 100/1
BAGAN HEADING TO SKY BET CHASE
23/01/08
Trainer Charlie Mann today confirmed that Bagan is on course for Saturday’s £75,000 Listed Sky Bet Chase (3.00pm), run over three miles at Doncaster, for which the sponsors make him the 10/1 second favourite behind Opera Mundi (5/1). Bagan opened at 12/1 but has been clipped into 10/1 following support in the ante-post market.
A useful performer on the Flat for Henry Cecil and a three-time winner
over hurdles, the nine-year-old made the best possible start to his chasing
career when getting off the mark on his debut in a beginners chase at Uttoxeter
in May. He subsequently won two more chases, most recently when coming
home a comfortable four-length winner of the First Great Western Novices’ Handicap
Chase at Newbury in December.
The Upper Lambourn handler commented: “Bagan definitely runs in
the Sky Bet Chase on Saturday. He’s in very good form. I’m
very pleased with him and he’s got a good weight (10st 7lb). I think
he’ll be tough to beat.
“He’s come out of his last run super. The Sky Bet Chase was always the long-term target and we’ve been keeping him for this race. I couldn’t be more pleased with the horse and I don’t have any worries. He’s won on soft ground last time so he should handle the ground fine.”
Regarding the news that half a share of Bagan is for sale, Mann added: “He’d be worth having half a share in and he might just get the money back on Saturday.”
Other horses for money in the ante-post market with Sky Bet include the
Alan King-trained Yardbird, an impressive winner at Kempton over Christmas
who is into 12/1 (from 14/1) while outsider Our Armageddon, trained by
Richard Guest, is now 25/1 (from 33/1).
A total of 48 entries were received for the Sky Bet Chase at the five-day
stage, headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Opera Mundi, the 5/1 market
leader with Sky Bet.
Other horses on course for Saturday’s contest include the Nicky Richards-trained Harmony Brig, successful in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle earlier this season, while French handler Francois Doumen is set to be represented by L’Ami and Kelami.
