15:55 Doncaster

Wednesday 19 February 2020

All14:1814:5015:2315:5516:3017:02

Betsafe Top Price All Runners Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 14.40s

Warriors Tale^t³¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| DWS

12/1

Returns after failing to complete in last year's Grand National (pulled up) but still capable of some useful form on his day. Operated on for his wind since last seen; 3lb above his last winning mark but not written off for a yard in good form.

Form: P/41P0P-

My Old Gold⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 144| CD

5/2

C&D winner in December benefitting from a return to this trip and showing a good attitude and confirming herself useful over fences. 3lb rise demands some further progress but that's not ruled out although this is a competitive heat.

Form: 1221-41

Jonniesofa⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 141| D

11/2

Lightly-raced for one of his age over fences (had injury problems) but still capable of showing some useful form in this sphere. Shaped better than the bare result when last seen having landed an Ayr handicap when returning from a long break; player.

Form: 912/146

Burtons Well^p1⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137

15/2

Made light of a 22-month absence when winning at Aintree in October still looking relatively unexposed. Attitude/temperament has got the better of him since running badly in two subsequent starts; headgear reached for to turn him round.

Form: F27/17P

Minellacelebration³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 136| D

12/1

Scored back-to-back handicap chase victories both after an absence at Uttoxeter and Aintree (last summer). Failed to fire since then though having had a second wind surgery prior to his last run which was way below-par.

Form: 1-1U607

I Just Know⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 135| CD

11/1

C&D winner who has shown some useful form in the past but has failed to complete in three of his last four outings (only completion over hurdles). Out of sorts when last seen in Wetherby's Rowland Meyrick; hard to make a case here.

Form: F/2F-0PP

War Sound^t,v1³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133

5/1

Produced a very mixed bag since winning an Aintree handicap in November 2018 taking one step forward and two back most of the time. Well below form last time when tried over this trip (finished fifth); others present a more persuasive case.

Form: 80-P755

Potters Legend^p⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 133| D

9/2

Made use of a good mark when winning at Haydock in the mud (March 2018) but was then off the course for 19-months. Seen three times on his return but was clearly below-par last time (reported to have bled); needs to bounce back; risky.

Form: 4F1/53P

Non-Runners

Missed Approach⁴³⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: W Greatrex J: G Sheehan

Antony³⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 10

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

My Old Gold (5/2), Potters Legend (9/2), Missed Approach (5/1), War Sound (5/1), Jonniesofa (11/2), Burtons Well (15/2), I Just Know (11/1), Minellacelebration (12/1), Warriors Tale (12/1), Antony (14/1)

As with most of these veterans’ chases the majority of the runners have plenty of back class with some looking well handicapped. My Old Gold from last year’s winning stable comes here on the back of a C&D victory and looks a danger to all off a 3lb higher mark she won’t be easy to beat. JONNIESOFA is given the vote after he shaped well in the Rowland Meyrick last time and this useful chaser will find this a much easier task. Missed Approach returns from a long absence but he’s still well handicapped if ready to go while the cheekpieces may spark a better performance from Burtons Well.