14.25
Good To SoftUnibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £23413.5
- 2m 5f 89y
- Class 2
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 265P-3 C
Last run: 69 days
W: 12st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
16th Mar 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Well-held last of three runners over hurdles on sole outing this term; had wind surgery (his fourth) since; very useful chaser on his day and bagged Grade 1 honours over 2m4f at Aintree (as a novice) two years ago; possibilities off this mark, provided he's back on song. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
11th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Highly tried and lost his way over fences last season after two good seconds over this trip before Christmas; now reverts to hurdling and he's certainly interesting on his third in the 2021 Aintree Hurdle, while a 10l win in the 2022 Manifesto Novices' Chase (again 2m4f, good to soft) underlines his liking for this course; carries risks but not ruled out by any means. |
100/30 |
Abandoned
Form: /P-PP3
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 9lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 2 |
1st Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 37y Class 2 |
11st 10lb |
in rear, hit 1st |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /7-41P D
Last run: 6 days
W: 11st 9lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
25th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 20y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Veteran who has been rather disappointing over 3m plus since winning a 2m4f handicap in first-time cheekpieces at Cheltenham in December (soft); slightly better in blinkers (retained) at Cheltenham last week (3m2f, good) but needs to do even better. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
25th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 20y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Veteran who has been rather disappointing over 3m plus since winning a 2m4f handicap in first-time cheekpieces at Cheltenham in December (soft); slightly better in blinkers (retained) at Cheltenham last week (3m2f, good) but needs to do even better. |
9/1 |
|
8th 3 |
17th Apr 2024 Good To Soft 3m 2f 0y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Rejuvenated by first-time cheekpieces when winning veterans' chase by 7l here (2m4f, soft) in December but looked out of sorts when pulled up on next three outings; blinkers given a whirl today. |
40/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 151P-6
Last run: 89 days
W: 11st 3lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
16th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Resurgent 11yo who won three 2m4f chases last season and was creditable second in valuable series final for veterans at Haydock (2m4f, good) last month; can't be ignored in current form. |
7/2 |
|
1st 2 |
16th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Resurgent 11yo who won three 2m4f chases last season and was creditable second in valuable series final for veterans at Haydock (2m4f, good) last month; can't be ignored in current form. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 5 |
19th Apr 2025 Good 2m 3f 203y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
prominent, pressed leader before 4 out, hampered by loose horse on turn after 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, no extra and no chance with winner after 2 out |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1P-PP1 C
Last run: 10 days
W: 10st 8lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 128
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
3rd May 2025 Good 2m 0f 48y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th, struggling 3 out, no chance when mistake 2 out, soon pulled up |
9/4 |
|
2 |
3rd May 2025 Good 2m 0f 48y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th |
9/4 |
|
2 |
5th Apr 2025 Good 2m 0f 190y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
set good pace, led, not fluent 4th, soon headed, lost two places before 3 out, weakened and pulled up quickly before 2 out |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3-6193 D
Last run: 34 days
W: 10st 5lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
18th Nov 2024 Good To Firm 2m 6f 151y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Point, hurdle and chase winner, mostly on slow ground; has won when fresh; below his last winning mark but has a bit to prove. |
16/1 |
|
5th 2 |
18th Nov 2024 Good To Firm 2m 6f 151y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Point, hurdle and chase winner, mostly on slow ground; has won when fresh; below his last winning mark but has a bit to prove. |
16/1 |
|
1 |
21st Jul 2024 Good 2m 6f 7y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Failed to give his running over fences last time but ran really well at Ascot the time before and he's capable over hurdles; not dismissed. |
10/1 |
Verdict
All five runners have experienced swings in their form over the last 12 months but SHAN BLUE looked on the way back to an approximation of his old form at Ascot and a repeat of that would make him hard to beat. Baron De Midleton put a dire sequence behind him when winning over hurdles last time and he can be the main danger as Millers Bank is an unknown quantity these days, these conditions are on the sharp side for Risk And Roll and Cepage soon pulled stumps at Warwick last week.[Emily Weber]