Logico Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 0.50s

No Planning¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130| CD

5/2

2lb higher than when successful over C&D in April (beat Special Catch by ¾L) so should be thereabouts off the front end assuming his fencing stands up to the task. Much less competitive than the Aintree veterans race he contested latest.

Form: 416-268

Jet Master^h,t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 126| CD

5/1

This race was always likely to be firmly inked into his early season agenda. He was an honest ¾L winner of the race in 2016 (beat Rosquero) and well campaigned on decent ground thereafter. 2m hurdle winner at Perth in September, he should go close.

Form: 743-516

Alderbrook Lad¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 123| D

20/1

Recovered from a nasty gallops experience at home to keep good form at Cartmel over the summer months (2m5f winner in July). However, his recent form figures of PU, Ref, PU do not make for pleasant reading.

Form: 212PUP

Rear Admiral^t²⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 120| D

6/1

Finished 3¾L third to Jet Master in this contest in 2016, and is better off at the weights today. However, he needs to be produced on the bridle as he often fails to deliver the goods. 2m5f Fakenham winner in February.

Form: 25/3414-

Baileys Concerto^p¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 117| D

9/2

Useful 2m4f handicap chaser in his pomp (five time winner over fences), and will find this good ground very much to his liking. Well handicapped these days, and his early season efforts over 3m+ will have him spot on for this race.

Form: 4-44239

Dica⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 112| D

4/1

Enjoyed a productive summer up the Tyne Valley at Hexham, and has carried that form into autumn, winning by 4L at Sedgefield early last month (2m4f good). A flagship horse for his trainer, but 7lb higher now in a better race.

Form: 223211

Muwalla^t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 99

9/1

Another who travels well but doesn't always produce the goods. Out of the weights, and although he'll appreciate the good ground, looks set to struggle away from his beloved Sedgefield. Respectable effort latest when a 2L runner up at Musselburgh.

Form: 355572

Forecasts

No Planning (5/2), Dica (4/1), Baileys Concerto (9/2), Jet Master (5/1), Rear Admiral (6/1), Muwalla (9/1), Alderbrook Lad (20/1)

Top marks to the racecourse executive for providing an early season opportunity for these veteran handicap chasers. Nick Alexander will have targeted this contest with his 2016 winner Jet Master, and he is again fancied to have the measure of the often quirky Rear Admiral. No Planning heads the weights, and was a C&D winner on well worn good ground in April, but he can give a fence a hefty nudge from time to time, so preference is for the well treated BAILEYS CONCERTO. He'll relish this sound racing surface, and has a rider at the very top of his game in the saddle (four timer at Ayr on Wednesday), and a few early season races over 3m should have put him spot on for today's 2m4f contest.