Royal Caledonian Hunt Creevytennant Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 6m 10.1s

Niceandeasy^p⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 112| D

10/3

Took well to fences last season, winning brace of small-field handicaps. Looked rusty when fifth on return at Carlisle (26f) in October and has been let down by jumping since. Drop back down in class should help.

Form: 21-5FP4

Smuggler's Blues^b1³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Finn Lambert| T: T R George| OR: 110| D

18/1

Snapped a losing run in first-time cheekpieces at Warwick last winter and would've gone close but for falling at the second-last at Wincanton in December. However, disappointed next 2 starts so needs to bounce back in a change of headgear.

Form: 24-4FP7

Flying Verse^b,t³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Lily Pinchin| T: David Dennis| OR: 110| D

9/1

Has hardly proved reliable this season but had a good spell over fences recording back-to-back wins at Stratford (22.6f) and Musselburgh (31.5f) in October/November. Resumed winning ways at Doncaster last month but only sixth off revised mark in similar event at Wincanton since.

Form: 5P3316

Caboy^t,v²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 97| BF

6/4

Snapped a losing sequence stretching back to 2018 in 7-runner handicap chase at Wetherby under this rider. Decent second at Newcastle since and of interest taking on fellow veterans for the first time.

Form: 642212

Knocknamona¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: Joshua Thompson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 95| D

9/2

Resumed winning ways at Newcastle in January and followed up at Carlisle a month later. Failed to land a blow next 2 starts but belated return to this longer trip could suit. Player.

Form: 051165

Wolfcatcher^b,t⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 94

50/1

Winless since 2018 and showed nothing after 17 months off at Musselburgh in February. Change of headgear.

Form: 6/2526-P

Victory Echo^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 93| D

11/2

Now 7 lb below last winning mark and produced his best effort for a while when third in a 6-runner Musselburgh (20.3f, good to soft) handicap last month. Failed to back that up at Carlisle since, however.

Form: 35P537

Forecasts

Caboy (6/4), Niceandeasy (10/3), Knocknamona (9/2), Victory Echo (11/2), Flying Verse (9/1), Smuggler's Blues (18/1), Wolfcatcher (50/1)

This longer trip should prove more suitable for KNOCKNAMONA nowadays so he could be the answer. Caboy has been holding his form well and rates the biggest threat, while the drop back in class should help Niceandeasy.