Well-stocked field confirmation of veterans' races success story

1.50 Aintree
In Play Betting At 188Bet Veterans' Handicap Chase | Class 2 | 9yo+ | 3m1f | RUK

There are plenty of big fields at Aintree on Sunday, but only the bumper has a bigger one than the 188Bet-backed veterans' chase, the seventh leg of this year's veterans series, which has gone up a gear in 2017.

The average field size for qualifying races so far, including Sunday's race assuming all face the starter, has been 11.83 - significantly up on the first two years of the initiative.

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said: "It's extremely pleasing to see the veterans' chase series continue to go from strength to strength.

"The objective was to provide opportunities to ten–year-old-plus chasers who may have found winning chances limited in other valuable races, and also provide a competitive race to bolster a number of Sunday cards.

"It's certainly achieved this, but also provided a number of truly memorable races involving some much-loved stalwarts of the jumps game."

There are certainly a few of those among the field at Aintree, including the Colin Tizzard-trained pair Masters Hill and Theatrical Star.

Tizzard's son and assistant Joe said: "Theatrical Star ran quite a good race at Chepstow and has tightened up for it, while Masters Hill can run really well when he wants to."

He added of the series: "These veterans' races are getting really competitive, nearly as much as regular handicaps these days. The only difference is you don't have some totally unexposed seven-year-old in at the bottom of the weights, and that's a good thing for these older horses.

"Fair play to those in charge, they've put the money in and got the rewards."

Veterans' chases have had few more ardent supporters than Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won three of the nine previous runnings of this race and saddles Benbens and Astracad.

"They've both won veterans' races before so hopefully one can do it again," he said.

"There was nothing wrong with Benbens last year, we just kept him back and he ran really well in the Scottish National and the bet365 Gold Cup. Races like that'll be the aim again beyond this race.

"Astracad has won on his first start the last two years and I'd be hopeful he can again."

Tom George is also responsible for a couple of runners, including The Romford Pele, who is a new arrival having formerly been with Rebecca Curtis. He also saddles Aintree regular Call Me Vic.

George said: "They both have plenty of weight and these veterans' chases have become very competitive. The Romford Pele's been here since the summer and has settled in nicely. He's had jumping issues before but has schooled well.

"Call Me Vic likes Aintree, he's run well here plenty of times, but his mark makes life difficult."

The remaining three legs of the veterans' chase series ahead of the final at Sandown on January 6 are at Sandown (November 12), Leicester (December 3) and Kelso (December 10).

Average field sizes for veterans' chase series qualifiers

Year 1 - 8.40

Year 2 – 8.72

Year 3 – 11.83*

*assuming all Aintree decs run

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