16:20 Haydock

Wednesday 21 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Howdens Joinery Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 6m 19.46s

Spookydooky^t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

4/1

Without a win since 2015 and now 12lb lower than that last successful mark. Would certainly have claims here on his form of last year, but not yet back at that level after wind surgery. Bit to prove.

Form: 837P-58

Until Winning³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 121

11/2

Scored at Market Rasen (2m5½f, heavy) in January and ran well after a 5lb rise at Carlisle last time. Drops 1lb going into this and is entitled to plenty of respect.

Form: 467/512

Katenko³⁸²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119

13/2

It is now over five years since he last won and that losing run has not looked much like coming to an end in recent seasons. Returns here after another absence of a year or so and looks best watched.

Form: P0F/P86-

Solid Strike¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 114

13/2

Multiple point-to-point winner who improved for his rules debut when making the frame at Catterick (2m3f, soft) last time. Initial mark looks very handy if he is able to repeat that effort, so can't rule him out on handicap debut.

Form: 11/41-53

Top Cat Henry^p,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽⁵⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 113

25/1

Won a Musselburgh hunter chsse (2m4f, good) this time last year. Well held all starts since, though best effort in that time came at Kelso in January from 7lb higher. Inconsistent and needs to be at his best to win this.

Form: 10P-45P

Whiskey Chaser^v1⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112| CD

13/2

Showed he can still raise his game when scoring over C&D (heavy) first time out in December. Higher marks and longer trips have seen him well beaten since, but 3lb higher than that win today and in new headgear, a revival is not ruled out.

Form: 22-1566

Shockingtimes^b,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 111

7/1

Going to have to jump better than in three of his last four starts and showed that, when he does complete, he can be a force when a 1L runner-up at Leicester (2m6½f, soft) in January. Decent claims on that evidence, but needs to go clear.

Form: 1P/FR2U

Swing Hard³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 111| BF

17/2

Still 5lb higher than his last win at Wetherby (2m5½f, good to soft) a year ago. Has shown himself to be very competitive from slightly higher marks twice this term, stays this trip and not ruled out if bouncing back from latest run.

Form: 312-33P

Buffalo Ballet^p1⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 107

8/1

Maiden over fences and has not won any race since 2013. Was not far off doing so at Ayr last time, when 1L runner-up (3m, heavy) and not ruled out from same mark.

Form: U-24522

Forecasts

Spookydooky (4/1), Until Winning (11/2), Whiskey Chaser (13/2), Solid Strike (13/2), Katenko (13/2), Shockingtimes (7/1), Buffalo Ballet (8/1), Swing Hard (17/2), Top Cat Henry (25/1)

Solid Strike is an interesting newcomer to handicap chasing after a decent run last time. We don't know a huge amount about him, but if he can repeat that effort then he should be thereabouts. Shockingtimes carries a punters' health warning, but if he goes clear then he too looks well treated, but brace yourself if taking the plunge. Whiskey Chaser looks exposed though can't be ruled out and the same applies to Swing Hard, while Buffalo Ballet would not be winning out of turn but needs the cheek pieces to work. Preference, therefore, is for UNTIL WINNING, who comes into this in decent form, handles conditions and might have a race like this in him.