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15:00 Sandown

Saturday 4 January 2025

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase

10YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 37y | 9 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Sam Brown^b,t³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Chad Bament⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 153| D

5/1

Smart veteran chaser who won 3m handicaps at Warwick and Ascot last season. Returned with a fine third in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby but wasn't in the same form in a strong handicap at Newbury last time. Blinkers go back on.

Form: 5126-30

Eldorado Allen^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 149| C

7/2

Positive start to this season following another wind op when runner-up at Warwick and backed it up with a good third at Cheltenham. Step back up in trip is well in his favour and he boasts solid claims.

Form: 45P0-23

Remastered^p,t³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 144| D

14/1

Last season was a write-off (including pulled up in this) but he bounced back to form to take advantage of his reduced mark on his Wincanton reappearance in October. Has been let down by jumping on both subsequent outings and others make more appeal.

Form: 7PP-1FU

Empire Steel³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 142

13/2

Gives his running more often than not, which counts for plenty in this sort of event, so merits respect on the back of another creditable third at Haydock last time.

Form: 3219-43

Chambard^p²²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| D

16/1

Won the Kim Muir at 2022 Cheltenham Festival and and added another valuable handicap to his CV in the Becher at Aintree over a year ago. Hasn't fired subsequently, including on return at Cheltenham.

Form: 21P88-P

Copperhead^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 133| C| D

10/3

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. Excellent second the last twice and is a leading player here.

Form: 4-11122

Ask Me Early^p,t⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 130| D

7/1

Won one of these events at Exeter almost a year ago but hasn't been in the same form since, including on return at Bangor 52 days ago. Has edged back to a handy mark, though.

Form: P/9185-5

Fortescue^b⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 130| CD

8/1

Lightly raced in recent times and ran well when runner-up to Copperhead on reappearance. Didn't fire at Ascot subsequently but this is easier back against fellow veterans.

Form: 7220-24

Smarty Wild³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125

12/1

Useful handicap chaser, placed all 3 starts in 2022/23 but pulled up on the back of a long lay-off at Haydock last month. Might come on for it.

Form: 2F232/P

Forecasts

Copperhead (10/3), Eldorado Allen (7/2), Sam Brown (5/1), Empire Steel (13/2), Ask Me Early (7/1), Fortescue (8/1), Smarty Wild (12/1), Remastered (14/1), Chambard (16/1)

Joe Tizzard has revitalised COPPERHEAD and Eldorado Allen recently and this pair of classy types could be the ones to fight this out, with the former marginally preferred. Empire Steel is reliable in relation to most at this level, so he's considered a player, too.