13:45 Cheltenham

Friday 14 November 2025

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 22.14s

Gunsight Ridge^t,p²²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 145

7/2

Lightly raced in recent seasons but looked as good as ever when winning at Sandown in February. Backed that up with a solid fourth in Red Rum at Aintree final start and big player back down in class on return (likely to have won at this meeting on comeback last season but for falling at the last).

Form: 31/FP14-

Fugitif^t²¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 145| C

7/2

Has produced several good efforts here, not least when winning the December Gold Cup 2 years ago. Not at that level last season but will find this less demanding than the company he usually keeps.

Form: P/53608-

Eldorado Allen^t,p²⁰⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 142| C

13/2

One-time very smart chaser but on long losing run (including in veteran events). However, has a good record fresh and starts the new season off a career-low mark with his yard in form.

Form: 234705-

Mister Coffey²⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142

8/1

Hard to believe that he's still without a win over fences given the number of solid performances he's delivered (runner-up 8 times and third on 3 occasions from 16 starts in this sphere). Raced exclusively in cross-country events last season, however, and opposable on return.

Form: 263/225-

Numitor¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: H Main| OR: 140| C| D

12/1

Won 3 veteran events last season (including on the New Course here) but pulled up last 2 starts 6 months apart, labouring early final circuit at Aintree on return.

Form: 11P1P-P

Dreal Deal^t⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 134| D

11/2

Made a winning start for this yard at Killarney in July and better form when second there following month. Decent fourth back over hurdles at Listowel since but may find this too competitive.

Form: 6-76124

Escaria Ten^b²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 129WS

14/1

Not the force of old and losing run stretches back almost 5 years.

Form: P4480-P

Can You Call^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119| D

11/2

Runner-up on his last 2 outings last season but offered little at Fontwell on return last month.

Form: 2/0522-7

Non-Runners

Lord Baddesley⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: A J Honeyball J: Rex Dingle

Forecasts

Gunsight Ridge (7/2), Fugitif (7/2), Lord Baddesley (5/1), Can You Call (11/2), Dreal Deal (11/2), Eldorado Allen (13/2), Mister Coffey (8/1), Numitor (12/1), Escaria Ten (14/1)

GUNSIGHT RIDGE looked as good as ever last season and might well have made a winning reappearance at this meeting 12 months ago had he not departed at the last, so gets the vote tackling a veterans event for the first time. Fugitif has a good record here and is another who will appreciate the drop in class, while Eldorado Allen runs well fresh and is on a career-low mark.