Can Pete achieve the feat and win the veterans' chase named after him?

3.25 Sandown
188Bet Pete The Feat Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 8 of the Veterans’ Chase Series) | 3m, 9yo+ | RUK

The already immense popularity of Pete The Feat could hit overdrive at Sandown on Sunday with the doughty 14-year-old aiming to win the race named in his honour – the 188Bet Pete The Feat Veterans' Handicap Chase.

A three-time winner from eight starts at Sandown, the Don Sebastiao Partnership-owned teenager is a regular in veterans' chases, landing the series final in 2017 before taking the runner-up spot in last season's decider.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained horse is partnered by a veteran work-rider at home, with septuagenarian Wilf Rayer keeping the yard favourite in check. Or at least tries to.

Longsdon said: "Pete's a little old rogue really. He bullies anyone who gets in his way and Wilf, who rides him out, is as old as he is. Wilf is in his 70s and he lets Pete get away with murder.

"Pete drags everyone around and is quite a strong character, but you can't help but love him."

Old-stagers still loving life: Pete The Feat and Wilf Rayer at Charlie Longsdon's yard

The son of King’s Theatre started out in an all-weather bumper for Anna Newton-Smith in November 2007, in the season that Denman landed the Gold Cup, yet still shows the same enthusiasm 11 years on.

Longsdon added of Jonathan Burke's mount: “He’s lost none of his sparkle and is still the same very fresh horse he's always been.

"It's more than likely it will be his last season but there’s no reason to draw stumps while he’s loving life and still performing at a decent level – he'll tell us when he's ready for retirement.

"It's fantastic to have the race named after him as he's been an old trooper for many a year and a great servant to everyone involved. He seems to be in great form, although he'll improve for his first run back, as he always does."

Longsdon has not one but two stable stalwarts in the £30,000 handicap chase as Paul O'Brien takes the ride on the Barrels Of Courage-owned 12-year-old Loose Chips, who was successful in the race two years ago.

The Chipping Norton trainer said: "The veterans' races have kept these older horses on the racecourse, and they're racing for good prize-money.

"These two horses have become course specialists. Loose Chips has got a swing at the weights with Pete The Feat and a run under his belt, so if you were a betting man you'd probably have Loose Chips at a shorter price."

What they say

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Carole’s Destrier
We were very happy with his comeback run and hopefully he’ll have improved for it. He should be competitive again and it’s a track he likes.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Tenor Nivernais
Some more rain would be helpful and he’s in good order going into this. We’ve got an eye on the final of this series so it would be good to get him qualified. Last season didn’t go to plan for him so we’ve got some catching up to do.

Joe Tizzard, son and assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Theatre Guide and Flaming Charmer
Theatre Guide has been a grand old boy for us and needed the run at Chepstow last time. He should come on a lot for it and these races suit him. Flaming Charmer runs well fresh so this could be the time to catch him – there’s really not too much between them.

Richard Newland, trainer of Rock Gone
He’s a very nice horse but has proved quite difficult to train, with various problems. He ran very well first time out at Ascot last year and we’re hopeful of a good show, but I'm not too sure he’s 100 per cent straight and these veterans’ chases are quite competitive.

David Pipe, trainer of Rathlin Rose
He loves it there and the softer the ground the better for him. These races are ideal for him and he’s a good jumper so Sandown plays to his strengths.

Gary Moore, trainer of Vino Griego
He’s in great form and thinks he’s a two-year-old – you wouldn’t believe he was 13 if you looked at him in the yard. He runs his best races at Sandown and has been a great horse for us, everyone loves him.

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