14:50 Haydock

Wednesday 1 December 2021

All12:4013:1513:5014:2014:5015:20

Jewson Altrincham Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 6m 59.4s

Lake View Lad^p²²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N W Alexander| OR: 150| C

7/1

Top weight courtesy of his small-field Aintree Grade 2 win on return a year ago. Best effort since when respectable seventh in Scottish National final start. Sights reduced here off 5 lb lower.

Form: 3/155F7-

Aso¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 147| C

5/2

Twice a runner-up in Ryanair but didn't look the force of old last season and was taken off his feet in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on return. However, will find this much less competitive.

Form: F2285-0

Smooth Stepper²²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 138| C| D

25/1

Veteran chaser who won a similar event at Carlisle in March in what was a mixed season. Can go well fresh but likely to find a few too strong.

Form: 1/5551P-

Prime Venture³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134| D

12/1

Cosy winner of a 3-runner Sedgefield handicap on return last season prior to finishing fifth in the Welsh National. Well held in Midlands National after but had a pipe-opener over hurdles 5 weeks ago.

Form: 2P/150-8

Dashing Perk²³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 132

16/1

Useful chaser who remains relatively lightly raced for his age but stamina is the question mark up in trip on return.

Form: P/42P3F-

Blaklion²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 131| C| D

3/1

Showed he's still a useful chaser when sixth in the Grand National in April. Respectable reappearance at Bangor and likely to go well up against fellow veterans this time.

Form: 5/0746-5

Psychedelic Rock¹⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 130

25/1

Returned from a short break in good order in the spring, scoring on his last 3 completed starts. Rare poor effort in Summer Cup at Uttoxeter when last seen but type to bounce back.

Form: 61F1-18

Sharp Response⁷²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130| D

22/1

Twice a winner in 2018/19 and all the better for following season's reappearance when 10 lengths second over C&D. Ran in void race next time and not seen since (2 years).

Form: 44162V/

Late Romantic^p,t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 128| CD

14/1

Narrow winner of this last year off 4 lb higher. However, well held last 2 starts 8 months apart, offering little at Bangor on return 3 weeks ago.

Form: P1535-0

Up Helly Aa King^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N W Alexander| OR: 125

15/2

Consistent sort who scored cosily at Ayr (20.5f) on return last season. Some good efforts in defeat after and shaped as if better for the run at Kelso on return. Should give another good account.

Form: 42523-4

Tinkers Hill Tommy^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 124

12/1

Improved for new yard last term, successful at Hereford and Newbury prior to finishing second over 23.8f at Ludlow. Needs to leave reappearance run well behind, though yard in better form now.

Form: U/2112-P

Non-Runners

Ami Desbois²³⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 11

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Aso (5/2), Blaklion (3/1), Ami Desbois (9/2), Lake View Lad (7/1), Up Helly Aa King (15/2), Prime Venture (12/1), Tinkers Hill Tommy (12/1), Late Romantic (14/1), Dashing Perk (16/1), Sharp Response (22/1), Smooth Stepper (25/1), Psychedelic Rock (25/1)

ASO isn't the force of old but he has been given a chance by the handicapper and his sights have been considerably lowered running in a veterans' event for the first time. Lake View Lad is the other class act in the field and he won the Many Clouds at Aintree on his return last season. Ami Desbois is another to consider starting out for Fergal O'Brien.