15:35 Warwick

Saturday 13 January 2024

All12:0512:4013:1513:4914:2415:0015:3516:05

Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase (2023 Veterans' Chase Series Final)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 14.00s

Two For Gold^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 153| CD

25/1

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 but looks vulnerable under top-weight in this competitive contest in any case.

Form: P/501-2P

Thomas Darby^t⁵²

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

15/2

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 over this C&D (heavy) in November. 4 lb rise is manageable and he'll be a danger to all if in a similar mood.

Form: 3615-41

Aye Right⁵²

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

6/1

Got the better of Good Boy Bobby in the Rehearsal Chase in November 2021 and solid start to this season when just touched off by that rival on return in a veterans' chase at Chepstow. Testing conditions may not have been ideal when third to Thomas Darby over this C&D since and he's one to consider.

Form: 2P44-23

Sam Brown^t,v1²⁹

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

17/2

Rejuvenated by first-time blinkers at the Punchestown Festival last spring, 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

The Galloping Bear^b1,t¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 145| D

28/1

Useful staying chaser who was a good second in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last February. However, he has failed to complete both subsequent starts, pulled up before the halfway point on return in the Welsh National. Visor he wore that day is replaced by first-time blinkers here.

Form: D/3F2P-P

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Lily Pinchin| T: R Hobson| OR: 144| BF

16/1

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, good to soft) last time. Return to 3m in his favour and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 2722-52

Cepage^p²⁹

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

12/1

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

Form: 440/7-41

Mill Green⁵²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141

11/2

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 on C&D reappearance in November and likely to be in the mix again off the same mark.

Form: 3/333-02

Good Boy Bobby^p1⁶²

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

9/1

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 at Sandown (24.2f, good to soft) in November. Should remain very competitive up 4 lb in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: P04-511

Ramses De Teillee^t²⁷⁸

8/1

Ended last season on a downer but made a bright start to that campaign, scoring over C&D following a wind op on his reappearance before finishing second in this race (run at Sandown) off a 4 lb higher mark. Resumes following another wind op and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 4/12345-

Landofsmiles^p⁷⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 135| D

50/1

Has built up a good strike rate over fences, recording his latest success at Cartmel (25.5f, soft) last summer. Stepped up on low-key reappearance when chasing home Celebre D'allen at Aintree but likely to find at least one or two too good once again.

Form: F511P2

Cyclop^p,t³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-8| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 133| CD

22/1

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

Form: FP-233P

Boldmere³⁵

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

25/1

Winner of 3m veterans' events at Doncaster and Fakenham last spring. However, he hasn't shone in a couple of runs so far this season and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 7121-P4

Nestor Park^b1²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 132| C

4/1

Just one win to his name over fences but, to his credit, he has made the frame on several occasions. Still, latest effort at Doncaster wasn't one of his better ones and hopes pinned on the addition of blinkers sparking something here.

Form: 3P2-337

Non-Runners

Celebre D'Allen³⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 12

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Non Runner

De Rasher Counter⁶²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 12

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: 2nd Preference

Top Ville Ben¹⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 12

T: P A Kirby J: Joe Williamson

Forecasts

Nestor Park (4/1), Mill Green (11/2), Aye Right (6/1), Celebre D'Allen (6/1), Thomas Darby (15/2), Ramses De Teillee (8/1), Sam Brown (17/2), Good Boy Bobby (9/1), Cepage (12/1), Top Ville Ben (14/1), De Rasher Counter (14/1), Lord Du Mesnil (16/1), Cyclop (22/1), Two For Gold (25/1), Boldmere (25/1), The Galloping Bear (28/1), Landofsmiles (50/1)

It's worth chancing RAMSES DE TEILLEE, who has won his last two starts immediately on the back of wind operations, including when scoring in good style on his reappearance over this C&D last season, and he has undergone another round of surgery ahead of this return to action. Aye Right is taken to reverse C&D placings with Thomas Darby and Mill Green and emerge as the main danger. That said, a case can also be made for hat-trick seeker Good Boy Bobby.