Sandown Park Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 23.7s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Certainly Red^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 139| C| D

15/8

Good record here, fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup in April fitted with first-time cheekpieces (back on now). Made an encouraging return in one of these events at Chepstow last month, no match for rejuvenated handicap blot Copperhead, with Good Boy Bobby third. Leading claims.

Form: 52P3-42

Good Boy Bobby^p³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| CD

9/4

Back-to-back winner in 3m veterans' handicap chases this time last year, including this race. Should have come on for Chepstow return behind Copperhead and Certainly Red and seems sure to give his running.

Form: 17350-3

Copperhead^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 130| C| D

2/1

Has emerged from an extended spell in the doldrums to some tune, landing 3 handicaps in a row from a much-reduced mark relative to his smart peak, including one of these at Chepstow from the returning Certainly Red and Good Boy Bobby. 8 lb hit and might find those two rivals reversing the form now.

Form: 344-111

Moroder^p1¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 126| D

17/2

Ran easily his best race last season on his final start when fitted with first-time blinkers and second at Cheltenham. Should have come on for Exeter return when headgear was left off and cheekpieces now tried on his first go in a veterans' event. Second in the 2023 bet365 here and he's interesting.

Form: P7852-P

Forecasts

Certainly Red (15/8), Copperhead (2/1), Good Boy Bobby (9/4), Moroder (17/2)

All four runners can have a case made for them but CERTAINLY RED has a decent record at Sandown and could be the way to go after his encouraging comeback at Chepstow behind 4-timer seeking Copperhead. Moroder was second in the bet365 Gold Cup here in 2023 and lurks on a very dangerous mark with headgear back on. Last year's winner Good Boy Bobby also shaped well on return behind Copperhead and is firmly in the mix, also.