Racing To School Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 7m 10.10s

Innisfree Lad^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Fergus Gillard| T: David Dennis| OR: 119| D

7/1

Strong in the betting when taking advantage of a much-reduced mark a Doncaster, a breathing operation and fitting of a first-time tongue tie presumably the catalyst. Undone by 8 lb rise when upped in class at Ludlow since but should be more competitive back in veteran company. Change of headgear.

Form: P-70513

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Shanty Alley^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Tristan Durrell| T: B I Case| OR: 117

9/4

Losing run stretches back to January 2021 but shaped as if back in form when fourth of 11 in handicap chase at Newbury (26f, soft) 25 days ago. Not taken lightly off a 3 lb lower mark.

Form: 7PP-254

Rath An Iuir^v²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: C P O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 116| D

17/2

Back to form when winning amateur jockeys' handicap at Kelso for the second successive season last month. Had a hard race that day, however, and not an obvious one to follow up.

Form: 1538-81

Didero Vallis^b²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115| CD

11/4

Disappointed last season but has posted 2 decent efforts in cross-country events at Cheltenham this term. Long way out of the handicap when pulled up in Welsh National at Chepstow last time. Headgear back on and not taken lightly off career-low mark.

Form: 5PP-39P

The Vollan¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁶⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 104

17/2

Veteran who is generally opposable nowadays.

Form: 433P35

Mister Bells^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

7/2

Successful in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (21.4f) in March but patchy form since. Now 4 lb below his last winning mark but others more persuasive.

Form: 6-26053

Non-Runners

Jimmy The Digger³⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: H D Daly J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shanty Alley (9/4), Didero Vallis (11/4), Mister Bells (7/2), Jimmy The Digger (4/1), Innisfree Lad (7/1), The Vollan (17/2), Rath An Iuir (17/2)

None of these veterans are rock solid but it could be worth chancing JIMMY THE DIGGER back down in class off a reduced mark. Didero Vallis is another who is used to keeping better company so is next best ahead of Shanty Alley.