Saturday’s big race takes place at Doncaster. The Sky Bet Chase is a listed handicap chase and notoriously competitive. The first eight in the market are separated by little more then five points. Seven Is My Number looks sure to go off favourite for the inform pair of Timmy Murphy and David Pipe. He has won five of his six races over fences but in doing so has gone up in the weights and also in class, this will be his biggest career test and I personally feel there is value to be had elsewhere.
The value bet in the race is with the ultra consistent Gone To Lunch. Jeremy Scott’s runner was a Grade One winner over hurdles and one of the best novice chasers last year. He clearly has a touch of class but seems to have found it tough at the very top level. He ran well in the Hennessey behind Denman, going down by thirteen lengths but pulling sixteen lengths clear of the sixth horse. I feel that is the best form on offer here.
Furthermore, the horse has been dropped three pounds since that run, allowing him to run off a lighter weight. This race should be run to suit. With twenty two runners they are sure to go quick round Doncaster’s galloping track. Gone To Lunch will need a good gallop to be seen at his best. My one concern though is his jockey. Tom Siddall has never ridden the horse before and is not exactly known as one of the top jockeys. Hopefully he can lay up close to the pace and kick on at the business end.
Another horse to note is Khachaturian, his form puts him just behind the favourite but runs from the bottom of the handicap, and he should also go well.
