13:50 Aintree

Sunday 29 October 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Play Betting At 188Bet Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 29.90s

Katkeau^h,t²⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 145| D

40/1

Useful horse on his day and a winner off a 2lb lower mark at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in April 2016. Lightly raced last season and sole completion came when 24L sixth at Exeter (soft) in February.

Form: P/1PFP6-

Gas Line Boy^v²⁰⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 142

6/1

Winner at Kelso over an extended 2m6f (good-to-soft) in December and ran well in highly competitive contests since. Making his first appearance since finishing fifth in the Grand National here in April.

Form: 431445-

The Romford Pele²²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 142| D

4/1

Pulled up on final three outings for Rebecca Curtis last year and handicap mark has fallen as a result. Has won off a higher mark over hurdles in the past and is one to note on debut for this trainer.

Form: 214PPP-

Shuil Royale^p,t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 141| CD

20/1

Successful ten times in the past including in this race last year. Disappointed since but is of interest off a mark 2lb lower than when successful here last year.

Form: 21P9-P7

Call Me Vic¹⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 138| C

20/1

In good form prior to finishing 27L sixth over 3m1f on good ground here back in May. Races off a mark 4lb higher than when successful over 2m4f here last December.

Form: 24F12-6

Benbens¹⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| CD

6/1

Finished third in the Scottish National at Ayr (4m, good) in April and beaten less than 1L when fourth in a valuable contest at Sandown (3m5f, good) later that month. One for the shortlist with a useful amateur rider in the saddle.

Form: 058/P34-

Cloudy Too¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 136| D

14/1

Couple of decent efforts since winning over hurdles at Uttoxeter (soft) last November. Well beaten on seasonal debut at the same course recently and more needed today.

Form: 12543-6

Masters Hill^p²¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135

11/1

Placed three times over fences earlier this year but disappointed at Ascot (3m, good) on final start of that campaign and well over two years since his last victory.

Form: 6F2327-

Potters Cross¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan Moore| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 133

9/1

Put a run of three pulled up's behind him when finishing 11L fifth at Chepstow (good) on his seasonal debut recently. Interesting to see how he fares today.

Form: 21PPP-5

No Planning¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 133| D

25/1

Runner-up over 3m at Uttoxeter (good) in early May but well beaten over hurdles on his return from a break recently. Races off a mark 5lb higher than when successful at Newcastle in April.

Form: 3416-26

Astracad¹⁶⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| C

12/1

Victorious six times including at Cheltenham over an extended 2m4f on good ground last November. held in the main since and pulled up at Haydock when last in action back in May.

Form: 19284-P

Theatrical Star¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

8/1

Finished runner-up in a valuable veterans contest at Sandown (soft) in January and fair efforts in defeat since including on seasonal debut at Chepstow (good) a fortnight ago. Worth a check in the market today.

Form: 32548-6

Alderbrook Lad¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 126

66/1

In decent form during the summer but pulled up on his penultimate outing and behind when refusing under an amateur rider at Carlisle (soft) earlier this month.

Form: 8-212PU

Bob Tucker^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 126

12/1

Some good efforts last year including when a head second at Ascot (3m, good) in April. Beaten 23L on his recent seasonal debut at Ludlow and more needed if he's to take this contest.

Form: 572P-49

Mister First¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: R Hennessy| OR: 125

33/1

Placed three times over hurdles in Ireland in the spring but well beaten subsequently including on seasonal debut over fences at Punchestown (good-to-yielding) recently. Top jockey booked to ride today.

Form: 2-33889

Baileys Concerto^p⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 118| C

16/1

Finished a close second over 3m at Perth (good-to-soft) on his penultimate outing and beaten 3L into third over the same C&D subsequently. Races from 1lb out of the handicap today.

Form: 24-4423

Forecasts

The Romford Pele (4/1), Benbens (6/1), Gas Line Boy (6/1), Theatrical Star (8/1), Potters Cross (9/1), Masters Hill (11/1), Bob Tucker (12/1), Astracad (12/1), Cloudy Too (14/1), Baileys Concerto (16/1), Call Me Vic (20/1), Shuil Royale (20/1), No Planning (25/1), Mister First (33/1), Katkeau (40/1), Alderbrook Lad (66/1)

BENBENS was lightly raced last season but is well handicapped on his form of 2015 and can make a winning seasonal debut by getting the better of Astracad in this veterans chase. The selection won this off a 2lb higher mark two years ago and has a useful amateur rider in the plate today while his stablemate has dropped to a useful mark also. Shuil Royale took this last year and off a 2lb lower mark today he is taken to claim third.