William Hill Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans' Handicap Chase

10YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 210y | 5 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

Fifth in Welsh National and Irish National last season. Also third of 23 in Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. Returns with yard in good form and any rain would increase his chance.

Form: 6/P5735-

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Knappers Hill²¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| C

Prolific over hurdles and landed a Grade 2 novice on second chase start at Wincanton in November 2023. However. missed the next 2 years and yet to fully convince he retains all his ability, turning in a lacklustre display at Warwick before shaping as if amiss in the spring.

Form: 21/43PP-

Hold Your Fort¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 130

Likeable sort who jumped well in front when resuming winning ways at Uttoxeter in July. Not so fluent back from a break when second at Ffos Las 11 days ago but still ran up to his best.

Form: 2-39512

Kitty's Light¹⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 127

Scottish National/bet 365 Gold Cup hero in 2022/23. Also an excellent fifth in the 2024 Grand National. Struggled badly in the 2024/25 season but left the impression he would have gone close but for an untimely error at Fakenham in May after 16 months off. Market should reveal expectations.

Form: 69P85/5

Grozni^t,v²⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 126

Fourth in 2025 Scottish National on final start for James Owen and came good on third start for this yard when winning Borders National at Kelso in December. However, was let down by his jumping in Edinburgh National at Musselburgh since so this sharper test is a concern.

Form: 64/5614-

Forecasts

Hold Your Fort (5/2), Monbeg Genius (3/1), Kitty's Light (7/2), Knappers Hill (4/1), Grozni (6/1)

MONBEG GENIUS ran well in some of the top staying handicaps last season and should appreciate this drop in class running in a veterans event for the first time. Hold Your Fort is building a solid record in races of this nature so is second choice.