13:50 Aintree

Sunday 26 October 2025

All12:4013:1513:5014:2014:5515:3016:05

William Hill Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 17.79s

Le Milos^p¹⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143

3/1

Bounced back to form to go 2-3 in veterans company in 5-runner handicap chase at Fakenham (24.2f, good) in May. Up 3 lb but has won off a break before so holds very good claims.

Form: 31674-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Numitor¹⁹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: H Main| OR: 142| BF

16/1

Enhanced healthy strike rate over fences at Wincanton on his return last season and also scored at Cheltenham and Ascot subsequently. Pulled up in 2m4f veterans event at Haydock final run but no surprise to see him back on track after a lay-off here.

Form: P11P1P-

Torn And Frayed¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128

4/1

Not always the most sure-footed but avoided mistakes when landing veterans' event at Warwick last November. Undone by a blunder 4 out when a rallying third of 7 in 3m Chepstow handicap 16 days ago. A likely player off an unchanged mark though.

Form: 4/5169-3

Straw Fan Jack^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 122| C

17/2

Revived from out of the blue to win 3-runner handicap chase at Ludlow in April. Shaped as if in need of the run when a remote second on his return there 18 days ago. Not out of things with that run under his belt.

Form: 89PP1-2

Marown^p³¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 122

22/1

Winless since 2021 and off the track since pulled up in 2m5f handicap chase at Carlisle 10 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running in a change of headgear.

Form: 3323/2P-

If Not For Dylan¹⁸⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 118

10/3

Veteran chaser who made a positive start for his current yard last term, scoring at Newcastle (23f) before a very good third of 12 in 3m6f handicap at Perth in April. Must enter calculations.

Form: 271/613-

Ashtown Lad^p²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 115| C

10/3

Won the 2022 Becher Chase here for Dan Skelton and bounced back to form to land 3m2f handicap at Kelso 21 days ago. Needs to back it up now from 5 lb higher mark (includes being 2 lb "wrong" in the weights).

Form: 7/3-5P71

Non-Runners

Smarty Wild¹⁹⁰

Weight: 10-6| Age: 11

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Le Milos (3/1), Ashtown Lad (10/3), If Not For Dylan (10/3), Torn And Frayed (4/1), Smarty Wild (5/1), Straw Fan Jack (17/2), Numitor (16/1), Marown (22/1)

This looks wide open but the vote goes to Dan Skelton's returning LE MILOS, who is building up an impressive record in veterans' company and also has a good record when fresh. Torn And Frayed is weighted to go well and rates a big threat though, especially if he can keep jumping errors to a minimum. If Not For Dylan, Numitor and Straw Fan Jack also need factoring in.