Jepeck completes Honeyball plan after surviving late veterans' final drama

Anthony Honeyball executed something of a masterplan to win the thrilling final to the 2019 Veterans’ Series with Jepeck, although only a short head and a neck separated the brave winner from fellow gallant old-timers Regal Flow and Theatre Guide.

The first staying chase of 2020 at Sandown was not quite as dramatic as the last at the course in 2019 – the void London National in which last year’s veterans’ final winner Houblon Des Obeaux sadly lost his life, although like that infamous race a flag was used by the pond fence.

But on this occasion it was only used to bypass the third last due to the low sun, with the drama instead developing between the final two fences in the Sandown straight.

Watch the replay of a thrilling Veterans' Chase Final

Jepeck had been kept over hurdles since finishing second at Carlisle in March behind subsequent Scottish Grand National winner Takingrisks, a run which qualified the now 11-year-old for the final, and the grand plan appeared to be coming together perfectly when Jepeck hit the front in the straight.

However, in heart in mouth stuff for Honeyball, owner Jon Pike and jockey Rex Dingle, Jepeck was nearly taken off the course approaching the last by the loose Horatio Hornblower, only for Dingle to somehow keep Jepeck straight and jump the last before doggedly fending off the challenge of Regal Flow and Theatre Guide.

A relieved Honeyball said: “I wasn’t too sure how close the wing was or whether we were going to be taken out, but thankfully he came back in and had enough in reserve.

Anthony Honeyball: trainer of JepeckCredit: Alan Crowhurst

“He’s a funny one because he travels, he quickens a bit, he keeps on at one pace and then he hits a bit of a wall and I did think the wall was coming. I was surprised he had enough left to fight everything else off but we got our head just about in front at the line.”

On campaigning the veteran in novice hurdles this season, a move which had yielded two wins from three runs, Honeyball added: “We weren’t really sure we had much in hand but the facts were the last veterans’ chase we ran in the winner went on to win the Scottish National.

"We had the Scottish National bit of form and we were throwing a few ideas about and we thought why not go in a novice hurdle?

“I thought there was a good chance he’d at least run to this sort of mark or a little beyond it. We got him here, that was the major plan.”

This was Dingle’s biggest success of his burgeoning career and he said of the dramatic finish: “I could see it happening in front of my eyes so I was sort of half-prepared for it, but he was good to stay straight and jump the fence and get his head back in front.”

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