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14:25 Cheltenham

Friday 13 December 2024

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Series Handicap Chase

10YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 4f 127y | 11 Runners | Turf

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Paint The Dream^t⁶⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: D Brace| OR: 150

28/1

Three of his four wins over fences have been gained at Newbury, including a Grade 3 handicap back in March 2022. Wasn't disgraced when third in his bid to win that same race 12 months later but subsequent absence is naturally a concern ahead of this debut for new yard.

Form: 434133/

Eldorado Allen^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 150| BF| C

15/2

Struggled in second half of last term but kick-started that campaign with a couple of very respectable efforts in major handicaps off higher marks than this. Positive start to this season following another wind op when chasing home Torn And Frayed at Warwick (3m, soft) and he's one to consider.

Form: 345P0-2

Shakem Up'arry^t²⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 149| BF| CD

4/1

Done little wrong in 4 runs over fences here (form figures read 5311), bettering his third-place finish in the 2023 Plate at the Festival when winning last season's renewal of that valuable C&D handicap. Clearly wasn't on-song at Aintree when last seen in April and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 4/P6110-

Dashel Drasher²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 149| C| D

6/1

Tough and likeable sort who's known more as a smart-staying hurdler nowadays, adding to his tally in that sphere when landing a Newbury Grade 2 last December. First run over fences for almost 2 years when third in the 1965 Chase at Ascot (21f, good to soft) last month and he's a key player.

Form: 13487-3

Seddon⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 146| CD

4/1

Lightly-raced since landing the C&D Plate at the 2023 Festival but there's been little in the way of regression in the interim judged on his Flat exploits this year, winning a couple of minor events prior to a creditable effort in a valuable Naas handicap. Resumes in this sphere on a fair mark.

Form: 11/238-P

Raffle Ticket²¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 145| D

10/1

Low mileage 10-y-o who has developed into a better chaser than hurdler. Looked better than ever when landing an 8-runner Aintree handicap (2½m, good to soft) on his latest appearance in May but has more on his plate up 8 lb in the stronger race.

Form: F621P-1

Shan Blue^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141

9/2

Very smart chaser at best and, though winless since landing the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton almost 4 years ago, he shaped well when fourth of 10 on his seasonal reappearance at Bangor (3m, soft). This drop back in trip looks a good move and, on a nice mark, he has to be taken seriously.

Form: P/PP33-4

Numitor⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: H Main| OR: 135

16/1

Enhanced healthy strike rate over fences with a tidy success on return at Wincanton (20.2f, good) and a 3 lb rise for that looks manageable. However, a clear career-best will be needed if he's to follow up in this tougher race.

Form: P/416-P1

Copperhead^p,t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 131

17/2

Snapped long losing run on final start of last term and has picked up where he left off by taking handicaps at Chepstow and Aintree in October. Clear of the rest when second in a 4-runner event at Sandown (24.2f, good) the following month but some of these could be better treated.

Form: 44-1112

Torn And Frayed²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 131| CD

11/2

Not always the most sure-footed and his round of jumping behind Copperhead at Aintree in October left an awful lot to be desired. However, it was an entirely different story next time at Warwick where he proved 8½ lengths too strong for Eldorado Allen, with the rest well beaten off. 6 lb rise fair.

Form: 5604-51

Non-Runners

Eden Du Houx²⁰

Weight: 10-3| Age: 10

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shakem Up'arry (4/1), Dashel Drasher (11/2), Shan Blue (6/1), Eldorado Allen (6/1), Seddon (7/1), Torn And Frayed (7/1), Copperhead (7/1), Raffle Ticket (14/1), Eden Du Houx (20/1), Numitor (20/1), Paint The Dream (20/1)

A strong-looking renewal of this veterans' race, with SHAN BLUE shading preference on the back of an encouraging reappearance at Bangor. He promises to be suited by this drop back in trip and gets the nod ahead of Dashel Drasher, who has also slipped to an attractive mark and put in a good shift back over fences in a Grade 2 at Ascot last month. Dual C&D winner Shakem Up'arry will be a danger to all if fully tuned-up, while Warwick 1-2 Torn And Frayed and Eldorado Allen also merit respect.