DONCASTER 15:15

Non Runners: GUITAR PETE (IRE), YORKHILL (IRE). Fences: 18. Race Distance Adjustment: +9 yds

Time: 6m 13s Closing Sectional: (3.00f): 46.40s (100.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 102.7%

The fact that a 12-y-o was successful might suggest that this renewal of the Sky Bet was less competitive than usual, but that's almost certainly not the right conclusion to draw, the next 3 that chased him home all better than ever this season and, in all probability, all doing as well as they could on the day; an honest pace from the outset coupled with testing conditions made for a proper test at the trip.

TAKINGRISKS (IRE) produced a career best after 9 weeks off and has now landed the Scottish National, the Rehearsal and the Skybet (at aggregate odds of 85/1) since he won a veterans chase at Carlisle less than 2 years ago, a remarkable haul of valuable handicap successes for one of his age; in touch, ridden after thirteenth, challenged after 4 out, stayed on to lead final 50 yds; he'll presumably now be saved for another crack at the Scottish National.

AYE RIGHT (IRE) is a cracking staying chaser in the old-fashioned mould and he deserves to win a big handicap, this his third placing of the season in a high-profile prize, the fact that his rider dropped the whip soon after 3 out probably making not a jot of difference given Aye Right has long since proved one of the doughtiest battlers there is; pressed leader, jumped well, went with enthusiasm, led briefly tenth, led again before 5 out, stayed on, edged out final 50 yds; it won't be a surprise if he's given a break with the Scottish National as his end-of-season target, worth reiterating that the race should suit him down to the ground, especially as he's not dependant on the mud by any means.

CAP DU NORD (FR) fully confirmed the improvement he'd shown behind Royale Pagaille at Kempton, though it wasn't quite enough after a further 6 lb rise in the weights; held up, not fluent thirteenth, crept closer from next, in contention 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on; there's no reason why he won't continue to be really interesting in good handicaps, as reliable as they come and versatile with regards trip and ground, too.

CANELO (IRE) remains in good form, another 6 lb rise in the weights seemingly making life tougher for him; patiently ridden, pushed along after thirteenth, one paced straight; he's a smart chaser these days but has a mark that reflects such.

ONE FOR THE TEAM disappointed on handicap debut, especially as the greater emphasis on stamina threatened to suit; in touch, ridden after 5 out, left behind entering straight; he's had very little racing on testing ground so far and maybe time will tell he's not ideally suited by such conditions, certainly the type to give the benefit of the doubt to when next seen, hard to believe he won't prove up to making his presence felt in handicaps from this sort of mark another day.

THE BUTCHER SAID (IRE) after 9 weeks off, shaped much better than the distance beaten suggests, looking set to be involved in the finish early in the straight, but his repsonse to pressure was underwhelming; dropped out, travelled better than most, crept closer from thirteenth, in contention approaching 4 out, shaken up soon after, held when mistake next.

MISTER MALARKY followed a good run with a below-par one, as he's done for the last few seasons; forced pace, not fluent tenth, headed briefly, headed again before 5 out, soon done with.

BOLDMERE can have this run ignored, his race effectively ended with a terrible early error, though he was also reported to have bled from the nose; mid-field, chance-ending mistake first, tailed off sixth, pulled up after next.

GIVE ME A COPPER (IRE) wasn't in the same form as on his reappearance here 7 weeks earlier, though the winner that day did nothing for the form in this, either; in touch, untidy fifth, ridden after eleventh, beaten thirteenth.

MUSICAL SLAVE (IRE) still has unfinished business in handicap chases but his jumping continues to hold him back; held up, slow second, not especially fluent thereafter but yet to be fully asked for his effort when unseated rider 5 out, too far from home to be suggesting how he'd have fared.

ROCKY'S TREASURE (IRE) had gone back up the weights for winning a much lesser handicap here 7 weeks earlier and, like the runner-up from that race, found this a much tougher assignment; chased leaders, labouring halfway, tailed off before thirteenth.