15:20 Haydock

Saturday 4 April 2026

All13:3714:1214:4615:2015:5516:3017:05

Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase (Series Final)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 0.06s

Minella Drama^t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 143| CD

12/1

Successful in last season's Old Roan at Aintree and creditable third in the latest renewal of that Grade 2 handicap in October. Chased home the long odds-on Protektorat in a 4-runner listed event at Kelso last time and each-way claims back in handicap company having edged down to a workable mark.

Form: 9P-3P42

Guard Your Dreams^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| D

11/4

Smart hurdler who notched second success over fences in a qualifier for this (first run in veterans company) at Warwick (2½m, soft) where he readily brushed aside 4 of these rivals, headed by Fugitif. Brought down at the first at Cheltenham since but solid chance here granted better luck.

Form: 74F-21B

Le Milos^p⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| BF| D

12/1

Twice successful in veterans handicaps last term and was fourth of 9 off a 2 lb higher mark in this race 12 months ago. However, he was seemingly beaten fair and square when third to Guard Your Dreams at Warwick last time and he essentially needs a stiffer test than this nowadays.

Form: 15P623

Numitor²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: H Main| OR: 134| CD

33/1

Won 3 veterans' events last term but pulled up in this race on final start of that campaign and also failed to complete first 2 starts of this season. Better effort following another breathing operation when fourth to Genois at Exeter but it's hard to envisage him turning the tables on that rival.

Form: P1P-PP4

Fugitif^v1,t⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R Hobson| OR: 134

14/1

Useful performer whose most notable success came in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 2023. Winless since but his mark has dipped significantly as a consequence and posted best effort for a while when 13 lengths second to Guard Your Dream at Warwick. First-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 08-5542

Outlaw Peter^t,p1²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| BF| D

9/1

Enjoyed fruitful first campaign over fences in 2023/24, winning 3 times. Below that level in a light career since but gradually back on track this season, showing more of his old spark when a length second to Genois with Numitor and Neon Moon adrift at Exeter last time. Now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 95-3842

Courtland¹¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 133| D

18/1

Missed all of last season but resumed with a couple of solid efforts during the summer and has remained in good heart since, notably just touched off by Twig at Sandown in November. However, latest below par effort dropped to this trip at Cheltenham was a reminder that he needs a stiffer test.

Form: 232U24

The Flier Begley¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 132| CD

10/1

Healthy strike rate over fences, with the 2025 renewal of this race among the half-a-dozen races he has won from his 22 chase starts. Warmed up for a repeat bid with a creditable effort over hurdles at Southwell recently but he's 7 lb higher in the weights compared to 12 months ago.

Form: 31-1P72

Whistleinthedark^p¹¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Maggs⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 132| D

33/1

Wide-margin winner of a Perth handicap last spring and struck again when proving 8 lengths too strong for The Widdow Maker back from a break at Carlisle (2½m, good to soft) in November. Failed to fire at Cheltenham the following month, though, and others make more appeal. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 6-14618

Dreal Deal^t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 130| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who registered his third success over the larger obstacles at Killarney last summer. No real impact in a couple of strong Leopardstown handicaps since returning from a break but this mark is a fair one and he's certainly not one to write off just yet.

Form: 124600

Neon Moon^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| D

16/1

Regained the winning thread at Ascot in November but, commensurate with his up-and-down profile, he hasn't been in the same form since, most recently beaten the best part of 17 lengths in the Exeter race won by Genois.

Form: 4514F5

Triple Trade³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 130| D

11/2

Winner of 2 of his first 3 starts of this season prior to finishing a good third in a valuable Cheltenham handicap in January. Failed to get involved in a meaningful way when fourth of 11 at Newbury next time but he remains on a fair mark and is one to consider back in veterans company.

Form: 4-13134

Filanderer²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: H Morrison| OR: 129| D

17/2

Continued progression from last term when landing a 4-timer by a wide margin at Ffos Las in October. Delivered another stylish display at Market Rasen in January and, though he struggled at the Cheltenham Festival last time, he has to enter calculations back now back in calmer waters.

Form: 11-151P

Dubai Days^h,t⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Bruce Lynn| T: N W Alexander| OR: 126| CD

22/1

Enhanced terrific strike rate at Ayr when bagging a 7-runner handicap chase over 20.5f in February. Knows his way round here, too, having scored over C&D last February but 4 lb rise for that last-time-out Ayr success could be another to anchor him. Unseated rider in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 2U2-481

Lord Baddesley^t⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 125| D

18/1

Winning return in 3-runner handicap chase at Newbury in November but has found things tougher since, most recently tailed off in the qualifier for this won by Guard Your Dreams at Warwick.

Form: 83-1365

Genois²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125

10/1

Form dipped following a very positive start to last season (winner of Grade 3 Wetherby handicap on second run of that campaign) but firmly back on track in recent months, accounting for several of these rivals on his first foray into veterans company at Exeter (19f, soft) last time. Major player.

Form: 76-5121

The Widdow Maker^t¹⁴⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Dylan Johnston| T: J Tizzard| OR: 120| BF

22/1

Winner of a 4-runner veterans' race at Exeter (19f, good) last spring and placed both starts this time round, latterly beaten 8 lengths by Whistleinthedark at Carlisle in November. 6 lb better off that rival now but several of the others, including his stablemate Triple Trade, are more appealing.

Form: 6616-32

Forecasts

Guard Your Dreams (11/4), Triple Trade (11/2), Filanderer (17/2), Outlaw Peter (9/1), Genois (10/1), The Flier Begley (10/1), Minella Drama (12/1), Le Milos (12/1), Fugitif (14/1), Neon Moon (16/1), Lord Baddesley (18/1), Courtland (18/1), Dubai Days (22/1), The Widdow Maker (22/1), Dreal Deal (25/1), Numitor (33/1), Whistleinthedark (33/1)

The value angle could be TRIPLE TRADE, who was successful on his sole previous foray into veterans company at Sandown in January and his subsequent share of third in a major Cheltenham handicap was a solid effort. It's probably best to overlook his latest run and, taking that out of the equation, his claims are stronger than his anticipated position in the betting would suggest. There are dangers aplenty, headed by Guard Your Dreams, while Filanderer and Genois are also high on the shortlist.