Racing Blogger Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:21 | Winning time: 6m 7.3s

Fuji Flight¹⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

9/2

Useful winning chaser in 2022 but following 2 years off the track, ran well below that level in a couple of starts earlier this year, latest a typically laboured effort at Cartmel in May. Remains to be seen if he shows a bit more spark in calmer waters on his return.

Form: P344/3-4

Enjoy D'allen²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Lily Pinchin| T: N B King| OR: 112| D

2/1

Veteran ended a losing run that stretched back to 2021 when winning a 5-runner handicap chase at Fakenham (21.2f, good) 25 days ago. No certainty to back that up but has been found another weak race.

Form: 4-75441

Fern Hill²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 107| D

5/4

Recorded a first success since 2022 when making a winning return in an uninspiring 5-runner contest at Uttoxeter last month, idled run in (again goes without usual headgear here) but always holding on. Up 3 lb but has been found a very winnable 0-120. May follow up.

Form: 2P43-51

Zacony Rebel^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 92

13/2

Justified support in first-time blinkers when ending a losing run in a 2½m Worcester handicap chase in July. Lost his form afterwards but did stop the slide with third at Hereford (20.0f) last time. Stamina to prove over this longer trip but cannot be discounted given the opposition.

Form: 919583

Forecasts

Fern Hill (5/4), Enjoy D'allen (2/1), Fuji Flight (9/2), Zacony Rebel (13/2)

Each of the quartet come with risks attached. FERN HILL gets the tentative vote having only gone up 3 lb for his recent Uttoxeter success, he may follow up in a very winnable race. Enjoy D'Allen may prove the chief threat following his recent Fakenham win, while Zacony Rebel has stamina to prove over this longer trip but did at least stop the slide when third at Hereford last time.