16:30 Ascot

Sunday 31 March 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Sky Sports Racing Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 5m 54.10s

Josses Hill^p⁷⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| C

8/1

Without a win since 2016, but there is still lead in his pencil, as he was showing when a faller at Kempton last time. Tough ask to defy topweight from this mark, but can't rule him out of the money.

Form: P4P-04F

Exitas⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 140| C

8/1

Trip and ground look ideal for a gelding who has largely been consistent until recently. Last three runs are a concern, but on the positive side, that has seen him drop to a handy mark. Possible he could now bounce back.

Form: 123U68

Bigbadjohn^t¹⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| CD

4/1

Won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown over C&D (soft) in 2017, but does go on any ground. 2lb higher than his best winning mark in handicap company here. Needs to pull out a bit more. Inconsistent these days, but a player if on a going day.

Form: 1UP-01P

Loose Chips^b²²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133| CD

11/1

Won this race from 5lb higher in 2017, on good. Won a leg of this at Sandown in November, when 3lb lower and placed from this mark next time. Not written off, but more needed than on his last three starts.

Form: 5135P5

Junction Fourteen^t,v³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133

7/1

Former Grade 2-winning novice chaser who is without a win for almost three years. Still capable, as he showed at Doncaster last time, when 2½L second from just 1lb lower. Each-way player.

Form: 046F-92

Regal Flow¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 132| D

25/1

Goes on any ground, although his best few runs have been over further (won last year's Midlands National) and on testing ground. Lurking on a dangerous mark, but may find things happen a bit too quickly for him.

Form: 6U053P

Uhlan Bute^p¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 131| D

14/1

Goes on most ground, though yet to win on anything faster than good to soft. Latest win at Plumpton in January came from 12lb lower, but has improved on that in defeat since. Well held last two runs, but has claims at this more realistic level.

Form: 313240

Rathlin Rose^b²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127| CD

4/1

Won this last year from 1lb lower (soft). Would ideally prefer a bit of cut, but has won on good. Was running well before unseating at Sandown on penultimate start, but little other encouragement this season.

Form: FP-40U7

Van Gogh Du Granit^b¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 126

16/1

All wins in France were on testing ground. Ran well on British debut at Taunton recently (3m4½f, soft), when just outrun for second close home. 1lb drop and drop in trip makes him of interest, though bit to prove on the ground.

Form: 211743

Horatio Hornblower^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: Nick Williams| OR: 117| D

9/2

It's three years since he proved up to winning from this mark. Has still shown he can produce some very solid efforts since last winning at Newbury 14-months ago, but this looks tough from 5lb 'wrong'.

Form: 23-53U3

Forecasts

Rathlin Rose (4/1), Bigbadjohn (4/1), Horatio Hornblower (9/2), Junction Fourteen (7/1), Josses Hill (8/1), Exitas (8/1), Loose Chips (11/1), Uhlan Bute (14/1), Van Gogh Du Granit (16/1), Regal Flow (25/1)

An interesting race, but all the field has some sort of question to answer and the suggestion is to side with EXITAS. Apart from recent form, he has plenty going for him, and a chance is taken that he can bounce back from this dangerous mark. Josses Hill and Junction Fourteen have strong place credentials, with Bigbadjohn a potential fly in the ointment, and Van Gogh Du Granit an interesting runner.