A whole host of old favourites come out to play for a big pot in the rearranged Veterans’ Chase Series Final at Warwick.
Good Boy Bobby has the most eye-catching form of the 16 runners in Saturday’s 15:35 – rescheduled after last weekend’s Sandown meeting was abandoned – after beating a number of rivals in Leg Seven and Nine of the series earlier in the season.
The 2021 Rowland Meyrick winner beat Aye Right by a neck at Chepstow in October, although the latter is a stone better off for the rematch thanks to the booking of claiming jockey Dylan Johnston, and Thomas Darby, who subsequently landed Leg 10 at Warwick.
Good Boy Bobby also got the better of De Rasher Counter and Cyclop for a second time as well as Lord Du Mesnil at Sandown in November, although he has to deal with a 4lb rise for that success.
Ramses De Teillee finished second in last season’s renewal and is rated 4lbs inferior for his latest crack at the title, while Two For Gold has to carry the top weight of 12st in testing conditions.
The latest Veterans’ Chase Series Final odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Veterans’ Chase Series Final verdict
Timeform: It’s worth chancing RAMSES DE TEILLEE, who has won his last two starts immediately on the back of wind operations, including when scoring in good style on his reappearance over this C&D last season, and he has undergone another round of surgery ahead of this return to action. Aye Right is taken to reverse C&D placings with Thomas Darby and Mill Green and emerge as the main danger. That said, a case can also be made for hat-trick seeker Good Boy Bobby.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Veterans’ Chase Series Final runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Veterans’ Chase Series Final 2024.
Two For Gold
Trainer: Kim Bailey Jockey: Ciaran Gethings Age: 11 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Signed off last season with success in a veterans’ handicap at Ascot and returned with an excellent second at the same track in November. Better than being pulled up at Chepstow since might suggest but looks vulnerable under top-weight in this competitive contest in any case.
**
Thomas Darby
Trainer: Olly Murphy Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 11 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Grade 2 winning hurdler and equally as good over fences, very much on a going day when seeing off Mill Green, Aye Right and Cepage over this C&D (heavy) in November. 4 lb rise is manageable and he’ll be a danger to all if in a similar mood.
***
Aye Right
Trainer: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford Jockey: Dylan Johnston Age: 11 Weight: 11st 11lbs
Got the better of Good Boy Bobby in the Rehearsal Chase in November 2021 and solid start to this season when just touched off by that rival on return in a veterans’ chase at Chepstow. Testing conditions may not have been ideal when third to Thomas Darby over this C&D since and he’s one to consider.
****
Sam Brown
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 12 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Rejuvenated by first-time blinkers at the Punchestown Festival last spring, in front when falling 2 out. Not at his best in 2 outings this term but this trip more suitable than the 20.5f he ran over when fifth to Cepage and Lord du Mesnil at Cheltenham last time. First-time visor replaces blinkers.
**
The Galloping Bear
Trainer: Ben Clarke Jockey: Sean Houlihan Age: 11 Weight: 11st 6lbs
Useful staying chaser who was a good second in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last February. However, he has failed to complete both subsequent starts, pulled up before the halfway point on return in the Welsh National. Visor he wore that day is replaced by first-time blinkers here.
*
Lord Du Mesnil
Trainer: Richard Hobson Jockey: Lilly Pinchin Age: 11 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Nearly 3 years since he was last successful but he has recorded good runner-up efforts on 4 of his last 6 starts, going down by 7 lengths to Cepage at Cheltenham (20.5f, good to soft) last time. Return to 3m in his favour and he’s not without each-way hope.
***
Cepage
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 12 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Very smart chaser when on-song. Well behind a few of these on his reappearance over C&D but a different proposition in cheekpieces (retained) when seeing off Lord Du Mesnil in 20.5f Cheltenham veterans’ event next time. Still well treated on old form but not certain to be as effective back at 3m.
***
Mill Green
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Robert Dunne Age: 12 Weight: 11st 2lbs
Showed that plenty of ability remains in 2022/23, finishing third in big-field handicaps at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. Good second to Thomas Darby on C&D reappearance in November and likely to be in the mix again off the same mark.
***
Celebre D’Allen
Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Jockey: Non Runner Age: 12 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Non Runner.
Good Boy Bobby
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 11 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Right back in form this term, edging out at Aye Right at Chepstow in October before proving 2 lengths too strong for De Rasher Counter at Sandown (24.2f, good to soft) in November. Should remain very competitive up 4 lb in first-time cheekpieces.
***
Ramses De Teillee
Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 12 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Ended last season on a downer but made a bright start to that campaign, scoring over C&D following a wind op on his reappearance before finishing second in this race (run at Sandown) off a 4 lb higher mark. Resumes following another wind op and he’s one to be interested in.
*****
De Rasher Counter
Trainer: Emma Lavelle Jockey: James Best Age: 12 Weight: 10st 11lbs
All the better for his Chepstow reappearance when 2 lengths second to the reopposing Good Boy Bobby over C&D in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last time. Also engaged 1.30 Kempton.
**
Cyclop
Trainer: David Dennis Jockey: Ned Fox Age: 13 Weight: 10st 8lbs
Rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick in veterans’ handicaps last February/March. Creditable efforts on first 3 starts this term but he needs to shrug off a lesser run at Chepstow last month.
**
Boldmere
Trainer: Alex Hales Jockey: Bryan Carver Age: 11 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Winner of 3m veterans’ events at Doncaster and Fakenham last spring. However, he hasn’t shone in a couple of runs so far this season and it’s easy enough to look elsewhere.
**
Nestor Park
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 11 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Just one win to his name over fences but, to his credit, he has made the frame on several occasions. Still, latest effort at Doncaster wasn’t one of his better ones and hopes pinned on the addition of blinkers sparking something here.
**
Top Ville Ben
Trainer: Philip Kirby Jockey: Joe Williamson Age: 12 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Ran a cracker when third in big-field Leopardstown handicap last February before struggling in competitive handicaps the big festivals during the spring. Nothing wrong with his reappearance second at Aintree (2½m, heavy) but it’s been over 4 years since he last hit the target.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Wetherby, Warwick & Kempton
- Paul Jacobs’ ITV Racing tips for Saturday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Saturday’s ITV action
- NAP of the Day: Today’s NAPs Table of horse racing tips across the UK & Ireland
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