15:15 Warwick

Saturday 8 February 2025

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4816:23

Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 5.19s

Shakem Up'arry^t⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 147

5/1

Bagged a major 20.6f handicap at Cheltenham on New Year's Day last year and followed up in the Plate over the same C&D at the Festival. Fell before the halfway point on return/first run in veterans company back at Prestbury Park in December but surely won't be far away granted a clear round here.

Form: P6110-F

Le Milos^p⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

5/4

Big improver over fences in 2022/23, winning the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Disappointed last season but there have been encouraging signs in 3 runs this time round, particularly when third at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) last time. One to consider off an attractive mark.

Form: 007-543

Grandads Cottage^p1,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: O Murphy| OR: 138| D

8/1

Seen to good effect when making a winning return at Carlisle in December and followed that with a poor effort Market Rasen. Needs to bounce back now equipped with first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 3148-1P

Quel Destin^b⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133

12/1

Won 2 heavy-ground handicaps (at up to 21.6f) last term but ended that campaign on a downer and he's hard to warm to on the back of a tame seasonal reappearance display at Exeter.

Form: 8114P-P

Smarty Wild²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| D

17/2

Just the one win from 16 starts over fences but placed more often than not in this sphere, including when third in an 8-runner veterans' event at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) last month. Down 2 lb and this drop back in trip possibly a good move, so he's not without hope.

Form: F232/P3

Whistleinthedark⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 122| D

7/2

Winner of 4 of his 13 starts over fences but was more miss than hit last term and it's been a similar story both starts since returning from a break in December.

Form: 09-9804

Non-Runners

Fugitif⁵⁶

Weight: 12-1| Age: 10

T: R Hobson J: 2nd Preference

Editeur Du Gite²⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 11

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Straw Fan Jack¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: Sheila Lewis J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Le Milos (5/4), Fugitif (5/2), Whistleinthedark (7/2), Shakem Up'arry (5/1), Grandads Cottage (8/1), Smarty Wild (17/2), Editeur Du Gite (10/1), Quel Destin (12/1), Straw Fan Jack (14/1)

LE MILOS hasn't got his head in front since landing a major Newbury handicap back in November 2022, but there were positives to take form his latest effort at Chepstow and this first foray into veterans company could prove fruitful. If Shakem Up'arry stays on all fours this time he is bound to pose a threat and Editeur du Gite would take some catching off this much reduced mark if returning to anything like his best. Smarty Wild is also shortlisted.