15:30 Sandown

Sunday 8 November 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Sandown Park Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 27.33s

Gold Present³³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| DWS

11/2

Won 2 valuable handicap chases at up to 3m in 2017. Good third over 23f here in April 2019 but pulled up over National fences at Aintree last December on sole run since. Had wind op. Goes well fresh.

Form: P39F2/9-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Smooth Stepper²⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 144

50/1

Better than ever at the age of 11 when snapping a near 2-year losing run in Grand National Trial over 3½m at Haydock (heavy) in February. This unlikely to test his stamina quite as much.

Form: 5PP/261-

Crosspark³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 143| D

11/2

Game winner of Eider in 2019 also second in Scottish National that year. Last season was disappointing but he showed he's back in much better form when narrowly denied on Chepstow reappearance.

Form: 12/P8P-2

Step Back^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: M Bradstock| OR: 142| C| D

4/1

Romped home in bet365 Gold Cup here in 2018 and third in that race in 2019. Showed he retains his ability on second run back from absence when scoring at Wincanton last month and only up 3 lb.

Form: 6P3/V-51

Sametegal^p1,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| BF

7/2

Respectable reappearance third in a similar event at Aintree last month. Has first-time cheekpieces added to his usual tongue tie. Player with useful claimer taking 5 lb off.

Form: 38/243-3

Singlefarmpayment³¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 139| BF| D

9/2

Has often flattered to deceive but did have some good efforts to his name in strong handicaps during his time with Tom George. Needs a betting check faced with a less competitive scenario on return.

Form: 208/447-

Jepeck²³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137| CD

10/1

Won 3 times last season, including the Final of this series over C&D in January. Not in quite same form on final 2 starts but he's capable when fresh and returns with his yard in form.

Form: 121144-

Brother Tedd³⁶⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134| C

14/1

Just a small-field maiden win to his name over fences and his narrow defeat last November (sole start last term) was the sixth time he's been runner-up over fences. Others stronger for win purposes.

Form: 21223/2-

Regal Flow²⁶¹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 127| D

50/1

Midland's National winner in 2018 who returned to form when narrowly denied by Jepeck over C&D in January. Not at best final 2 starts and doesn't have the best record fresh in recent years.

Form: 3F52P6-

Horatio Hornblower^p³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: Nick Williams| OR: 122| D

25/1

Won twice around 3m at the end of 2019. Yet to be asked for effort when unseating in Final of this series over C&D in January but he needs to bounce back from a below-par run on reappearance.

Form: P5/11U-0

Forecasts

Sametegal (7/2), Step Back (4/1), Singlefarmpayment (9/2), Crosspark (11/2), Gold Present (11/2), Jepeck (10/1), Brother Tedd (14/1), Horatio Hornblower (25/1), Smooth Stepper (50/1), Regal Flow (50/1)

This is clearly more competitive than the race STEP BACK won at Wincanton last month but his excellent track record still makes him of major interest. Paul Nicholls is in cracking form so Sametegal rates an obvious danger if cheekpieces have a positive effect. Jepeck won the Final of this series here last winter and is also feared with his yard going well.