Martin Keighley could be tempted to try his Grade One winner Annacotty back in handicap company in the £75,000 Listed Sky Bet Chase over three miles at Doncaster on January 25.
The son of Beneficial improved dramatically for the application of first-time blinkers in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase (formerly the Feltham) at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The handicapper reacted to that win by putting him up 14lb to a mark of 144, a rating that Keighley feels may underestimate his ability.
The Gloucestershire handler said: "Annacotty is a possible for the Sky Bet Chase as I think the flat, galloping track at Doncaster will really suit him, though he will have an entry at Cheltenham the same day.
"The handicapper would love me to run him in a handicap to see if he's got him right and it is tempting. A mark of 144 could be workable as he's still improving.
"He's not an ungenuine horse, he just needs the headgear to keep him focused and it was a good performance at Kempton."
Annacotty is 16/1 with the sponsors for the Sky Bet Chase, with stablemate Faultless Feelings, narrowly beaten in the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury on December 28, a 25/1 chance. However, they won't both be lining up.
"Faultless Feelings has the same owner as Annacotty and they wouldn't both run in the same race," Keighley explained. "He's improving and ran a cracking race at Newbury, though it's frustrating he went up 5lb for coming second."
The Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Unioniste (12/1 joint-favourite with Sky Bet) and exciting novice Sam Winner (12/1 joint-favourite) are also among the 50 high-class entries for the Sky Bet Chase.
Unioniste was last seen finishing eighth in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, having previously captured a Listed Chase at Aintree by seven lengths, while Sam Winner, a Grade Two winner over hurdles, landed a novices' chase at Cheltenham on December 12.
Nicholls' six-strong entry, the most of any trainer, also includes dual Listed chase scorer The Minack (16/1), the highly-regarded pair of Pacha Du Polder (25/1) and Mon Parrain (20/1) as well as course and distance winner Harry The Viking (20/1).
Night In Milan (16/1), trained by Keith Reveley, is also a course and distance victor following a spectacular performance at Town Moor on December 14. The eight-year-old made all the running under regular rider James Reveley to triumph by six lengths from De Boitron (20/1) and is now on course for the Sky Bet Chase.
Keith Reveley reported: "The Sky Bet Chase is the plan for Night In Milan. He won really well last time and deserved to win a nice handicap because he is a solid, consistent horse.
"He has been good form since and obviously likes the track at Doncaster, so fingers crossed. He has gone up the weights a little bit, but is still a young horse and there might be a little bit of improvement there.
"Things just did not pan out for him in the fixed brush hurdle at Haydock. He had a different jockey on and got a little bit buzzed up beforehand and then did too much in front. We will just draw a line through that and, if you ignore that, he has done nothing wrong.
"The only slight concern would be that he is unlikely to get an easy lead in a race like the Sky Bet. He is definitely happier out in front, bowling along with an easy lead, but he won't get that. We will just have to hope he settles in second or third and takes a lead."
Hadrian's Approach (14/1) headlines four entries in the prestigious handicap chase for the Lambourn stable of Nicky Henderson following a gutsy win over Super Duty (16/1) in a graduation chase at Newbury on December 18. The champion trainer could also be represented by Roberto Goldback (25/1), Ma Filleule (25/1) and Giorgio Quercus (20/1).
Donald McCain has entered Kruzhlinin (16/1), twice a winner at Kelso this term, Our Mick (20/1) and the unexposed Super Duty.
Grade One-winning hurdler Walkon (16/1) is one of three entries for Alan King, but has not been seen since unseating his rider in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree in October.
Grand National hero Auroras Encore (25/1) is one of three entries for Sue Smith, while other notables include Cheltenham Festival scorer Teaforthree (16/1), eye-catching Haydock winner Night Alliance (16/1) and Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Attaglance (20/1).
Michael Shinners of Sky Bet said: "We are delighted with the entries for this year's Sky Bet Chase and it will be fascinating to see what Paul Nicholls runs as he has six in the race. The Ditcheat trainer won the Sky Bet Chase in 2009 with Big Fella Thanks and, with such a strong hand, he could well hold the key to the race once again.
"At the moment, we are 12/1 the field, which highlights how competitive the contest looks at this early stage and it will be interesting to see what horses are confirmed by their trainers as definite runners for Doncaster."
Weights for the Sky Bet Chase will be revealed on Wednesday, January 15.
: 12/1 Unioniste, Sam Winner; 14/1 Hadrian's Approach, Court By Surprise; 16/1 The Minack, Walkon, Teaforthree, Super Duty, Annacotty, Kruzhlinin, Mart Lane, Quartz de Thaix, Vintage Star, Night In Milan, Muldoon's Picnic, The Druids Nephew, Night Alliance, Loch Ba; 20/1 Big Fella Thanks, Mon Parrain, De Boitron, Gullinbursti, Time For Rupert, Our Mick, Attaglance, Fruity O'Rooney, Giorgio Quercus, Noble Legend, Relax, Storm Survivor, Zaru, Harry The Viking, Baile Anrai; 25/1 Roberto Goldback, Pacha du Polder, Auroras Encore, Kumbeshwar, Ma Filleule, Niceonefrankie, Lost Glory, Midnight Appeal, The Rainbow Hunter, According To Trev, Faultless Feelings, Tullamore Dew, Major Malarkey; 33/1 Trustan Times, Native Gallery, Solix, Wiesentraum.
The Great Yorkshire Chase - always has been, always will be. Night In Milan did me a big favor last month so theres no way Im going to back off now. Nice bit of mind games there by Keith Reveley regarding running style. My concern would be soft ground. The better the ground, the more I fancy him. That said, he's my long term fancy for Ayr in the spring so regardless how he fares in 14 days time he is the one I'll be shouting home from my cherished spot at the top of the grandstand. 16-1 is fair enough at this stage and I'll have some of that.
The Great Yorkshire Chase - always has been, always will be.Night In Milan did me a big favor last month so theres no way Im going to back off now. Nice bit of mind games there by Keith Reveley regarding running style. My concern would be soft ground
Class 1, Listed Race, £75,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.15pm, Doncaster, Saturday, January 25, 2014. For five-year-olds and upwards, three miles. Penalties: after January 12, a winner of a chase 5lb. Entries closed January 7, entries revealed January 8 (50 entries), weights revealed January 15, five-day confirmation stage January 20, final declaration stage 10.00am, January 23.
Form Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
114-310 UNIONISTE (FR) 6-11-12 John Hales Paul Nicholls
13P/11F/- THE MINACK (IRE) 10-11-11 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
The Sky Bet ChaseClass 1, Listed Race, £75,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.15pm, Doncaster, Saturday, January 25, 2014. For five-year-olds and upwards, three miles. Penalties: after January 12, a winner of a chase 5lb. Entries closed January 7, entries reve
The Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Unioniste (11st 12lb, 14/1 with Sky Bet) and The Minack (11st 11lb, 20/1) head the weights for the £75,000 Listed Sky Bet Chase over three miles at Doncaster on Saturday, January 25.
Nicholls is also responsible for improving novice Sam Winner (11st 6lb), who is the 12/1 favourite with Sky Bet, course scorer Harry The Viking (10st 2lb, 20/1), who is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, French import Mon Parrain (11st 4lb, 25/1) and Pacha Du Polder (11st 7lb, 33/1).
Grade One-winning hurdler Walkon (11st 10lb, 20/1), one of three entries for Alan King, is also near the top of weights along with Grand National third Teaforthree (11st 10lb, 20/1) and Roberto Goldback (11st 9lb, 33/1).
Dr Richard Newland is likely to be represented by Mart Lane (11st 1lb, 16/1), who scored decisively by seven lengths over the course and distance on December 29. The nine-year-old had previously chased home Keith Reveley's Night In Milan (10st 11lb, 16/1) and De Boitron (11st 4lb, 33/1) in another course and distance event on December 14.
Newland's other entry is Night Alliance (10st 7lb, 16/1), who has won three of his last four starts, including a valuable contest at Haydock Park by 11 lengths on December 21.
Newland reported: "It will depend on the ground, but I would say Mart Lane is a probable runner in the Sky Bet Chase.
"He has come out of his win there very well and is in good order. It was a decent run last time and definitely an improved performance I thought.
"I put the blinkers on because I thought he was keeping a little bit back for himself and they seem to have proved that was the case.
"Night Alliance is also improving and will probably run in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday (January 18). He won there last time and it looks like the obvious place to go, but he is a bit out of the handicap."
Hadrian's Approach (11st 5lb, 14/1) headlines four Sky Bet Chase entries for champion trainer Nicky Henderson following a narrow victory over Super Duty (11st 4lb, 16/1) in a graduation chase at Newbury on December 18. The Lambourn handler could also run Roberto Goldback, Ma Filleule (11st 2lb, 25/1) and Giorgio Quercus (10st 8lb, 20/1).
Donald McCain's three entries are dual Kelso scorer Kruzhlinin (11st 3lb, 16/1), Super Duty and Our Mick (10st 13lb, 20/1) while Emma Lavelle could saddle the Nick Mustoe-owned pair of Gullinbursti (11st 3lb, 20/1) and Court By Surprise (10st 7lb, 16/1).
Other notables include Chepstow runner-up The Druids Nephew (10st 8lb, 16/1), Grade One-winning novice Annacotty (11st 3lb, 20/1) and Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Attaglance (10st 10lb, 20/1).
Michael Shinners, Racing PR Manager Sky Bet, said: "The Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster is always a hugely-competitive contest and this year is certainly no different with 48 of the 50 entries set to race from in the handicap proper.
"It will be fascinating to see what the big guns aim at the race and the picture should become clearer when the five-day confirmations are made on January 20.
"Sky Bet has a longstanding relationship with Doncaster and once again will sponsor races on both days of the Sky Bet Chase Meeting, Friday and Saturday, January 24 and 25."
The Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Unioniste (11st 12lb, 14/1 with Sky Bet) and The Minack (11st 11lb, 20/1) head the weights for the £75,000 Listed Sky Bet Chase over three miles at Doncaster on Saturday, January 25.Nicholls is also responsible for
Think Unioniste could be a Grade 1 horse running against handicappers here. He's rated 153 which means he's 2 below the max OR for the race. Harry Derham takes 5lbs off and he was onboard the last time this horse contested a handicap on this track last season. I can forgive him one run in the Lexus, he wasn't beaten that far in the end 11 lengths behind Bobs Worth and it was the highest class race he's faced, along with his first time travelling for overseas a race.
9/1 taken
Think Unioniste could be a Grade 1 horse running against handicappers here. He's rated 153 which means he's 2 below the max OR for the race. Harry Derham takes 5lbs off and he was onboard the last time this horse contested a handicap on this track la
Definitely the class in the race and doesnt look to be too many improvers lurking down the handicap! 3s on the day imo assumin he rocks up
Didnt think Harry The Viking would b runnin off this mark a year or 2 back but looked completely finished lto! Time to give up on him
Definitely the class in the race and doesnt look to be too many improvers lurking down the handicap! 3s on the day imo assumin he rocks upDidnt think Harry The Viking would b runnin off this mark a year or 2 back but looked completely finished lto! T
Yeah have to agree, on first glance you see a lot of exposed handicappers in the field. If Unioniste had run a slightly better race and was 4 lengths closer to Bobs Worth he wouldn't be eligible for this race. Could be some very good placing by Nicholls. He seems to be working very hard this season with the string he has and I've been very impressed with him, especially his placing of his horses.
I think Harry Topper looks a very big price @ 12/1 in the Argento, he'll love the ground. Triolo D'Alene would prefer it quicker, Rocky Creek is rather short and had a setback after Hennessy. Houblon is not at Ascot this time. Champion Court won't get home. Theatre Guide is interesting but he'd prefer it quicker.
I know you had Theatre Guide in Hennessy. You sticking with him this season?
Yeah have to agree, on first glance you see a lot of exposed handicappers in the field. If Unioniste had run a slightly better race and was 4 lengths closer to Bobs Worth he wouldn't be eligible for this race. Could be some very good placing by Nicho
Weather has slowed me down in the Argento - i think its given fairly dry for the week
If it was soft - Harry Topper is a corkin ew bet, if nt could nt av him - could get interested in Houblon Des Obeaux too at 6s
Nt too interested in TG tbh - prob short enough given this is another step up in class
Nt a race i av looked at too much for an AP point of view tho - average enough field
Weather has slowed me down in the Argento - i think its given fairly dry for the weekIf it was soft - Harry Topper is a corkin ew bet, if nt could nt av him - could get interested in Houblon Des Obeaux too at 6sNt too interested in TG tbh - prob shor
Yeah Harry Topper has to have it soft, he ran well below form on good ground last time and I just think he is very ground dependent so would like to back him here if he gets his conditions. He'll have to give weight away though for winning a class 1 race this season though.
Yeah Harry Topper has to have it soft, he ran well below form on good ground last time and I just think he is very ground dependent so would like to back him here if he gets his conditions. He'll have to give weight away though for winning a class 1
Triolo D'Alene also entered in a novice hurdle at Donny on Saturday - probably more likely to get his preferred ground there and they might think his mark is already high enough if they're thinking about the National.
Triolo D'Alene also entered in a novice hurdle at Donny on Saturday - probably more likely to get his preferred ground there and they might think his mark is already high enough if they're thinking about the National.
1 14-318 Unioniste28 6 11-12 Paul Nicholls71 Harry Derham5 153 143 163 2 55U-40 Roberto Goldback49 12 11-9 Nicky Henderson58 Nico de Boinville5 150 139 163 3 F51P-5 Auroras Encore30 12 11-5 Sue Smith38 Ryan Mania 146 155 161 4 2F-153 Gullinbursti38 t 8 11-3 Emma Lavelle22 Noel Fehily 144 141 161 5 2-4411 Kruzhlinin48 7 11-3 Donald McCain50 Henry Brooke 144 119 164 6 45/4-4 Time For Rupert35 10 11-2 Paul Webber Dominic Elsworth 143 — — 7 01631 Mart Lane27 b 9 11-1 Dr Richard Newland57 Tom O'Brien 142 143 159 8 52-515 Niceonefrankie57 8 10-13 Venetia Williams46 Liam Treadwell 140 147 165 9 1-2301 Night In Milan42 b 8 10-11 Keith Reveley James Reveley 138 143 158 10 4UP-26 The Rainbow Hunter63 10 10-9 Kim Bailey40 Nick Scholfield 136 112 159 11 66-4F2 The Druids Nephew49 p 7 10-8 Andy Turnell100 James Banks5 135 131 163 12 1133F According To Trev38 tv 8 10-6 Nigel Twiston-Davies38 Ryan Hatch7 133 137 162 13 F-8465 Solix35 v1 8 10-4 Ian Williams40 131 134 157 14 3-8403 Native Gallery14 t 9 10-4 Ben De Haan Leighton Aspell 131 118 158 15 8-3341 Baile Anrai29 b 10 10-0 Dan Skelton33 Harry Skelton 127 138 155
1 14-318 Unioniste28 6 11-12 Paul Nicholls71 Harry Derham5 153 143 1632 55U-40 Roberto Goldback49 12 11-9 Nicky Henderson58 Nico de Boinville5 150 139 1633 F51P-5 Auroras Encore30
I have had it in my head since last years festival that The Druid's Nephew is well handicapped. Its last chance saloon for him this weekend.
A saver on Unioniste, as off 148 he should be very competitive. Only 5lbs higher than winning the Tripleprint last season.
I have had it in my head since last years festival that The Druid's Nephew is well handicapped. Its last chance saloon for him this weekend.A saver on Unioniste, as off 148 he should be very competitive. Only 5lbs higher than winning the Tripleprint
No I lost Sintonian but he ran quite well. Probably needs a drop in distance. I think we will all get our money back on Unioniste when he wins a National one day. (Wishful thinking.)
No I lost Sintonian but he ran quite well. Probably needs a drop in distance. I think we will all get our money back on Unioniste when he wins a National one day. (Wishful thinking.)