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| Gold cup candidates amongst strong Sky Bet Chase entry |
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Martin Keighley’s talented
Champion Court, a brave fourth in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on
Boxing Day, has been installed the early 8/1 ante-post favourite for the Sky
Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 26, a contest that could thisyear prove to
have some bearing on the
Cheltenham
Gold Cup betting some three weeks later.
Amongst the other 59
entries for the three-mile listed Doncaster contest are Wyck Hill and Bold Sir
Brian, both of whom have been in terrific form already this term, hold entries
for the showcase Cheltenham event, and are tempting punters looking at the
Paddy Power
racing specials. Wyck Hill continued his rapid rise through the
handicapping ranks with an impressive four-length defeat of subsequent Sandown
scorer Katenko, a performance that prompted his handler David Bridgwater to
hand him a speculative entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Wyck Hill
would need to win the Sky Bet Chase to have any chance of justifying a place in
the line-up for the blue riband contest so punters following that theory might
well be interested at his current ante-post odds of a top price 12/1 for the
feature Town Moor event, while the same comments apply to Katenko, his closest
pursuer at Ascot, offered at the same price and also featuring amongst the
entries for the Cheltenham championship race.
The Lucinda
Russell-trained Bold Sir Brian, is potentially one of the best horses to come
out of Scotland for some years. Winner of three of his four novice chases last
term, the gelded son of Brian Boru won readily on his season bow this time
around at Carlisle before impressing many seasoned observers with his 16-length
dismissal of the useful Pacha Du Polder in the listed Sporting bet Future Stars
Chase at Sandown Park in early December.
Off a current handicap mark of
155 Bold Sir Brian will be asked to concede 15lbs to such as Wyck Hill, but
still features to the fore in the newly formed market for the Sky bet Chase at
a best offer of 14/1.
Last year’s winner Calgary Bay (20/1) is now
trained by the colourful Mick Channon, (his original handler Henrietta Knight
having retired at the end of last season), and off a 4lb higher mark would
still not be without a chance if recapturing his best form. So far this
campaign though he has turned in two poor efforts so has something to
prove.
At current odds Bold Sir Brian makes most appeal for what
promises to be a fascinating and informative event.
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