November 11 / 14.55 Cheltenham

14.55

Good To Soft

Glenfarclas Veterans’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 4f 44y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
ITV4
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Glenfarclas Veterans’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 35321- C

Last run: 205 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Strong form at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in April on last appearance, beating a subsequent triple winner by 11l, and still looks very well handicapped having been raised only 5lb; successful over hurdles on this card five years ago (good to soft) and commands major respect back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

13:40 Ludlow

Magic Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Kerry Lee

Placed three times during the summer (2m3f-2m7f, good) but his final run was most disappointing; off new career-low mark but a 12yo now and he holds no secrets.

14/1

9

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Worcester

Magic Dancer

10st 12lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Veteran who last won in 2022 but has come down the weights and took third in three of his last four starts, latest when running on from off the pace over C&D 11 days ago; has been tried over this sort of trip on only his last two outings and that latest run showed there's something to build on.

10/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 11-125 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Below par in similar event at Chepstow (back from break) last month, possibly needing the run; largely in good form otherwise this year and may bounce back; however, spring hat-trick came over longer distances.
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

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2110-3 C

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
First spell over fences soon turned sour much earlier in career but he shaped encouragingly at Perth (3m, good) returned to this sphere on seasonal debut; major player provided he builds on that effort; well handicapped on hurdles form, including several Graded efforts at up to 2m5f here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

7th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:00 Sandown

Ballyandy

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

First spell over fences soon turned sour much earlier in career but he was placed in his two further attempts this autumn; well handicapped on hurdles form, including from two runs over about 3m in the mud last February.

10/1

3rd

2

11th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 2

14:55 Cheltenham

Ballyandy

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

First spell over fences soon turned sour much earlier in career but he shaped encouragingly at Perth (3m, good) returned to this sphere on seasonal debut; major player provided he builds on that effort; well handicapped on hurdles form, including several Graded efforts at up to 2m5f here.

11/4

Form: 4426-6 D

Last run: 173 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Respectable second in similar event at Newbury (3m2f, soft) on last British start; let down by his jumping in two Auteuil races since; bit to prove back down in trip and needs to cut out the errors.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Saint Xavier

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Long in the tooth now and no longer the force of old; exploited some considerable help from the handicapper when winning at Haydock (3m4f, soft) just after Christmas but was well beaten next time (albeit on heavy ground) and younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

25/1

14

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Saint Xavier

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Long in the tooth now and no longer the force of old; exploited some considerable help from the handicapper when winning at Haydock (3m4f, soft) just after Christmas but was well beaten next time (albeit on heavy ground) and younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

25/1

Form: P453-U D

Last run: 167 days

W: 11st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Absent since unseating rider at Cartmel in May; goes well fresh, as he showed when fourth off 5lb higher in the Paddy Power over C&D (soft) two years ago; nicely treated and looks interesting back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

27th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 3

16:30 Cartmel

Kauto Riko

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Smart at his best but hasn't won since 2020, and completed only one of four races during light campaign last season; had excuse when pulled up at Sandown in February (scoped dirty) but others look less risky.

14/1

8

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:30 Sandown

Kauto Riko

11st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

always towards rear

40/1

9

7th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:00 Sandown

Kauto Riko

11st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

His peak ratings, including from two runs last winter, make this look a very good mark and a case can certainly be made; however, he's won only once (February 2020) in the last four years.

33/1

Form: P3PU1- D

Last run: 229 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Landed the Welsh National in 2018 and belated regained the winning thread at Ascot (3m, good) on final run last term; still on a workable mark but this trip looks too sharp; all of his chase form is at 2m7f+.
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

Form: 31114- D

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Had a strike-rate of 4-6 last term and looked better than ever despite his advancing years; came up short in Class 2 event on final outing (all wins in lower grades) but could go well in this veterans' race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

5th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Wincanton

Native Robin

11st 4lb

J: David Prichard

T: Jeremy Scott

Teenager who was in career-best form last season, winning three times over C&D (all on good to soft); well below that level this term but ran well from the front when third at Stratford (2m6f, good to soft) last month and the return to this track is an obvious plus.

10/1

3rd

3

13th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

14:40 Stratford

Native Robin

11st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Jeremy Scott

Admirable veteran with 13 chase victories to his name but hasn't approached anything like his best form since returning from a break.

14/1

3rd

6

31st Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:00 Lingfield

Native Robin

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

raced in second, pushed along after 6th, ridden after 9th, lost second 3 out, weakened 2 out

25/1

Form: -35824 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 5lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger who is making debut for new stable; ordinary form over hurdles recently; close second off this mark in veterans' chase at Haydock (3m1f, good) in April; has a fighting chance on that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

27th Jul 2023

Soft

3m 0f 0y

19:35 Limerick

My Manekineko

11st 0lb

J: Gearoid Brouder

T: Peter McCreery

Prolific winner; last two runs in claimers, with his latest effort nowhere near his best; probably vulnerable.

25/1

11th

11

10th Jul 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Roscommon

My Manekineko

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Peter McCreery

in rear throughout, mistake 8th, brief headway before 3 out, soon no impression

12/1

4th

9

13th Jun 2023

Good

2m 2f 51y

16:55 Sligo

My Manekineko

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Peter McCreery

towards rear, pushed along and still plenty to do 2 out, ran on well from last, went fourth towards finish, nearest finish

16/1

Form: /P72P- D

Last run: 239 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Holds each-way hopes on last season's peak effort, namely second in veterans' event at Hereford; however, has something to prove back down in distance, having shown most of his chase form at 3m+.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

16:45 Lingfield

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Last win was off 14lb higher at Carlisle (3m, soft) but that was almost two years ago; has form figures of P9PP0 in his last five runs including a tailed-off effort back at Carlisle recently and can only be watched.

20/1

10th

1

6th Feb 2023

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:15 Carlisle

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Warren Greatrex

Defied a 9lb higher mark over C&D (soft) nearly two years ago; subsequent form is dismal apart from a placed effort last February; however, revival looks possible back here with Brian Hughes booked.

8/1

1

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:52 Fontwell

Another Emotion

12st 2lb

J: Dylan Kitts

T: Warren Greatrex

Dual winner at about 3m in early 2021 (heavy/soft) but his modest runs outweigh his good ones in recent times; sights are lowered today but he still has much to prove.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £57.60
Straight Forecast £48.55
Tricast £143.07
Trifecta £210.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Magic Dancer

POSTDATA:

Ballyandy

RP Ratings:

Kauto Riko

Daily Mail:

Elegant Escape

TOPSPEED:

Native Robin

WEST COUNTRY:

Ballyandy

Daily Mirror:

Ballyandy

The Star:

Ballyandy

D Express:

Kauto Riko

The Times:

Magic Dancer

Telegraph:

Magic Dancer

The Guardian:

Magic Dancer

The Sun:

Magic Dancer

Daily Record:

Magic Dancer