15:00 Sandown

Saturday 2 January 2021

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 6m 42.3s

Minellacelebration²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 150| D

22/1

Likeable type who resumed winning ways in Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in July and improved again when readily following up at Aintree 3 months later. Close up when unseating rider in Becher latest.

Form: 072-11U

Crosspark²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 148| D

8/1

Game winner of Eider in 2019 and right back in the groove this season, finding only one too good for a third consecutive start in London National here (18.8f) 4 weeks ago. High on the shortlist.

Form: P8P-222

Gold Present⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

33/1

Smart handicap chaser in his peak who refused to race on his reappearance here. Got back on track to some extent when fourth of 7 to Potters Legend at Warwick since.

Form: 9F2/9-R4

Valtor⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

8/1

Couple of good efforts last term and went with more encouragement than the result implies on his reappearance, but ran poorly at Warwick last time, hanging/jumping right. Eased 3 lb.

Form: 1532-06

Sametegal^p,t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

17/2

Useful chaser who shaped as if still in good form when sixth of 18 in Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree (21.1f, heavy, 17/2) 28 days ago, one paced latter stages. Respected back in veteran company.

Form: 243-336

Seeyouatmidnight³¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-1| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 139| D

10/1

Classy chaser at his peak and proved there is still plenty of life left in him when landing a 6-runner veterans event at Carlisle in March. Pulled up in similar event at Haydock 9 months on, though.

Form: 230/41-P

Burtons Well^b1³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 139| D

12/1

Put his best foot forward to score in cheekpieces at Doncaster on his final outing last season, but made a dismal return when pulled up at Haydock. Blinkers on for the 1st time.

Form: 7/17P1-P

Theatre Guide^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 14| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| D

22/1

Last win came over 4 years ago but he was a close third in this 12 months ago and clearly still retains plenty of enthusiasm judged on his second to Potters Legend at Warwick (3m) last time.

Form: 353-762

Potters Legend^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 135| D

5/1

Useful chaser who made a winning reappearance at Warwick before excellent second in Cheltenham Grade 3 handicap. Should remain competitive.

Form: 3P3P-12

Fingerontheswitch^p,t³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135| D

14/1

Consistent veteran who enjoyed excellent time of it last season and should strip fitter for last month's Haydock return. Yard going really well and not ruled out in refitted tongue tie.

Form: 2212P-4

Sir Ivan^p,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 135| D

20/1

Not the easiest to catch right but is less exposed than most he'll meet in these events and confirmed his reappearance promise when runner-up in a handicap chase at Leicester (20.2f). Respected.

Form: UP15-32

Jepeck^p1,t1²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132| CD

16/1

Won 3 times last season, including this corresponding race, but hasn't returned in anything like the same form this time around. Hopes pinned on first-time cheekpieces/tongue tie sparking a revival.

Form: 1144-PP

Strong Pursuit⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| D

13/2

Fragile sort who ran well returning from 11 months off when third of 7 to Potters Legend at Warwick (3m), though he looked rather awkward at times and is far from certain to go the right way.

Form: 213P/6-3

Ballydine^b1,t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129| CD

12/1

Useful chaser at best but lightly raced and little form of late, failing to come on for his reappearance when pulled up at Haydock last time. Blinkers now replace the cheekpieces.

Form: 23P/F-9P

Regal Flow²⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 124| D

14/1

Midlands National winner in 2018 who ran a cracker when narrowly denied by Jepeck in this 12 months ago. Has shaped with some encouragement both starts this season and he's an each-way player.

Form: 52P6-63

Non-Runners

Late Romantic³¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 11

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: R T Dunne

One Style²⁸

Weight: 10-8| Age: 11

T: Miss V Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Potters Legend (5/1), Strong Pursuit (13/2), Crosspark (8/1), Valtor (8/1), Late Romantic (8/1), Sametegal (17/2), Seeyouatmidnight (10/1), Ballydine (12/1), Burtons Well (12/1), Regal Flow (14/1), Fingerontheswitch (14/1), Jepeck (16/1), Sir Ivan (20/1), One Style (20/1), Minellacelebration (22/1), Theatre Guide (22/1), Gold Present (33/1)

A typically competitive renewal of this final. CROSSPARK seems to be right back in the groove this season, and looks marginally the most appealing option in a race in which it’s hard to rule out many. Fingerontheswitch is entitled to take a step forward from his reappearance so is another to keep onside for a yard going really well, with Sametegal and Sir Ivan also making the shortlist.