Can Evan do it again? Prime Venture bids to repeat £100,000 veterans' final win

Saturday: 3.00 Sandown
Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase (2022 Veterans' Chase Series Final) | 3m | 11yo+ | ITV/RTV

The veterans' final has always been used as a gateway to big handicaps by a certain few – even going back to its first winner, Soll, who used the race as a Grand National prep. But such runners had been limited to one or two a year – until now.

Look down the field of 18 – the biggest ever, if they all go to post – and there are potentially as many as half a dozen who could hop seamlessly from the seniors' tour back into open-age handicaps next time without looking out of place.

These include market principals like Ramses De Teillee and Snow Leopardess. The trend runs further down the betting. Chambard won the Kim Muir in March, while Elegant Escape could have been aimed at the Welsh National, which he won in 2018, after running in the race's official trial last time but instead turns up here.

To my mind, the biggest signifier of this race's increased stature is Coo Star Sivola. In his time with Nick Williams he was always laid out for the Cheltenham Festival; he won the Ultima in 2018. Venetia Williams got hold of him before this season and has been pretty direct in her aim: one qualifying run at Haydock, then straight to the final.

That Haydock qualifier is demonstrably strong form: four of the nine runners turn up here and third-placed The Two Amigos went on to win the Welsh National. It also has history, being the qualifier that produced last season's final winner Prime Venture. He has been targeted at a repeat – his two runs this season have been over hurdles – but this is clearly a more competitive renewal.

Conditions will at least suit Prime Venture, who is a mud-loving hold-up horse. The ground seems likely to be even softer this time, while there is no shortage of runners who could play a similar role to last year's tearaway leader Valadom, including Saint Xavier who won the Haydock qualifier and represents the same connections.

Ramses De Teillee, Snow Leopardess, Coo Star Sivola, Chirico Vallis, Run To Milan and Indy Five have loads of front-running experience. The most enthusiastic of all is Wishing And Hoping, who entered his teens last week but is still regularly giving a bold sight in front in good handicaps. If anything he has done too much a couple of times at Aintree on recent starts.

With so much pace in the race, you might wonder where the notion came from that all veteran chasers are cantankerous old boats. The veterans' series has done wonders for the careers and the image of those in advancing years. Punters know now that the veterans' final can be treated like any other valuable staying handicap chase on midwinter ground. That means we should expect bold jumping, big margins and, perhaps for the first time, serious ante-post quotes for major handicaps about the winner.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Venture primed for Sandown return

Evan Williams boasts a superb record in this £100,000 staying chase, and bids for his third victory in the race's eight-year history.

The trainer sent out Buywise to land the prize in 2018, and prepared On Tour to finish third in 2019 and fourth in 2020.

Prime Venture annihilated Final Nudge by nine lengths last year and competes off the same mark of 130.

"He's a gallant old boy," Williams said. "He's twice run very well over hurdles this season, and we've been hoping to get him back to Sandown for this race. It's very competitive, but he's in good form."

What they say

David Pipe, trainer of Ramses De Teillee
He's in great form. If the Ramses who won at Warwick turns up and he can get into a nice rhythm, he'll have a great chance.

Nick Kent, trainer of Crosspark
Everything has gone to plan at home. We've had no setbacks with him and were very pleased with his comeback at Haydock where he showed real zest. My biggest concern is he's still 7lb higher than when he won his last race which was almost four years ago. It's a wide-open, competitive event.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Snow Leopardess
Her last few form figures don't look great, but she slipped at the first fence on her reappearance at Warwick and has improved for her run at Aintree. She has come down a few pounds in the weights and goes there with a chance, especially if there is further rain.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Elegant Escape
He's become a bit hit and miss as he's got older but the conditions will suit and, if he's on a going day, he'll have an each-way chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Chambard and Coo Star Sivola
Chambard was so good last season but he didn't put his best foot forward at Haydock last time. Hopefully he'll be better here and more like the Chambard we saw last season. With Coo Star Sivola, hopefully he's come on for his run at Haydock on his first start for us. This is a wonderful series of races for these horses and the final is always competitive, and hopefully they can be involved.

Tom Gretton, trainer of Kauto Riko
The blinkers are back on to focus his mind. He wants three miles nowadays, retains lots of ability, and any further rain will suit him. He's best fresh and ticks a lot of the boxes.

Harry Fry, trainer of Sir Ivan and Bermeo
Sir Ivan has been third in the last two runnings. This race has been the plan, and the handicapper has given him a bit of a chance. He's now off his lowest mark in seven years, so you'd have to think he's got a really solid each-way chance again. Bermeo has been a wonderful servant to his owners. The ground will be slower than ideal, but you never know.

Lilly Pinchin, rider of Saint Xavier
The form of his Haydock win has worked out fantastic. He's in absolute tip-top form. I was riding out for Richard [Hobson] on Tuesday and I was behind Saint Xavier on the gallops – he was in very good order.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Read more of Saturday's previews:

12.40 Sandown: 'We've had this race in mind all season' - Love Envoi primed for Listed success

1.15 Sandown: Gemirande out to sparkle for in-form Williams and Deutsch combination

1.30 Wincanton: 'He seems in great form' - Messire Des Obeaux returns after latest setback

1.50 Sandown: Corrigeen Rock bids to boost Lucinda Russell's Sandown record

2.25 Sandown: 'I couldn't be more pleased with him' - trainers on the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle

3.35 Sandown: 'He's still quite well treated' - who will win this competitive handicap hurdle?

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