16:35 Exeter

Sunday 11 February 2024

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

trustatrader.com Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 6m 38.4s

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Selected odds by:

Two For Gold^p²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 151| D

25/1

Signed off last season with success in a veterans' handicap at Ascot and returned with an excellent second at the same track in November. Sub-par efforts both starts since, though.

Form:

Fiddlerontheroof^t⁴⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 147| C

12/1

Class act at his peak and, while he's been off 14 months since leaving Joe Tizzard, the handicapper has given him a chance, so he's an interesting runner on his first go in veterans' company.

Form:

Remastered^t⁷¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: D Pipe| OR: 146| D

18/1

Smart handicap chaser on his day and, while he hasn't fired for a while, he at least had an excuse at Newbury 71 days ago. Could bounce back after a break.

Form:

Lord Du Mesnil^p,t²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson| OR: 142

11/2

Nearly 3 years since he was last successful but he's been generally consistent, shaping as if still in form when sixth at Warwick last time. Not without hope.

Form:

Cepage^p²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142

20/1

Useful chaser nowadays. Lightly raced in recent seasons and back to form fitted in this headgear when winning 20.5f Cheltenham veterans' event in December. Ran no sort of race at Warwick next time, however. Could feature if he's in the mood.

Form:

Celebre D'Allen^p⁶⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140

15/2

Cruised clear in a 25f Aintree veterans' event under this rider on return in October. Shaped much better than distance beaten suggests (failed to stay under gruelling conditions) when remote fourth in the Becher back at Aintree since. Merits consideration.

Form:

Good Boy Bobby^p²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| D

12/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, below form seventh of 14 in handicap chase (9/1) at Warwick (24f, soft) 29 days ago. Had been in good order prior to that, so worth a chance to get back on track.

Form:

Ramses De Teillee^t²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 137| D

6/1

Creditable fourth of 14 in handicap chase (8/1) at Warwick (24f, soft) 29 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Back down to last winning mark and shaped well in this event last season. Strong claims.

Form:

Broken Quest^t⁴⁰⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 131| D

40/1

Won 3 on the bounce during spring 2022 but failed to get his head in front last season and entitled to need the run following 13 months off.

Form:

Ask Me Early^p1,t⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 128| C| D

15/2

Progressive novice chaser in 2020/21 and also scored twice over hurdles in late 2021. Didn't go on from a promising reappearance third last season and disappointed here on return. Cheekpieces on for the first time.

Form:

Wayfinder^p⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 127| D

9/1

Back on track initially this season after wind surgery. Pulled up in the Welsh National last time but might well bounce back and looks a player in this company.

Form:

Conkwell Legend⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

10/1

Useful winning handicap hurdler but has finished well held both completed starts over fences, unseating at the second in Tommy Whittle Handicap at Haydock on his latest outing. Has questions to answer.

Form:

Run To Milan^t⁵²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 119| CD

7/2

All 3 career victories have come at this venue, the latest in this event a couple of years ago. Has left the impression he retains some ability this season, so not ruled out for all that he's out of the weights.

Form:

Non-Runners

Musical Slave⁵³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 11

T: P Hobbs & J White J: M G Nolan

Secret Reprieve³³⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 10

T: Evan Williams J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Run To Milan (7/2), Lord Du Mesnil (11/2), Ramses De Teillee (6/1), Ask Me Early (15/2), Celebre D'Allen (15/2), Wayfinder (9/1), Conkwell Legend (10/1), Good Boy Bobby (12/1), Fiddlerontheroof (12/1), Secret Reprieve (12/1), Musical Slave (12/1), Remastered (18/1), Cepage (20/1), Two For Gold (25/1), Broken Quest (40/1)

RAMSES DE TEILLEE is on an appealing mark and is likely to strip fitter for his comeback run, so he's worth supporting to build on his excellent effort in the 2023 renewal of this. Wayfinder and Fiddlerontheroof, both debutants in veterans' races, are also of interest.