February 10 / 14.55 Warwick

14.55

Soft

Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £18483.5
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 525/2-

Last run: 649 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Hasn't won over fences since a dramatic success at Ascot in late 2019 (won over hurdles in 2021); returns from his long absence off a reduced mark but this trip could be a stretch (best form at 2m/2m1f), especially on ground softer than he cares for.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

18:10 Chepstow

Diego Du Charmil

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

All seven career wins at up to 2m1f and he cut out quickly at the business end of a 3m veterans' chase at Ascot a month ago on his return from a long absence; did move well enough for long enough to believe he retains plenty of his old ability, on which he's well handicapped.

3/1

2

26th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

18:10 Chepstow

Diego Du Charmil

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

All seven career wins at up to 2m1f and he cut out quickly at the business end of a 3m veterans' chase at Ascot a month ago on his return from a long absence; did move well enough for long enough to believe he retains plenty of his old ability, on which he's well handicapped.

3/1

5

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Diego Du Charmil

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple winner who has been absent since good second at Kempton (2m2f, good) in May 2022, when 5lb higher; in top hands and Ascot has brought out the best in him in the past (at up to 2m3f), but it's a hefty layoff to defy and he's very much going into the unknown in terms of stamina.

11/2

Form: 5-7891 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Has found it tough going since showing smart form as a novice (Grade 2 winner) but after contesting some strong handicaps he appreciated the drop in class at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) when leading late on in the reapplied cheekpieces; effectively 5lb higher here (up 2lb and they claimed 3lb latest) but could deal with that if he's turned a corner; has left Lucinda Russell but remains in same ownership.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

5th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Do Your Job

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Made all for clearcut success at Wetherby (2m3f, good) in March but beaten fair and square the last twice; he's not as good as he was and now struggles for consistency.

12/1

4

5th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Do Your Job

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Made all for clearcut success at Wetherby (2m3f, good) in March but beaten fair and square the last twice; he's not as good as he was and now struggles for consistency.

12/1

3rd

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

18:40 Hereford

Do Your Job

11st 12lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Exploited some considerable help from the handicapper when making all for clearcut success at Wetherby (2m3f, good) in March but was safely held on his latest outing and is nothing like the force of old.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-P132 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Has won four of his nine starts for Joe Tizzard and he had an off-day on the jumping front when no match for a progressive one at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft; fine on soft); no reason why he won't be involved down 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:17 Exeter

Le Ligerien

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

prominent, pressed leader 6th

11/8

Form: 25266- D

Last run: 399 days

W: 11st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner and never better than when second at Cheltenham off 7lb higher in November 2022 (three runs back); asking a lot to win this after 12 months away and, while he's won on soft and heavy, his peak RPRs have been on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:30 Stratford

Broken Quest

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Only this year returned from a long absence and showed he was no back number with an 11l third at Aintree two weeks ago (3m1f, good); stamina for quite this far is by no means assured but he can't be ruled out.

8/1

Form: 0772-3 D BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
His remote third in a four-runner field at Aintree (2m4f, soft) was disappointing given that he goes well fresh, though he did make one notable blunder; should be winning races off this low a mark but he's become a hard horse to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

30th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Riders Onthe Storm

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Richard Hobson

/Just two runs this season and, following a wind op, he returned to form with a good second at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago; he's fine over this trip and on soft/heavy going, and is one to consider.

9/2

2nd

7

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

14:35 Doncaster

Riders Onthe Storm

10st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Richard Hobson

Grade 1 chase winner in 2020 but has regressed and become very inconsistent; finished remote when third of four in veterans' chase at Aintree (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day and is not sure to be suited by today's drop back in trip; had wind surgery last month; cheekpieces refitted; others have much more persuasive profiles.

16/1

Form: 2U9425 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Formerly smart for Nicky Henderson and has become a consistent chaser in France; ran better than 18l defeat may suggest in a strong 2m4f handicap on Trials' Day at Cheltenham (good to soft), ultimately paying the price late on after a bold mid-race move; there was enough in that run to believe he's on a good mark, and today's softer ground looks a positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

16:10 Ludlow

Champagne Mystery

11st 10lb

J: Mr Tommie M O’Brien

T: Tom George

Out of form in France this season but only 12 months ago he was beaten 2l in a 2m4f Kempton handicap (soft) off a 10lb higher mark; stamina for this far is not entirely proven but wouldn't be too dismissive.

5/1

7

30th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Champagne Mystery

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Poor 1-17 strike-rate over fences but fair fifth in hot Cheltenham handicap (2m4f, good to soft) in January on first run back with this yard and ran well when 2l third of six at Kempton (2m4f, soft) last month; this 10yo now contests his first veterans' chase and is firmly in calculations.

7/2

3rd

8

24th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:10 Kempton

Champagne Mystery

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Campaigned in France from October 2021 until November 2023, winning once (over hurdles) and making the frame plenty of times; not disgraced in a warm race at Cheltenham four weeks ago on his return to British soil, taking fifth of 13 at 50-1, but he is only 1-16 over fences (the win in 2019) and does not look the percentage call.

5/1

Form: P-5351

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Not as good as he was and the three rivals he beat from the front at Wincanton (1m7f, heavy) a month ago had questions to answer; has only been raised 2lb, though, and an easy lead would enhance his prospects no end.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Verdict

Making a lot of the running suited Fast Buck at Wincanton and, unless the unpredictable Riders Onthe Storm joins the party, he could get a freebie up front. Others are still preferred, with CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY (nap) of definite interest on this return to softer ground after running an eyecatching race on Trials’ Day at Cheltenham. Do Your Job is feared most after getting his career back on course at Wetherby, while Le Ligerien is another to note.[Alistair Jones]