January 04 / 14.40 Wincanton

14.40

Soft

Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 2m 4f 35y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow

Form: 114P-P D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
The blinkers worked well initially but he's lost his way again and was pulled up last time at Exeter in a race that Stormy Flight went close to winning; went off 25-1 that day as well; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Quel Destin

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hurdler/chaser in his pomp who is a three-time chase winner, with back-to-back wins coming in December 2023; below that level in limited appearances since, including after a third wind operation; nevertheless, he could still make his presence felt at this lower level.

9/2

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 46-112 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Couldn't bring up the hat-trick at Ascot (2m5f, good; fine on softer) but still ran well behind one who next time won a hot handicap at Cheltenham; this 10yo is off an untouched mark and Cameron Iles also rode last time; clear claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Nocte Volatus

10st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Justified favouritism in the 2025 Stayers' Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown (good) most recently, taking record over 3m to 2-3; in top form aged 11 and still unexposed at this distance.

13/2

Form: 548-31 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
This will take more winning than the race he won at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) but he justified favouritism with ease that day; back up 7lb but has defied even higher in the past.
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: 423FP/ C

Last run: 675 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Two winters ago he had placed form off higher marks and in better races; the long absence (during which he's had wind surgery) is an obvious cause for concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

The Widdow Maker

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tizzard

Won in a small field at Exeter (2m3f, good) last March before 17l sixth in this race (good); he's run well in defeat on both starts this season but needs something extra if he's to come out on top today.

14/1

3rd

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

Form: 31-F02 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Tailed off behind Nocte Volatus on October's return at Chepstow but he was as good as ever last season and enhanced his excellent record at Exeter when going close over 2m3f there a month ago, the form of which has been franked by the progressive winner; has placed form at this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out, pulled up after 3 out

4/1

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Stormy Flight

11st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, reminder after 7th, struggling from 4 out

4/1

6th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:02 Newbury

Stormy Flight

12st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

His second to Lowry's Bar at Exeter in December (2m3f; stays 3m+) reads really well and it wasn't a bad effort last time at Taunton (2m7f); an 11yo now but goes on any ground and he can't be discounted.

8/1

Form: 743-46

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Has competitive form from 2m to 3m; heavy ground perhaps tested his fitness when back from a break at Haydock but he's been on a slippery slope for some time now; not the percentage call with new headgear tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

8

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:34 Ffos Las

Red Rookie

10st 11lb

T: Emma Lavelle

Form: 3O223- C

Last run: 263 days

W: 10st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Not seen over regulation since pulling up here in April 2023 when with Philip Hobbs; two point wins and placed over hurdles in the meantime, though was beaten at odds-on in a 3m point in November; more to prove than some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Verdict

Although the hat-trick came up shy at Ascot, NOCTE VOLATUS still ran perfectly well behind one who has since won a big handicap. He rocks up here off an untouched mark. Stormy Flight did well to push a progressive winner so close at Exeter and he’s a big threat, for all that he’s never been able to get the job done here in the past. Le Ligerien is hard to knock.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Nocte Volatus

WEST COUNTRY:

Stormy Flight

POSTDATA:

Le Ligerien

RP RATINGS:

Nocte Volatus

TOPSPEED:

Nocte Volatus

The Times:

Nocte Volatus

The Guardian:

Nocte Volatus

Daily Mail:

Nocte Volatus

The Sun:

Nocte Volatus

The Star:

Nocte Volatus

Daily Record:

Nocte Volatus

D Express:

Stormy Flight

Daily Mirror:

Stormy Flight

Telegraph:

Le Ligerien