John Sumner Memorial Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 29.3s

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Selected odds by:

King's Odyssey²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 139| C

9/4

Good looking type that often travels well in his races but sometimes struggles to finish the job off; another very solid effort when second at Stratford last time, but whether this step up to 3m is what he wants is open to some debate.

Form: 3/2F6F-2

Theatre Guide^b,t²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139| D

7/2

A regular in these Veteran events, often running well in them, and has a bit of quality about him; did nothing wrong when third to Burtons Well at Aintree last time and looks sure to run his race under suitable conditions here.

Form: 0022-63

Wild West Wind³⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 135| DWS

11/2

More letters than numbers in his form, which is never a good thing; that disguises the fact he does have plenty of ability when on song, and his record after a break suggests today might be the day to catch him; looking very well handicapped now.

Form: 1FRUP/P-

Milansbar²²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 134| C| D

4/1

Does nothing but stay, winner of the Betfred Classic here at his peak but has two ways of going and is rather all-or-nothing. This trip a bare minimum for him anyway, and yard have gone off the boil, so on balance others make more appeal.

Form: 5/584PP-

Smooth Stepper²²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 132

8/1

This trip almost a bare minimum for him these days, stays 4m on a good day and loves soft/heavy ground; out of form when last seen but yard having a good autumn and from a very low-looking mark, could bounce back if fit after summer break.

Form: 10/75PP-

Regal Flow¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 127| CD

8/1

Midlands Grand National winner in his pomp, well below that for much of last season though and not a lot to cheer about when well beaten on Exeter reappearance earlier in the month. May want further still, and is passed over here.

Form: 53P36-0

Forecasts

King's Odyssey (9/4), Theatre Guide (7/2), Milansbar (4/1), Wild West Wind (11/2), Smooth Stepper (8/1), Regal Flow (8/1)

With doubts about the trip being far enough for the likes of Smooth Stepper, Regal Flow and Milansbar, and possibly being a bit too far for the talented King's Oddysey, it may pay to concentrate on Theatre Guide and WILD WEST WIND. The latter has some dubious looking form figures but is too well handicapped to ignore, and maybe first time up after a wind operation is the time to catch him.