'Sandown is the ultimate aim' - veteran chasers star in qualifier

Wednesday: 2.50 Warwick
John Sumner Memorial Veterans' Handicap Chase | 3m | 10yo+ | RTV

Veteran handicap chases tend to split opinion, but there have been few original ideas better than this annual series, which features a plethora of qualifiers and culminates at Sandown in January.

These staying chases provide a competitive platform for older performers to strut their stuff against similarly hardy rivals for healthy prize-money. Punters certainly benefit thanks to generally wide-open betting heats.

Bookmakers have gone 5-1 the field on the opening show, which is a fair reflection of how closely matched this field is. Final Nudge heads the market for the in-form Fergal O'Brien team, but he has raced only four times since December 2018.

Although his Midlands National third probably sets the standard, it's difficult to gauge what to expect from him after another lengthy layoff.

Topweights Regal Encore, who is still running to a high level at the age of 13, and last season's Ultima winner Vintage Clouds have held their form well in recent years and will strip fitter after recent outings. Perhaps both would prefer going right-handed.

Last year's winner Potters Legend has been trained with this series in mind and has strong form claims, as does Sir Ivan, who won leg three of this series last year.

But the horse they may all have to beat is Minellacelebration, a stout jumper who should relish the stiff test at Warwick and travelled beautifully for a long way on his seasonal reappearance at Aintree last month.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of Now McGinty
He's been off for a long time, but it's good to get him back. We're very happy with him, but if it dries up any more he won't run. If it stays good to soft, then he will go.

Harry Fry, trainer of Sir Ivan
He's in good order and had a nice comeback run at Chepstow when fourth in a similar race. We're working back towards the final at Sandown as it's a very good series for horses like him and he deserves to qualify. He's very consistent and hopefully he can run another good race.

Katy Price, trainer of Minellacelebration
He's falling a little in the weights and that may help us, and perhaps he needed the race a little at Aintree last time, which he won last year. It's an exciting race with lots of old names and it makes it look quite classy with all of them you've heard of before.

Alex Hales, trainer of Fagan
He's in great form and I'm looking forward to it. He could do with a touch of rain as I think he may be better on a bit softer ground nowadays. Sandown is the ultimate aim and the plan is to get him qualified for it tomorrow too.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Final Nudge
He did brilliant for us last season and he's in great form. It's a starting point for him, but he'll be doing his best and is training and looking very well.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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