16:20 Ascot

Sunday 25 March 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

grandnational.fans Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 13.80s

Theatre Guide^b,t²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 149| D

5/1

Good third in the Badger Ales at Wincanton on return in November and had some useful form in decent chases last season, best to forgive a poor show at Kempton last month.

Form: 383-36P

Houblon Des Obeaux^b1²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 144| CD

8/1

Dour mud loving stayer who contested the 2014 and '15 Cheltenham Gold Cups and has placed in some top handicaps. Rolled back the years to win at Sandown in November but pulled up a gruelling Eider Chase at Newcastle since. Blinkered now.

Form: 0-1663P

Fox Appeal^t,v³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 138| C| D

10/1

Twice a winner last season in open handicap company and has gone well on occasion this term (three runner-up finishes), but failed to complete in two most recent outings.

Form: 4252FP

No Duffer^p,t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 138| D

20/1

Better effort last month at Doncaster, but previous efforts this term haven't been encouraging. Finished 7¾L fifth of nine in this last year behind Loose Chips.

Form: P25-PP5

Loose Chips^b²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| CD

8/1

Typically bold in front when winning this last year, has shown enough this season to suggest he'll go well again aged 12, and quickly forgiven laboured run in Kempton Grade 3 latest.

Form: P34530

Sego Success^v³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 134| D

11/2

Travelled ominously well at Doncaster last time, with a few of these in behind, before finishing third behind a well-handicapped rival (Band Of Blood). Potentially on a decent mark to re-engage that rival and worth paying attention to.

Form: 5F-2733

Band Of Blood^b¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 133| D

3/1

Won his first two this season, including accounting for three of these at Doncaster last month, found wanting in Kim Muir at Cheltenham since and needs best stuff on these terms to confirm form from Town Moor.

Form: 854/110

Rathlin Rose^b¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| BF| D

7/2

Tends to reserve best stuff for Sandown, winning again over 3m there last month and since posting credible second. First run at this track, appeal is there on terms.

Form: 3P6P12

Non-Runners

Seeyouatmidnight¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: A M Thomson J: Rachel McDonald

Forecasts

Band Of Blood (3/1), Rathlin Rose (7/2), Seeyouatmidnight (9/2), Theatre Guide (5/1), Sego Success (11/2), Houblon Des Obeaux (8/1), Loose Chips (8/1), Fox Appeal (10/1), No Duffer (20/1)

Band Of Blood has been in useful form and holds some of these on Doncaster form, but he might feel the pinch having run at the Cheltenham Festival. SEGO SUCCESS was behind him on Town Moor, though he travelled like the best horse for a long way. Alan King's charge can atone for that now. Last year's winner Loose Chips is perfectly entitled to be in the mix again along with Theatre Guide and Rathlin Rose, who would prefer if this was at Sandown.