13:20 Newbury

Saturday 2 March 2024

All13:2013:5514:2515:0015:3216:0516:40

Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 7m 0.65s

Highland Hunter^p,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 144| D

10/1

Thorough stayer who made encouraging return from 21 months off when second on yard debut at Kelso in October. Creditable effort when a staying-on fourth in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last time and he's respected.

Form: 24/2U54

Fortescue^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: H D Daly| OR: 135

9/4

Still capable of useful form at this best but increasingly temperamental nowadays and turned in another moody performance when down the field at Sandown last month. Cobden on board for the first time but others make more appeal.

Form: P50-427

Omar Maretti^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 132

13/2

Landed a gamble when capitalising on a further drop in the weights at Catterick (25.2f, soft) 19 days ago. Little in the way of opposition there, however, and others make greater appeal in a deeper contest.

Form: PF-6641

Musical Slave^p⁷³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130| D

12/1

Decent second on return at Wincanton and after a lesser effort, stepped back in the right direction at Ludlow last time. Jumping still can prove an issue, but remains one to note back from break on mark 2 lb lower than when winning similar event at Exeter last season

Form: 1PP-204

Commodore³⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 128| D

6/1

Useful front-runner at his best but seemed hard to catch right last season, albeit stopping the slide to some extent when fifth here on his foray into veterans company when last seen. Has a good record fresh, so worth market check after 11 months off.

Form: 10/5P95-

Amateur^p⁶⁶

18/1

Added to his good Ffos Las record with a win in May. Pulled up having been ridden aggressively in the Welsh National last time and this looks a more realistic assignment.

Form: 6P3-10P

Copperhead^p,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 117| CD

2/1

Hasn't really looked like winning a race since his fine novice campaign way back in 2019/20 but efforts in defeat this season have been largely solid, most recently when third of 9 in handicap chase at Sandown (24.2f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Player receiving weight all round.

Form: 226333

Non-Runners

Secret Reprieve³⁵⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 10

T: Evan Williams J: James Bowen

Cyclop⁴⁰

Weight: 10-9| Age: 13

T: David Dennis J: Stan Sheppard

Forecasts

Copperhead (2/1), Fortescue (9/4), Commodore (6/1), Omar Maretti (13/2), Highland Hunter (10/1), Musical Slave (12/1), Secret Reprieve (12/1), Amateur (18/1), Cyclop (20/1)

MUSICAL SLAVE's frailties have long been documented but he scored in similar company from a higher mark at Exeter last year and he may be worth chancing after a mildly more encouraging display at Ludlow last time. Copperhead has been holding his form well from this kind of mark this season and can give another good account, whilst out-and-out stayer Highland Hunter is also respected having been keeping better company for most of the season.