A solid option in the veterans' final to buy on the spreads

On Tour
3.00 Sandown
Buy at 8 on the index

The Veterans' series final should in theory be quite an easy race on the spreads, being full of known quantities. That is not how it looks in practice this time around.

Burtons Well bounced last time and fears persist over this fragile sort. King's Odyssey still has some questions to answer over a stiff three miles. Dark Flame, conversely, will need a firm emphasis on stamina.

The solid option, always our aim when looking at spreads, is last year's third, On Tour. He was just touched off by Vieux Lion Rouge at Chepstow in October and, it could be argued, shaped best in a strong race of its type. He is just 1lb higher now after not coming up to expectations in Burtons Well's race at Aintree, but that can be excused as nothing else could lay a glove on the winner that day, either.

The booking of Richard Johnson also appeals as a positive. Aside from the obvious reasons, Johnson's strength will help On Tour, who at least in his youth seemed all too happy with the more softly-softly approach of Paul Moloney and Adam Wedge. Combine that with the visor and On Tour should be at his sharpest for this race. Even if this proves a little too competitive for him in terms of the win, he should be up to rewarding his buyers with a place in the first four, which would guarantee a profit.

3.00 Sandown

Sporting (50-30-20-10): 16-19 Jepeck, 12-15 King's Odyssey, 10-13 Dark Flame, 8-11 Burtons Well, Horatio Hornblower, 7-9 Smooth Stepper, 6-8 Shanroe Santos, On Tour, 5-7 Vieux Lion Rouge, 4-6 Carole's Destrier, Theatre Guide, Wild West Wind, 3-5 Regal Flow, Abolitionist

Match bet: King's Odyssey/Dark Flame 0.25-1.75

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