15:00 Sandown

Saturday 7 January 2017

All12:1012:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

32Red Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 26.8s

Shuil Royale^p,t⁷⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 149

12/1

Latest win and subsequent rise in the weights demands a career best to land this. Previous below par efforts over fences here and at Kempton raise further concerns regarding how he will handle the track. Trainer has made an excellent start to the New Year.

Form: 1P21P9-

Rocky Creek³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148

7/1

Took advantage of a career low mark and a change of tactics to regain the winning thread here a month ago. Drop in trip should not be a problem and he could still have more to offer. Stable are often amongst the winners at this fixture.

Form: 40P3-64

Gas Line Boy³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 145

7/1

Holds a few of these after romping home in another veterans race at Kelso. He may not be able to dominate from the front this time and his new handicap mark requires a career best. Stable are in good form.

Form: UP-2431

Aachen³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 145

16/1

Runner-up in this last year. Failed to complete in his last two starts at Aintree and should be a different proposition around here. Looks high enough in the weights and others are preferred.

Form: 09P/PPP-

Dynaste^b,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 145

5/1

No doubting he is very well handicapped on his best form including his last victory in the 2014 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Unfortunately his lack of enthusiasm last time. makes him hard to recommend. There is a change of headgear and sounds of encouragement from the stable who took this last year.

Form: 82749-6

Bennys Mist³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143

25/1

Well beaten in his last three starts. The step up in trip will help but so too would softer ground.

Form: P1320-8

Cloudy Too³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 140

8/1

Hard to see him turning the tables with Gas Line Boy despite an 11lb pull. Best form has been shown on softer ground nowadays so any rain will be a plus.

Form: 012543-

Loose Chips^b³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: G B Watters⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139

16/1

Often runs well around here and has twice won over C&D. Failed to stay last time and will be a different proposition here. Stable are going through a quiet spell.

Form: U21-P21

Astracad¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

25/1

In good form this season and a contender if staying this longer trip. Stable do not have a good record here with their chasers.

Form: 719284-

Aerial^p³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

8/1

Looks held by Gas Line Boy on running last time. He may shape better today going right-handed but others are still preferred.

Form: 1722/F-1

Wychwoods Brook³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: H Whittington| OR: 130

10/1

Another who looks held by Gas Line Boy but he is entitled to come on for the run. Capable on his day but would need plenty of rain to aid his cause.

Form: 1P/F31P-

Court By Surprise²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 128

20/1

Usually runs well around here and has forecast conditions to suit. Closely matched with Loose Chips on running here earlier in the season. Jockey has a good record for the stable.

Form: 2P7-8P2

Theatrical Star¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

7/1

Signs of a revival over hurdles on Boxing Day. Has solid claims off an attractive mark if that enthusiasm can be maintained.

Form: UF-3460

Baileys Concerto²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 125

66/1

Pulled up in bad ground last time and blinkers are removed. Forgive that run and he has a good outside chance.

Form: 52P024-

Cody Wyoming^p,t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C J Mann| OR: 125

40/1

Winner of a weak race at Lingfield and found wanting last time. Has never tried this trip before and looks up against it.

Form: 51-6441

Pete The Feat^t³²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 124

20/1

More than three years since his last win. Difficult to fancy on recent evidence with stable going through a quiet spell.

Form: 20-8315

Non-Runners

Saint Are³⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: T R George J: P J Brennan

Forgotten Gold⁴¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: T R George J: R Johnson

Ericht⁵⁷

Weight: 10-9| Age: 11

T: N J Henderson J: David Bass

Forecasts

Dynaste (5/1), Theatrical Star (7/1), Gas Line Boy (7/1), Rocky Creek (7/1), Cloudy Too (8/1), Aerial (8/1), Wychwoods Brook (10/1), Shuil Royale (12/1), Forgotten Gold (12/1), Saint Are (14/1), Loose Chips (16/1), Aachen (16/1), Pete The Feat (20/1), Court By Surprise (20/1), Ericht (20/1), Astracad (25/1), Bennys Mist (25/1), Cody Wyoming (40/1), Baileys Concerto (66/1)

ROCKY CREEK is taken to follow up last month's success at this venue. Admittedly that was over considerably further but a strong pace is assured here. He remains well treated on his best form and even more so after the third went on to win next time. Ericht is usually thereabouts but found lacking in a finish. It could be a similar story here. There were encouraging signs from Theatrical Star last time and he could add another valuable prize to his trainer's haul this season. 1. Rocky Creek 2. Ericht 3. Theatrical Star