Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 21.74s

Jet Plane^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| CD

15/8

Ended last season with a fine second in the Foxhunters at the National Meeting in April. Resumed winning ways in good style when landing a 6-runner handicap at Leicester (2½m, good to soft) last month and while another personal best will be needed up 7 lb here, he has to be respected.

Form: 32-5571

Triple Trade²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128| D

5/2

Winless last term but capitalised on a drop in the weights when scoring on return at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November. Creditable third at the same course next time and, still on a fair mark, he needs considering back up in trip here on his first run in a veterans' race.

Form: 4724-13

Can You Call^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Evan Williams| OR: 128| D

7/4

Snapped a losing run stretching back almost 3 years when accounting for 7 rivals in a handicap chase at Cheltenham (20.6f, good) last month. Things rather went his way that day but he did the job well and a 7 lb rise doesn't look excessive.

Form: 522-731

Minella Trump³⁰⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| CD

12/1

Very useful chaser at his best and boasts a fine strike rate over the larger obstacles (9-18). Proved that plenty of ability remains when landing a hunter chase at Carlisle (21f, good) on the second of his 2 starts last season but a good deal more will be needed here following 10 months off.

Form: 0952/41-

Non-Runners

Numitor⁵⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 12

T: H Main J: James Bowen

Hurricane Bay²¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 10

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Can You Call (7/4), Jet Plane (15/8), Triple Trade (5/2), Minella Trump (12/1), Numitor (12/1), Hurricane Bay (12/1)

It was a good quality handicap in which TRIPLE TRADE was third at Cheltenham three weeks ago and this 10-y-o, who remains on a workable mark, makes plenty of appeal now venturing into a veterans' race for the first time. Can You Call brought the curtain down on a long losing run in good style at that course last time and is just about feared most ahead of another decisive last-time-out winner in Jet Plane.