15:30 Doncaster

Wednesday 24 February 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:05

Virgin Bet Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 11.59s

West Approach^p⁷⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147

15/2

Smart performer when in the mood, but not the most resolute and has followed his fine Cheltenham handicap chase return run with tame efforts back there. Back in calmer waters now at least.

Form: P4P-24P

Ami Desbois^t⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 145| D

7/2

Twice runner-up in staying handicap chases last season and came close to ending losing run on belated return at Kempton 7 weeks ago. Genuine sort who should go well again.

Form: 2062P-2

Rocky's Treasure^v1²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 143| CD

10/3

Best effort for a while to win over C&D in December but struggled back in a deeper handicap here next time. Change of headgear.

Form: PP-U91P

Activial¹²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 139

22/1

Smart chaser at his best. Last season was a bit of a write-off and well held when taking a nasty fall at Aintree on return in October, Bit to prove.

Form: 0/3U6P-F

Flying Angel^v⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139

4/1

Very capable performer when on song but is hard to catch right. Returned to form from out of the blue when fourth at Aintree (21.1f) but struggled back at Ascot since.

Form: 469-P45

Guitar Pete⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 138

7/1

Classy chaser at his peak who proved he retains the bulk of his ability when 6 lengths fourth in a 19.4f Wetherby handicap in November. Headway when falling 4 out at Kempton since. Needs considering.

Form: 8760-4F

Beau Bay^h,t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 136

8/1

Looked better than ever when landing the Grand Sefton at Aintree but struggled of revised mark since, racing in snatches behind Ami Desbois at Kempton latest.

Form: 23-51F6

Red Infantry^p²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 132| CD

8/1

Decent on his day, particularly over fences, but offered little on return from a lengthy absence in a Warwick handicap chase and well held in a jumpers bumper since.

Form: 5U7/5-P0

Non-Runners

Fagan³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 11

T: A M Hales J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Fagan (5/2), Rocky's Treasure (10/3), Ami Desbois (7/2), Flying Angel (4/1), Guitar Pete (7/1), West Approach (15/2), Beau Bay (8/1), Red Infantry (8/1), Activial (22/1)

A few of these are past their peak but GUITAR PETE still looks as good as ever so could be the answer tried in calmer waters. Ami Desbois was an excellent second on his belated return at Kempton and is another to consider, while Fagan is also on the shortlist after his impressive win at Newbury.