17:05 Cartmel

Monday 29 May 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Campbell Rowley Catering Grand Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 7m 35.50s

Whats Happening^p,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 135| D

7/2

Dual Cheltenham winner who showed up well on his comeback run this year at Exeter off a 2lb higher mark (has gone well fresh before). Given two tough tasks after that in better events than this and this capable sort may well appreciate the drop in class with the headgear back on.

Form: 311/200-

Buachaill Alainn^b,t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 132| D

9/2

Not an easy ride but took advantage of a drop in the weights to win at Sedgefield in October over a marathon trip (stays well) in the same headgear combination as today. Unsurprisingly hasn't been in the same form since and turned in a very laboured effort last time.

Form: 7/35158-

Silver Man^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: J Hughes| OR: 129

3/1

Generally like to make the running nut the losing run is starting to get close to two years now although the handicapper has finally dropped him to a mark below 130. He's still 8lb above his last winning mark though and even against similar types he still has work to do here.

Form: 3233P-6

Full Jack^p³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 121

15/2

Mixes hurdles with chasing but does always look more at home over fences and despite usually running over staying trips has been successful over shorter. Ran well to be fourth in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh over 4m in February just fading late on and his recent Ayr hurdles run will have put him spot on for this.

Form: 593444-

Valleyofmilan^p⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| C

10/1

From a yard in good form and with overall quite a consistent chase record (5/24) with his most recent win coming when making all at Ludlow in January over 3m. Not shown as much in three subsequent runs but edging back down to a winning mark again and might do better reverting to positive tactics.

Form: 5U1FP5-

Dream Flyer^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 107

7/1

Winner at Musselburgh in January over 3m on his first start for this yard making the running and finding plenty for pressure. Pulled-up three times in succession after that win but fared a little better last time out when completing at Hexham (looked hard work though) and no surprise to see the headgear (cheekpieces) go back on here in an attempt to make him travel better.

Form: 31PPP-5

Presented¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 107

14/1

The only horse in the race not wearing headgear although he's often run as though it was needed often looking very hard work although it did look as though he had turned over a new leaf for this yard at one stage. His attitude isn't the best though and overall he's one to treat with caution having not won for over a year now and generally running in snatches.

Form: 72PP5-9

Pena Dorada^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: A C Whillans| OR: 100| C

9/1

Course winner with his wins coming when he was in good form back in 2015 over shorter trips around here. He hasn't won since then though and despite arriving fit from running in point-to-points turned in a poor and laboured effort last time and faces a stiff task from out of the handicap here.

Form: 43424-4

Mr Robinson^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: L Egerton| OR: 59

100/1

Miles out of the handicap and not up to this class at all despite showing a little more than of late when he fifth (of six) at Hexham last time over 2m. Would be a shock winner of this.

Form: 4436P-5

Forecasts

Silver Man (3/1), Whats Happening (7/2), Buachaill Alainn (9/2), Dream Flyer (7/1), Full Jack (15/2), Pena Dorada (9/1), Valleyofmilan (10/1), Presented (14/1), Mr Robinson (100/1)

Hardly a stellar line-up but one that gives a few old stagers a chance for some glory with Silver Man at last getting some respite from the handicapper one of the main players. Whats Happening will appreciate this ease in class after runs at the Cheltenham Festival and Sandown and from an in-form yard and with headgear on he could make an impression here. FULL JACK looks to have been primed for this though with a hurdles run at Ayr and the 3m5f looks to be the perfect trip for him. If it turns into a slog Buuachaill Alainn would come into the equation but he can’t really be trusted and Valleyofmilan would be preferred especially if he reverts to more positive tactics.