November 21 / 14.25 Warwick

14.25

Good To Soft

John Sumner Memorial Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 9 Of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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John Sumner Memorial Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 9 Of The Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 5604-5 BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Did not jump well enough when disappointing favourite on last month's seasonal debut at Aintree but he's better than that and has good claims here if judged on creditable fourth from out of the weights at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Torn And Frayed

10st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Has shown consistent form (3122) this term, all in veterans' events, the success at Aintree (3m1f, good); ran creditably, one place in front of Eldorado Allen, at Cheltenham (2m4f) last time; likely player, assuming he continues in the same vein.

9/2

1st

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

13:50 Aintree

Torn And Frayed

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

His jumping can be an issue, as was the case when well beaten in this race last year and when third of seven on recent reappearance at Chepstow (2m7f, good to firm); however, he did well in the circumstances and can have a big say if minimising the blunders; has won on good and soft.

9/4

OUR TIP

9/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 345P0- D

Last run: 222 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Absent since well beaten in Grand National in April but was placed off higher marks in major handicaps at Ascot (3m, soft) and Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last autumn and will be hard to beat if back on song for this veterans' chase debut; had another wind op in August.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Eldorado Allen

10st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

12yo who staged a renaissance when winning a veterans' chase at Cheltenham in November and has continued in pretty good heart; however, it's likely he'll be vulnerable today; soundly beaten in this race 12 months ago.

66/1

4th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Eldorado Allen

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Form over shorter this term features a reappearance success in veterans' race at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft; beat Mister Coffey); record at Newbury includes a success in 2m7f Grade 2 in 2022 and respectable effort in major 3m2f handicap in 2023; solid claims.

9/2

4th

4

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Eldorado Allen

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Three-time Grade 2 chase winner who snapped long losing sequence to land veterans' handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in November; ran okay when third next time; however, this 12yo looks vulnerable in today's company.

50/1

Form: P2F0-3 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent in recent seasons but ran fairly well when third (albeit well held in the end) on reappearance outing at Aintree (3m1f, good) last month and possibilities if able to build on that performance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 162y

Class 3

15:37 Wincanton

Rapper

10st 13lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Henry Daly

Well handicapped on what he was doing two years ago but he's pulled up and finished last in two races after a year on the sidelines.

33/1

3rd

4

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Rapper

10st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

Inconsistent in recent seasons but ran fairly well when third (albeit well held in the end) on reappearance outing at Aintree (3m1f, good) last month and possibilities if able to build on that performance here.

6/1

3rd

4

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Rapper

10st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

Inconsistent in recent seasons but ran fairly well when third (albeit well held in the end) on reappearance outing at Aintree (3m1f, good) last month and possibilities if able to build on that performance here.

6/1

Form: 24433-

Last run: 227 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
0-14 over fences but ended last season with some very respectable efforts and resumes on a workable mark (even from 3lb out of the weights); seems versatile regarding ground; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:40 Cartmel

First Lord De Cuet

12st 0lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: David Pipe

Useful handicapper in his prime and versatile regarding ground; badly out of form under rules last season but easily won five-runner point on latest outing in March, and it will be interesting to see whether he enjoys a new lease of life in hunter chases.

6/1

Form: P3212- D

Last run: 224 days

W: 10st 13lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Teenager who is better known as a hunter chaser nowadays; ended last season with very creditable second over the big Aintree fences (2m5f, heavy) but needs to prove he can still be competitive off his handicap mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

11th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

1st

2

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:45 Leicester

Bennys King

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

14yo who is no longer the force of old and has become unreliable; that said, he won this race on heavy ground a year ago and proved he retains significant ability when keeping on gamely for second in refitted cheekpieces at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month.

7/1

Form: 0P-7P6 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Very useful at his best for Gordon Elliott but lost his way last season and has also disappointed on both starts for new stable this term; 1lb wrong here; needs to turn over a new leaf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Diol Ker

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Very useful in Ireland in his prime but 0-7 and generally very disappointing for Evan Williams since last autumn; returns from break on another career-low mark but considered only if lively in the betting.

33/1

12

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Diol Ker

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Very useful in Ireland in his prime but 0-7 and generally very disappointing for Evan Williams since last autumn; returns from break on another career-low mark but considered only if lively in the betting.

33/1

3

14th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

15:22 Newton Abbot

Diol Ker

11st 11lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

High-class hurdler/chaser in his prime but has struggled for a long time now and although this is a welcome drop in grade he continues with something to prove; cheekpieces discarded.

14/1

Non-runners

Empire Steel, Smarty Wild

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £10.36
Tricast £25.97
Trifecta £27.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Eldorado Allen

Telegraph:

Empire Steel

The Guardian:

Smarty Wild

The Star:

First Lord De Cuet

TOPSPEED:

Torn And Frayed

POSTDATA:

Rapper

The Sun:

Bennys King

Daily Mirror:

Empire Steel

Daily Mail:

Smarty Wild

RP RATINGS:

Eldorado Allen

The Times:

Eldorado Allen

D Express:

Eldorado Allen

Daily Record:

Eldorado Allen