15:40 Hereford

Sunday 23 February 2025

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Star Sports Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 6m 54.15s

Champagnesuperover^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 117| BF| D

9/4

Dual chase winner at around 3m in spring 2022. Lightly raced and has failed to trouble the judge since but was starting to get going and travelling well when unseating rider at the twelfth fence at Catterick (25.2f, good) last month. One to consider off the same mark.

Form: F40U3U

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Almazhar Garde^p,t⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 117

4/1

Going through his most consistent spell ever even if his merit is some way removed from his useful peak, runner-up again at Leicester latest. Respected back from a break.

Form: 124222

Cap Du Nord¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 115

11/1

Successful twice in 2024, bagging handicaps at Plumpton and Perth (latter success gained off a mark 7 lb higher than his current one) but he has struggled in 5 appearances since returning from a break in October. Tends to revive around this time of year, though, so could be worth chancing.

Form: 07845P

Christopher Wood^b1²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

5/1

Losing run is mounting up and could hardly have shown any less at Lingfield latest. Blinkered for 1st time.

Form: 3395-55

Lagonda¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 114

3/1

Point/hurdles winner who gained reward for her consistency this season when recording her first success over fences at Bangor 16 days ago, jumping well from the front. Should go well again.

Form: 4P-3231

Foxboro^p²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 112

33/1

Scored at Exeter (30.7f) last winter for Robert Walford but laboured efforts for this yard this season and easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 927-55P

Born At Midnight^p⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 107

14/1

Ended last season in top form but well held both starts this term so plenty to prove currently.

Form: 4112-P6

Grillon De Monty²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Stephen Allen| OR: 97| D

25/1

Winner of 3 cross-country chases in France and hurdles winner for Dan Skelton but has shown nothing both starts for this yard after 20 months off.

Form: P1/63-PP

Non-Runners

Tide Times³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 11

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Champagnesuperover (9/4), Lagonda (3/1), Almazhar Garde (4/1), Christopher Wood (5/1), Cap Du Nord (11/1), Born At Midnight (14/1), Grillon De Monty (25/1), Tide Times (25/1), Foxboro (33/1)

CAP DU NORD is difficult to assess at present but he tends to come good at this time of year (6 wins in February/March) and has been given a big chance by the handicapper, so he could be worth risking here with his stable back among the winners. Champagnesuperover let down his supporters at Catterick but he's threatening to come good, while Lagonda arrives on the back of a career-best win at Bangor.