13:22 Aintree

Sunday 25 October 2020

All12:4713:2213:5714:3215:0715:4216:17

Every Race Live On Racing TV Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:22 | Winning time: 6m 31.9s

Vintage Clouds²²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 149| CD

12/1

Back to best when wide-margin winner of Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock but hit hard by the handicapper and struggled on final 2 starts.

Form: 5P3158-

Vieux Lion Rouge^p,t²⁹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 142| C

12/1

Former Becher Chase winner here. Not at best at Sandown when last seen in January but has a good record fresh (won off this mark on last season's reappearance). Respected.

Form: P0/1997-

Activial²²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 142

16/1

Smart chaser wat his best. Last season was a bit of a write-off but his mark has come down as a result.

Form: 60/3U6P-

Sametegal^t²⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

7/2

Returned from a lengthy absence to post 3 creditable in-frame efforts in handicaps last term. Reappears with his stable in very good form. Player.

Form: 338/243-

Minellacelebration¹¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 140| CD

15/2

Better than ever when getting up in the dying strides to land Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on reappearance in July. Only 1 lb higher here and another prominent showing is likely.

Form: U6072-1

Joe Farrell^p1¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 140

8/1

Won 2018 Scottish National. Performed with credit in defeat last term and he ought to be sharper with his recent Chepstow reappearance behind him. Has cheekpieces added.

Form: PP/373-6

Ballydine^p,t³²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137

12/1

Absent since at early fall in Becher here last December but has shown he can be very competitive off this mark in the past and he returns with his yard going pretty well.

Form: 1523P/F-

Theatre Guide^b,t¹⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

18/1

Last win came nearly 4 years ago but showed there's still plenty of life in his legs when third in the Final of this series at Sandown in January. Should be sharper with reappearance behind him.

Form: 2/6353-7

Perfect Candidate²⁴⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| D

16/1

Veteran chaser who held form well in long-distance events last season, winning at Haydock and finishing runner-up next 2 starts. Yard continues in good form.

Form: 5/44122-

One Style²²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| D

17/2

Made it 5 wins in a row when seeing off 6 rivals at Ludlow (3m) in February. Weakening when falling 3 out in Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March and he'll need career best to resume winning ways.

Form: 11/111F-

Don Poli²²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| CD

5/1

Top-notch chaser in his prime for Willie Mullins/Gordon Elliott but little show of late, including for 2 different yards. Market should reveal expectations on first start for Dan Skelton.

Form: 30/P110-

Pobbles Bay²³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130

14/1

Drew a blank last term but does reappear off the same mark as when last successful at Ffos Las in spring 2019. Still a bit of a surprise to see him take this, though.

Form: 1/24863-

Non-Runners

Brother Tedd³⁴⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 11

T: P Hobbs & J White J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Sametegal (7/2), Don Poli (5/1), Minellacelebration (15/2), Joe Farrell (8/1), One Style (17/2), Brother Tedd (10/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (12/1), Vintage Clouds (12/1), Ballydine (12/1), Pobbles Bay (14/1), Perfect Candidate (16/1), Activial (16/1), Theatre Guide (18/1)

Paul Nicholls has his team in cracking form this autumn so SAMETEGAL, who posted solid efforts in defeat last season, gets the nod to make a winning return to action. C&D scorer Minellacelebration is only 1 lb higher that when bagging a nice prize at Uttoxeter in July and heads the dangers along with Vieux Lion Rouge, who has a good record fresh. Ballydine is also on the shortlist.