Sandown Park, venue for the 32Red Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final, gives us some interesting facts concerning the 15 runners.
They have 177 years between them and have run in 600 races, winning more than 100. In those races, they’ve covered 1,702 miles and that’s the equivalent of a return flight from London to Madrid.
The 32Red Veterans’ series is a terrific incentive for older chasers. It gives them the opportunity to keep on earning their keep by running against contemporaries. Many of these old boys just like to race so retirement isn’t really an exciting option and, of course, places still have to be found in paddocks.
It’s a bit of a shame that this year’s final will have to compete for star billing with the rescheduled Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, in which a few of this year’s field have run themselves, but that can’t be helped with the BHA anxious not to lose one of winter’s big betting heats.
It’s extremely rare for the first five in any race under any code to come back the following year but that’s what has happened with the 2018 32Red Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final. Pete The Feat won 12 months ago ahead of Theatrical Star, Loose Chips, Gas Line Boy and Cloudy Too. Charlie Longsdon’s old-timer is now 14 but is showing no sign of slowing down. He came right back to form at Sandown before Christmas, beating a subsequent winner. But he has always been a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde character and was tailed off earlier behind Houblon Des Obeaux and Third Intention in a qualifier for this.
The latter has never looked like winning over 3m but Venetia Williams’ charge still has a touch of class and so does Benbens, who won the London National over 3m5f here last time. He, however, was beaten 19 lengths behind Perfect Candidate at Cheltenham earlier, though the top weight is best at that track and going right-handed hasn’t suited in the past.
O’Faolains Boy’s lack of a recent run and his stable’s form would have to be considered but Rebecca Curtis’ gelding is thrown in on his best form. It’s no surprise to see Gas Line Boy favourite with every bookmaker (5/1 with William Hill) as he won the Grand Sefton at Aintree over a trip too short and loves the mud but he was only fourth last year and is on a career-high mark at the age of 12.
At his current odds of 16/1 with BetVictor, we have to have a second look at FOX APPEAL. Emma Lavelle’s runner has never raced on heavy ground so we just don’t know if he’ll take to the surface but he handles soft and won off a higher mark at Newton Abbot as recently as last April. Champion Richard Johnson has won on him in the past and recent efforts have included a second against an in-form The Romford Pele at Leicester and a fair fifth in the Listed Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton – he’s been dropped 2lb since. Odds of 4/1 just to be placed are simply too big.
32Red Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final Current Odds
Gas Line Boy 5/1, Benbens 7/1, Perfect Candidate 8/1, Cloudy Too, Double Ross, Pete The Feat and Houblon Des Obeaux 10/1, Third Intention 12/1, Theatrical Star, Fox Appeal, and Loose Chips 16/1, Buywise and O’Faolains Boy 20/1, No Duffer 22/1, Vino Griego 25/1
