The Listed Sky Bet Handicap Chase (formerly the Great Yorkshire) is run over 3 miles for 5yos and upwards and takes place at Doncaster on Saturday 30th January. It is generally won by less exposed chasers who are proven over the 3 mile trip. The race was held at Southwell in 2006 & 2007 and was abandoned in 2010, 2011 & 2013.





Below we take a look at the trends for the past 10 runnings (2003-2015):



Age (Win-Place-Runners)
6yo: 0-1-8
7yo: 4-2-12
8yo: 2-3-30
9yo: 3-6-44
10yo: 1-7-27
11yo+: 0-3-22
horses aged 6 to 8 have a combined record of 6-6-50.
horses aged 9+ have a combined record of 4-16-92.
9 of 10 winners were aged 7 to 9, with Rainbow Hunter being only 10yo win since 2003.

Weight (Win-Place-Runners)


horses allotted 10-12 or more: 5-12-79
horses allotted 10-11 or less: 5-10-64
Not a whole lot to go on, though 6 of last 8 winners carried 10-9 to 11-2.
Top Weight: FF9P4P0P136 (1-2-11)
Since 2000 the record of horses carrying a 6lb penalty: 3161 (2-1-4)

Official Ratings


horses rated 137 or over: 2-9-54
horses rated 128 to 136: 6-4-51
horses rated 127 or below: 2-9-38
The last 8 winners have been rated 128 or higher (7 of 8 rated 128 to 139)

Recent/Past Form


9 of 10 winners finished in the first 3 on 1 of their last 2 completed starts
10 of 10 winners posted an RPR of 129+ in last 2 completed starts
7 of 10 winners had run in the past 40 days
10 of 10 winners had run 1 to 4 times since August
8 of 10 winners had previously run in 3 to 10 chases
7 of 10 winners had run in no more than 6 handicap chases (3 exceptions had run in 8, 10 & 17)
8 of 10 winners had won no more than 2 handicap chases (2 exceptions had won 3)
8 of 10 winners were 1st or 2nd season chasers
9 of 10 winners (last 9) had won over 3M+ (1 exception was a maiden who had been runner-up over 4M 1F)
10 of 10 winners had won at a left-handed track

Other Races


Ryman Stationery Handicap Chase winner (Aachen): 2 (0-1-1)
Betfred Masters Handicap Chase winner (Le Reve): 6 (0-0-1)
Weatherbys Hamilton Silver Buck Handicap Chase winner (Aachen): 6 (0-0-1)
Betdaq Serious About Sport Handicap Chase winner (Ziga Boy): P (0-0-1)
CHAPS Restaurant Barbados Novice Handicap Chase winner (Irish Cavalier): U (0-0-1)
2 of 10 winners (2 of last 3) ran in previous year's Grand National, finishing FU
4 of 10 winners (4 of last 7) contested a class 2 or higher chase at either Cheltenham November meeting or New Year meeting

Trainers


Paul Nicholls (2-1-8) has won 2 of the last 10 renewals of this and saddled a placed finisher with his latest runner in the race, in 2014.
Sue Smith (0-2-13) has saddled a couple of placed finishers in last 10 runnings.
Nigel Twiston-Davies (0-1-5) and Venetia Williams (0-1-9) have both trained 1 placed finisher in last 10 runnings.

Racing Tactics


7 of last 8 winners were held up in midfield or in rear

Price


8 of 10 winners were priced between 4/1 and 12/1
No very strong trend on prices, 7 of 10 winners were sent off 9/1 or shorter, though 2 of last 3 winners went off at 12/1 & 25/1.
Favourites (2-2-12) have won 2 of last 10 runnings, giving a level stakes profit of 1.50.



Summary:


Based on the trends from the past 10 years you are looking for a horse:


- Aged 7 to 9
- Finished in the first 2 in 1 or both of last 2 completed starts
- Posted an RPR of 129+ in last 2 completed chase starts
- Carrying 10-9 to 11-2
- Officially rated between 128 and 139
- Has previously run in 3 to 10 chases
- Run in no more than 6 handicap chases (won no more than 2)
- 1st or 2nd season chaser
- Won over at least 3 miles
- Won at a left-handed track
- Contested a class 2 or higher chase at Cheltenham November or New Year meeting
- Trained by Paul Nicholls.​