March 30 / 16.30 Ascot

16.30

Good

Sodexo Live! Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 4 of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series)

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Sodexo Live! Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 4 of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 6-P11P

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Landed big prize at Haydock (2m4f, soft) a year ago and returned from break with another two 2m4f wins in the autumn (good/good to soft); ran poorly when last in action (January) and has stamina to prove on this first attempt at 3m but his current mark is probably not beyond him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Numitor

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Heather Main

Bounced back to form with game win at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, his ninth success over fences; still well handicapped after recent 4lb rise and will be fine over this longer trip but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again.

9/2

1st

2

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

18:00 Hereford

Numitor

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Heather Main

Potentially very well handicapped but has become a law unto himself and is wickedly hard to predict.

14/1

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Numitor

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Heather Main

Pulled up in this race last year and same outcome on first two runs this season; 13l fourth behind Genois at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month following wind surgery and a break but he could improve for that outing, and he won this race in 2024; not written off.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: P26-4P CD

Last run: 99 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Has very good Ascot record that includes a win in the 2023 edition of this race and close second in it last year; ended 2024 with a disappointing run but comes here fresh and is now 4lb lower than when fourth in valuable C&D (good) handicap on seasonal debut in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

14:05 Market Rasen

Two For Gold

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Teenager who ran well for a long way when very respectable sixth in valuable Ascot handicap (3m, good) on seasonal debut in November; pulled up in similar race back there just before Christmas but might be aided by the refitted tongue-tie here and has slipped to a tempting mark.

20/1

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Two For Gold

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Second and fourth in the last two renewals of this and further enhanced his solid record here with another second over this trip in March; can see him running well again but it goes against the grain trends-wise to row in with a 12yo carrying 12st.

25/1

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Two For Gold

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Second and fourth in the last two renewals of this and further enhanced his solid record here with another second over this trip in March; can see him running well again but it goes against the grain trends-wise to row in with a 12yo carrying 12st.

25/1

Form: 3030P7

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Very useful handicap chaser for Willie Mullins; made encouraging stable debut in Listed hurdle in October but has looked out of sorts over fences/hurdle since; swaps cheekpieces for blinkers today; revival needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Authorized Art

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Flashes of smart form for Willie Mullins but a 10yo now and hasn't yet threatened a breakthrough win for the Moores; needed to run a lot better than he did at Kempton two weeks ago.

33/1

9

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Authorized Art

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Flashes of smart form for Willie Mullins but a 10yo now and hasn't yet threatened a breakthrough win for the Moores; needed to run a lot better than he did at Kempton two weeks ago.

33/1

1

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:16 Kempton

Authorized Art

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful for Willie Mullins; 0-5 for current yard, beaten in a veterans' event when last seen; however, this drop in grade may have positive effect, off a reduced mark.

9/1

Form: 1-P260 D

Last run: 93 days

W: 10st 11lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Went very close off today's mark on stable debut at Wincanton (3m2f, good) in October, after a layoff, but was well below that form on both subsequent outings and needs to have been refreshed by a three-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Deise Aba

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alexandra Dunn

Nearly made a successful stable debut at Wincanton (3m2f, good) in October, after a layoff; twice disappointed afterwards but ran okay in a Class 2 at Ascot last time; won't be overly inconvenienced should conditions ease.

7/2

4th

1

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Deise Aba

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alexandra Dunn

Nearly made a successful stable debut at Wincanton (3m2f, good) in October, after a layoff; twice disappointed afterwards but ran okay in a Class 2 at Ascot last time; won't be overly inconvenienced should conditions ease.

7/2

4th

5

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Deise Aba

10st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alexandra Dunn

Went very close off today's mark on stable debut at Wincanton (3m2f, good) in October, after a layoff, but was well below that form on both subsequent outings and needs to have been refreshed by a three-month break.

9/1

Form: 444141 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
In-form mare who won four-runner veterans' chase fairly comfortably at Carlisle (3m, good) a week ago and is now 2-3 since fitted with a visor; has 6lb penalty to carry today but is respected in her current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Credo

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Behind stablemate Blackjack Magic when seventh in final of this veterans' series at Sandown in January and was soundly beaten in major Ascot handicap last month but her first two runs this season were very respectable and she's now 3lb lower than when winning this race in 2025.

7/2

8th

7

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Credo

10st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Successful in two legs of the 2025 Stayers' Veterans' Chase Series but came up short in the Final won by Nocte Volatus; hasn't won a conventional race since 2023.

20/1

5th

4

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Credo

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Anthony Honeyball

In-form mare who won four-runner veterans' chase fairly comfortably at Carlisle (3m, good) a week ago and is now 2-3 since fitted with a visor; has 6lb penalty to carry today but is respected in her current mood.

2/1

Form: -22P11 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Back in good form this month, winning on good ground at Doncaster (3m) and Warwick (3m5f); recent 3lb rise does not look excessive and this right-handed track should also suit; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Northern Poet

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Pulled up three consecutive times after his two good-ground wins (3m/3m5f) in March 2025; back on a good mark now and was seemingly perked up by first-time visor when close fourth of six (just behind Enjoy d'Allen) at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month but overall profile remains unconvincing.

12/1

4th

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:02 Plumpton

Northern Poet

12st 1lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Has five wins over fences, including over C&D, but has been pulled up on his last three starts; back on last winning mark and first-time visor now goes on but he comes with risks.

12/1

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Northern Poet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Won this last year (good) and followed up at Warwick (3m5f, good) a week later; also effective on good to soft ground; pulled up on final two starts last season but can go well fresh and is not ruled out on his return.

8/1

Non-runners

Bretney

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £30.30
Straight Forecast £34.19
Trifecta £164.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Northern Poet

WEST COUNTRY:

Credo

Telegraph:

Numitor

TOPSPEED:

Authorized Art

SPOTLIGHT:

Two For Gold

The Sun:

Credo

POSTDATA:

Northern Poet

The Times:

Northern Poet

D Express:

Northern Poet

Daily Mirror:

Northern Poet

The Star:

Northern Poet

Daily Record:

Northern Poet