Home / November 22 / 15:15 Warwick

15:15 Warwick

Heavy

John Sumner Memorial Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 10 Of The Veterans’ Chase Series)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Warwick

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 3615-4 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict

High-class hurdler at his best; having only his fifth run over fences when 10l behind Aye Right at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) and could step up on that effort as he did get warm beforehand.

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Warwick

Thomas Darby

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Olly Murphy

Made his name over hurdles but he's 2-6 over fences and 3m on soft ground is right up his alley; it was quite comfortable when he accounted for Mill Green and Aye Right over C&D in November and a 4lb rise is not the end of the world; he's not your typical veteran chaser being so lightly raced in this discipline.

8/1

1st

2

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Thomas Darby

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

prominent, led 4th

5/1

4th

2

13th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

13:35 Chepstow

Thomas Darby

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

sweating

7/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: /333-0

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict

For the second season running, he was third over 3m in handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last spring; very lightly raced as a chaser and hasn't seen a fence in public since falling in the summer of 2021; clearly retains plenty of ability.

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

15:30 Cartmel

Mill Green

12st 2lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Best known as a very useful 3m handicap hurdler but was very creditable third in Veterans' Final at Warwick (3m, soft) on latest chasing start in January; did not fire in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Festival in March and has stamina to prove here but will find this considerably easier than the races he normally contests.

6/4

15th

10

14th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:10 Cheltenham

Mill Green

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Third in the big 3m handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals in both 2022 and 2023; exposed 12yo but there's every indication that he retains all of that ability, so may well be seriously involved once more.

20/1

3rd

4

11th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 25y

Class 2

15:35 Exeter

Mill Green

11st 3lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Acts on heavy; third in 3m handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last spring for the second season running; two runs over fences this winter suggest he's at least as good as ever; exposed 12yo but he should be seriously involved.

7/1

Form: 2P44-2 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict

Classy chaser with a good strike-rate and he agonisingly missed out on his debut in a veterans' chase when tying up close home at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft); only 2lb higher and it was good to see the winner follow up at Sandown.

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

15:25 Kelso

Aye Right

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

led, headed before 6th

3/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Warwick

Aye Right

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Agonisingly missed out in a leg of this series when tying up close home at Chepstow in October (collared by Good Boy Bobby); there are some course concerns as he wasn't so good when behind Thomas Darby and Mill Green here last time but he's still respected off the same mark as at Chepstow and new partner Dylan Johnston is good value for his 7lb; handles all ground.

13/2

3rd

1

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Aye Right

12st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

pressed leader

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4/0/7-

Last run: 371 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict

Decidedly smart at about 2m4f on his day but restricted to only two runs since finishing fourth in a 3m1f handicap at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival; not seen since tailed off in this 12 months ago but does return off 8lb lower and couldn't rule out with confidence.

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

16:10 Perth

Cepage

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

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

16:25 Cheltenham

Cepage

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

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

8

14th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

17:30 Cheltenham

Cepage

11st 9lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Venetia Williams

12yo; pulled up the last twice and lots to prove; however, he won in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) over 2m4f here (soft) in December on second start back from an absence and remains well treated on old form (including fourth in 3m1f Ultima here in 2021); Venetia Williams had 40-1 winner of this race in 2022 and 33-1 runner-up in 2021; not a forlorn hope at big odds.

66/1

Form: 427P-U

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict

Acts on soft going; pulled up (bled from nose) on final run of last season but he was strong in the market for his Aintree reappearance (3m1f, good to soft) only to stumble and unseat mid-race; that was a missed opportunity given his excellent record when fresh, but he's consistent in the main; respected.

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

16

25th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

15:35 Cheltenham

Jimmy The Digger

10st 13lb

J: Mr Archie Jones

T: Henry Daly

Seasonal reappearance when beating 19l rivals in this race two years ago off 5lb higher; never got his form back during a light campaign last season and it was a very underwhelming return at Warwick a month ago.

20/1

7th

6

24th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

15:30 Warwick

Jimmy The Digger

10st 10lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Henry Daly

Out of form during light campaign last season and absent since pulled up in February; given a good chance by the handicapper in the meantime but his current ability is tricky to gauge; might be ideally suited by good ground but copes well with soft.

10/1

2

6th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:35 Market Rasen

Jimmy The Digger

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Henry Daly

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: P1U12- D

Last run: 223 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict

Quality handicapper back in the day and did well in hunter chases last season, notably when runner-up at Aintree in April; could easily still have what it takes to be very competitive off this mark.

Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Never far from the lead when an admirable runner-up to the now-absent Famous Clermont in this 12 months ago (good to soft) and, like last year, he returns on the back of a comfortable hunter chase success (on heavy); teenagers have won this in the past (as recently as 2013) and this veteran needs shortlisting on testing ground he could handle better than most.

15/2

1st

1

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:35 Leicester

Bennys King

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Had a fine spell in early 2023, culminating in his second in the 2m5f Foxhunters' at Aintree; hasn't been in the same form this winter, even allowing for a close third of six finishers at Taunton (2m5f, soft) in January, and he did miss a heavy-ground engagement in December.

13/2

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+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £193.00
Straight Forecast £180.80
Trifecta £633.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Aye Right

TOPSPEED:

Thomas Darby

Telegraph:

Cepage

LAMBOURN:

Mill Green

POSTDATA:

Thomas Darby

The Times:

Aye Right

The Guardian:

Aye Right

Daily Mail:

Aye Right

Daily Mirror:

Aye Right

The Sun:

Aye Right

The Star:

Aye Right

Daily Record:

Aye Right

D Express:

Cepage