15:00 Sandown

Saturday 6 January 2024

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:37

Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase

10YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 37y | 15 Runners | Turf

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 153| D

Smart chaser who signed off last season with success in a veterans' handicap at Ascot and returned with an excellent second at the same track in November. Better than being pulled up at Chepstow since might suggest. Respected in only his second veterans' event.

Form: P/501-2P

Thomas Darby^t⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Murphy| OR: 151| D

Grade 2 winning hurdler and equally as good over fences, very much on a going day when seeing off Mill Green, Aye Right and Cepage at Warwick (3m, heavy) in November. 4 lb rise is manageable if in similar form.

Form: 3615-41

Aye Right⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: H Graham & G Rutherford| OR: 150| BF| D

Prominent racer who has shown he's still capable of very smart form when placed in 3m veterans' events at Chepstow (good to soft) and Warwick (heavy) this season. Back on the mark he went very close from at Chepstow. Player.

Form: 2P44-23

Sam Brown^t,v1²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 147| D

Rejuvenated by first-time blinkers at Punchestown Festival in April, in front when falling 2 out. Not at his best in 2 outings this term but this trip more suitable than the 20.5f he ran over when fifth to Cepage and Lord du Mesnil at Cheltenham last time. First-time visor replaces blinkers.

Form: P5FF-P5

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 144| BF

Nearly 3 years since he was last successful but he has recorded good runner-up efforts on 4 of his last 6 starts, going down by 7 lengths to Cepage at Cheltenham (20.5f) last time. Return to 3m in his favour.

Form: 2722-52

Cepage^p²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143

Very smart chaser. Well behind a few of these on his Warwick reappearance but a different proposition in cheekpieces (retained) when seeing off Lord Du Mesnil in 20.5f Cheltenham veterans' event 23 days later. Still well treated on old form but not certain to be as effective back at 3m.

Form: 440/7-41

Mill Green⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| C

Showed that plenty of ability remains in 2022/23, finishing third in big-field handicaps at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. Good second to Thomas Darby at Warwick (3m, heavy) on reappearance in November. Likely to be in the mix again.

Form: 3/333-02

Celebre D'Allen^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140

11-y-o who cruised clear in a 25f Aintree veterans' event on his reappearance in October. Shaped much better than distance beaten suggests (failed to stay under gruelling conditions) when remote in Becher back at Aintree (National fences) since. Needs considering.

Form: 3408-14

Good Boy Bobby^p1⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| CD

Right back in form this term, edging out at Aye Right at Chepstow in October before proving 2 lengths too strong for De Rasher Counter over C&D (good to soft) in November. Should remain very competitive up 4 lb. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces.

Form: P04-511

Ramses De Teillee^t²⁷¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 139| DWS

Won on reappearance last season before finishing runner-up in this. Not at his best when last seen in the spring but evidently capable when fresh and the handicapper has given him a chance. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 4/12345-

De Rasher Counter^p⁵⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 136| D

All the better for his Chepstow reappearance when 2 lengths second to the reopposing Good Boy Bobby over C&D in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 8 weeks ago. Same mark again.

Form: 20F4-62

Cyclop^p,t²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-8| J: Theo Gillard| T: David Dennis| OR: 133| D

Rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick in veterans' handicaps last February/March. Creditable efforts on first 3 starts this term (including C&D) but he needs to shrug off a lesser run at Chepstow last month.

Form: FP-233P

Larry^p,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 132| C| D

Course winner. Respectable fourth to Good Boy Bobby on C&D reappearance but not in the same form at Ascot since. Back on his last winning mark but others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 6723-48

Boldmere²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 132| D

Winner of 3m veterans' events at Doncaster and Fakenham last spring. Led for long way when fourth over 3½m here 4 weeks ago and this return to a shorter trip should suit him.

Form: 7121-P4

Nestor Park^p²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

Just one win to his name over fences but has made the frame on several occasions. Returned from a break to finish third in veterans' company at Aintree in April and shaped as if still in form at Doncaster since.

Form: 3P2-337

Forecasts

Good Boy Bobby (11/2), Cepage (7/1), Lord Du Mesnil (8/1), Aye Right (8/1), Thomas Darby (8/1), Ramses De Teillee (10/1), Mill Green (10/1), Sam Brown (10/1), Celebre D'Allen (10/1), De Rasher Counter (14/1), Larry (14/1), Two For Gold (14/1), Cyclop (20/1), Nestor Park (20/1), Boldmere (33/1)

The handicapper has dropped AYE RIGHT back to the same mark as when narrowly denied by Good Boy Bobby on his Chepstow reappearance. He should have won on that occasion (collared late on after going 8 lengths clear) so there are reasons to be positive with Dylan Johnston taking a further 7 lb off his back. Thomas Darby and Mill Green were ahead of the selection at Warwick last month and also make the shortlist along with Two For Gold, who won his only previous veterans' event.