15:00 Sandown

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:1512:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

32Red Veterans' Handicap Chase (Final of the 2017 Veterans' Chase Series)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 36.10s

Perfect Candidate^p⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Shoemark| T: F O'Brien| OR: 156| D

16/1

Inconsistent but happy when the mud is flying, and came back to form at his beloved Cheltenham last time with a game win over Vicente, kept right up to his work from some way out. 4lb rise makes it harder and never run here before either.

Form: 2P1P-01

Gas Line Boy^v²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: Ian Williams| OR: 148| D

11/2

Well backed to win the Grand Sefton at Aintree last time and didn't disappoint, despite being badly hampered at a key stage. All roads will lead to the National but this looks another good opportunity, with the ground no issue.

Form: 1445-F1

Third Intention^b,t⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145

14/1

Nicely handicapped on some of his best form and bounced back with a close second over C&D last time, rallying well. Might not want the ground that deep though, and on that, might find a few of these too good.

Form: 48F4-82

Double Ross³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 144| D

10/1

Often highly tried and pulled up in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time out. This is easier, but he's not really built on the promise of his Chepstow fourth first time up this year and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 153-4UP

Houblon Des Obeaux^p²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: N D Fehily| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143| CD

5/1

Classy sort at his peak, dug deep to win here (from Third Intention, who is 2lb better in here) but couldn't reproduce that when only sixth here last time. Consistency never been his strong point but ground fine, and capable if in the mood.

Form: 4840-16

No Duffer^t⁸³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| OR: 142| CD

25/1

Disappointed on reappearance at Chepstow but yard going well at the moment, and he is a C&D winner that has gone well after a short break before. Every chance of bouncing back, although may not want the ground too deep.

Form: 61P25-P

Fox Appeal^t,v³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140| D

12/1

Never been the most consistent but there's a couple of efforts this year that would put him in the firing line. However, yard struggling for any sort of form and he may prefer quicker ground anyway, so others make a bit more appeal.

Form: 274252

Loose Chips^b³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 140| CD

16/1

Loves it here, with two wins and four places from nine starts, but needs to refind some form after two laboured efforts this winter. However, yard just starting to find some form after a poor spell, so a better effort wouldn't totally surprise.

Form: 251-P34

Benbens²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| C| D

10/1

Another that seems to reserve some of his best form for Sandown, and made every yard of the running to hold off a fast-finishing Sugar Baron here last time out. Might be slightly happier on better ground but at his home venue, hard to rule out.

Form: P34-741

Buywise²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 138| D

12/1

Well known for his frequent placed efforts in big handicaps, especially at Cheltenham, and no doubting he's well handicapped these days. Possibly brought along with this in mind, and chances with a clear round (can make mistakes).

Form: 7P04-86

Pete The Feat^t²⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| CD

12/1

Old boy rolled back the years to win gamely here last time out, and only 3lb higher here. Has a good record at the track, with two wins and a place from six starts, and there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house if he were to take this.

Form: 3155-41

Cloudy Too⁴²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129| D

8/1

Still capable of the odd good effort on his favoured slow ground but those good efforts becoming more patchy, and was well beaten when last seen. Needs to find best form but well enough handicapped if he can. Risky, but not out of it.

Form: 543-603

Theatrical Star²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127| D

10/1

Placed on all four starts at the track, and despite running in snatches took an honourable third behind Pete The Feat here last time. This slower ground isn't necessarily in his favour, though, so needs more from out of the handicap.

Form: 48-6F33

Vino Griego³²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 124| CD

14/1

Go back to 2015 and he was beating a Grand National winner over this C&D, but injury problems kept him off until this winter. Much better last time out though, and that over a trip too short, so may come on for that and could go close.

Form: 07P1/54

Non-Runners

O'Faolains Boy²⁵²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 11

T: Miss R Curtis J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Houblon Des Obeaux (5/1), Gas Line Boy (11/2), Cloudy Too (8/1), Theatrical Star (10/1), Double Ross (10/1), Benbens (10/1), Buywise (12/1), Pete The Feat (12/1), Fox Appeal (12/1), Third Intention (14/1), Vino Griego (14/1), Loose Chips (16/1), Perfect Candidate (16/1), O'Faolains Boy (16/1), No Duffer (25/1)

For those that love their jump racing, these veteran chases are often the highlight of the day and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. And as with races of this ilk, go back far enough and plenty of these look nicely handicapped if they can perform on the day. Gas Line Boy holds an obvious chance after his Aintree victory, where he won with some authority, but at bigger prices NO DUFFER and Vino Griego are both worth consideration. With Tom George banging a few winners in, now might be the time to give No Duffer a try - the ground is a slight concern but not enough to warrant being the big price he is. Vino Griego is getting on now but there was just enough in his last effort to suggest he's still something to offer, and carries no weight here.