November 12 / 15.25 Sandown

15.25

Good To Soft

Sri Lanka Paradise Island Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 9 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 3m 0f 37y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Sri Lanka Paradise Island Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 9 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.30

Form: P04-51 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on his form from two seasons ago and duly justified market confidence in one of these races at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) one month ago, rallying gamely following a bad mistake three out; did well to win all things considered and he's back up only 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Good Boy Bobby

11st 12lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Six-time chase winner; long in the tooth now but was placed in Newbury veterans' chase (3m2f, soft) on latest outing last March and has a good record when fresh; shortlised on hunter chase debut.

6/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 20F4-6 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Four years since his career high in winning Newbury's big November chase; never that threatening in this series last season and a similar story on his return when well behind Good Boy Bobby and Cyclop at Chepstow a month ago; hard to recommend on the back of that; cheekpieces are added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

11th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 4f 85y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

De Rasher Counter

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

disputed lead, prominent 3rd

7/1

6th

6

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:30 Kempton

De Rasher Counter

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Staged something of a revival in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown (3m veterans' chase) two months ago; possibilities if building on that second-place finish; defied a 13lb higher mark in top 3m2f handicap at Newbury in 2019.

13/2

13/2

Form: 1FP-23 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 1lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Perkier than ever when completing a hat-trick in February/March (3m-3m2f) and has returned in good order, having stuck on gamely to finish close up behind Good Boy Bobby at Chepstow a month ago; stays all day and wouldn't want this to turn tactical, but hard to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

11th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 4f 85y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

Cyclop

11st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: David Dennis

prominent

12/1

7/2

Form: 16723- C BF

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Won first time back last season over 3m on good to soft when only 3lb lower; ended the campaign with two creditable places (closely matched with Cyclop) and he's a dual course winner; should go well if avoiding the mistakes than can creep into his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Larry

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

18:30 Kempton

Larry

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

12/1

7

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Larry

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary Moore

Twice well beaten over C&D this winter, including last time, but in between he won at Plumpton and he's a two-time C&D winner who was third in this race last year; has won on a variety of ground; not ruled out.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: P2722- D

Last run: 207 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Infrequent winner (4-44) and three of his four wins have come at Haydock; runner-up elsewhere three times last season, however, and it was a particularly good effort last time at Cheltenham (3m2f) when good ground wouldn't have been soft enough for him; can give a good account despite his tough mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:45 Leicester

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

Very useful staying chaser at his best and has made the frame in both hunter chases for new owner-rider this season, more recently when third at Bangor (3m, soft) this month; won't be far away if in similar form again.

8/1

3rd

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

13:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

Winless since early 2021 but has run plenty of good races in the meantime, including on his recent hunter chase debut at Warwick (3m, good to soft) when returning from a lengthy break and wind surgery; that was a stronger race than this.

7/4

3rd

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

13:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

Winless since early 2021 but has run plenty of good races in the meantime, including on his recent hunter chase debut at Warwick (3m, good to soft) when returning from a lengthy break and wind surgery; that was a stronger race than this.

7/4

Form: 6PP57- CD

Last run: 232 days

W: 10st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
His Welsh Grand National win was five years ago and sole success since was in a veterans' chase at Ascot in March of 2022; last season never got going at all but his trainer reports him in good shape and he's rocketed down the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

12th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:25 Sandown

Elegant Escape

10st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

His Welsh Grand National win was five years ago and sole success since was in a veterans' chase at Ascot in March of 2022; last season never got going at all but his trainer reports him in good shape and he's rocketed down the weights.

12/1

7th

7

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Elegant Escape

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only win since landing the 2018 Welsh Grand National was in a veterans' chase at Ascot 12 months ago off 10lb higher; too well handicapped to ignore but this season hasn't got going at all.

12/1

5th

5

12th Feb 2023

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 2

16:30 Exeter

Elegant Escape

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Smart in his prime, with career highlight his 2018 Welsh Grand National win; capitalised upon some help from the handicapper when gaining a hard-fought win in Ascot veterans' race (3m, good) last March and he has a 5lb lower mark today, but disappointing shows are more the norm nowadays; has a change of equipment but it's hard to bank on a revival.

16/1

Non-runners

Court Master

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.30
Straight Forecast £13.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Good Boy Bobby

SPOTLIGHT:

Larry

D Express:

Court Master

TOPSPEED:

Larry

Telegraph:

Larry

Daily Mirror:

Larry

Daily Record:

Larry

POSTDATA:

Good Boy Bobby

WEST COUNTRY:

Good Boy Bobby

The Times:

Good Boy Bobby

The Sun:

Good Boy Bobby

The Star:

Good Boy Bobby