Record Field For Sky Bet Chase

A maximum field of 22 will go to post for the £75,000 Listed Sky Bet Chase (3.00pm), the feature contest of a cracking seven-race card at Doncaster tomorrow, Saturday, January 26. The line-up is a record for the three-mile event (inaugurated in 1948) - the previous best was set in 1988 when Bob Tisdall saw off 20 rivals.

Scottish handler Peter Monteith is hopeful of a good performance from Standin Obligation in the Sky Bet Chase. Owned by David Johnson, the gelding joined Monteith at the start of the season having previously been trained by David Pipe. He is currently a 14/1 chance with Sky Bet and carries 10st 12lb. Wilson Renwick takes the place.

The Midlothian-based handler was pleased with the nine-year-old seasonal reappearance when he finished fourth in the three-mile Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on December 1 behind another of tomorrow's runners, Harmony Brig, and Monteith believes that Standin Obligation will have come on for that outing.

Montieth said: 'Standin Obligation is in very good form. He ran well on his first start for us at Newcastle and we were going to run him at Doncaster earlier in the month, but that meeting was unfortunately abandoned. He'll have come on for his Rehearsal Chase run and he is fitter now.

'I am at Doncaster at the moment and the ground looks great and good ground is Standin Obligation's forte. I'm hopeful of a good run, he is in good nick and I really like the horse.'

Monteith, bidding to become the first Scottish trainer to win the Sky Bet Chase since Alistair Whillans sent down Major Bell from Roxburghshire in 1999, reckons that Standin Obligation is worthy of his place in Saturday's race and hopes that the Yorkshire venue will suit the talented jumper.

He continued: 'Three miles around Doncaster will be right up his street and, although it looks a competitive race with some lovely horses declared to run, Standin Obligation deserves to have a crack - he is a good horse and is well.'

Gary Moore has high hopes for Dusky Warbler who steps into a handicap following some good performances in novice company, including a recent good second behind Dear Villez in a two miles and six furlong contest at Newbury on December 29. Moore's son Jamie will be in the saddle on Dusky Warbler, who carries 10st 6lb.

Sussex-based Moore commented: 'Dusky Warbler is in the order of his life, but he will need to be against some of those horses. He probably ran his best race for us last time out at Newbury and a galloping track like Doncaster will suit him well.'

The nine-year-old, who finished second behind the great Persian Punch in the 2003 Group Two Doncaster Cup on the Flat, has some top-quality form over hurdles, having finished third in the Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005.

Moore is hopeful that the current good to soft conditions will aid Dusky Warbler's chances in the Sky Bet Chase and that a step up in trip will not inconvenience his unexposed chaser, who is set to make only his fifth start over fences on Saturday.

The trainer continued: 'Dusky Warbler needs some cut in the ground, so softish going will be fine and I don't think the step up to three miles will be a problem.'

Jointly heading the weights for the three-mile contest are L'Ami, trained in France by Francois Doumen and the Paul Nicholls-trained Opera Mundi, the 5/1 market leader with Sky Bet. Nicholls will be aiming for his second Sky Bet Chase victory following the success of Colourful Life in 2005.

Saltburn handler Keith Reveley is doubly represented with Ungaro and Rambling Minster as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of his mother Mary who trained the 1991 heroine Dalkey Sound and the 1994 victor Carbisdale.

Henry Daly runs the useful Alderburn, a good third behind Vodka Bleu at Ascot last time out while the in-form David Pipe yard is represented by An Accordion, who ran better than his sixth place suggests at Cheltenham last time out when a bad blunder four fences from home ruined his chance.

Yardbird was an impressive winner at Kempton over the Christmas period and another contender going into the Sky Bet Chase on the back of a win is the Charlie Mann-trained Bagan, who has been the subject of good support in the ante-post market with Sky Bet this week.

The going at Doncaster is currently good to soft, soft in places.