The Wine Tipster: “His stamina plus determination took him to within a neck of the winner. He has to be a major player over this distance”

THE Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series’ Final was due to take place at Sandown originally, then after their abandonment was rescheduled for Warwick’s Classic Chase Day, which sadly had no chance with the cold snap.

Fortunately, flexibility has come to the rescue with the final being run at Market Rasen tomorrow as well as one of the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chases, which was already in the race schedule.

I’m looking forward to the veterans running at Market Rasen combined with some excellent racing at Windsor on day one of the Berkshire Winter Million.

Enjoy whether at Market Rasen or Windsor, with coverage for those #athome on ITV4.

Cheers  

The Wine Tipster.

 

1.25 Market Rasen – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m 5f)

Numitor won the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Finale 23/24back in March at Haydock and surely will be heading to the 24/25 Finale in April at the same course. He has thrived in veterans’ events and has continued that way this season with a success in October at Wincanton, when beating Glynn by 2¼ lengths. Numitor then just held on at Cheltenham in December from a fully committed challenge by Copperhead, who is thriving in the veteran part of his career (see the 2.35), in which the first two showed they still have plenty to offer. 

Numitor is a tremendous jumper, who has won three of his last six starts and is ground versatile too. 

 

Anglers Crag struck up a four-timer last season featuring the Eider Chase and shorter trips of around three miles including at Market Rasen. He failed to fire in the Scottish National and then on making his seasonal debut at Newcastle over just under three miles he looked in need of the run as he jumped poorly throughout.

Anglers Crag had won over hurdles over 2m 4½f and if he can show the key form he had last season with some much better jumping he might be able to lie up this field to reward each way players. An interesting contender.

 

2.35 Market Rasen – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2024 Veterans’ Chase Series Final) (3m)

Copperhead (nap) is thriving in the veteran part of his career with form figures this season of 11122 and providing he has enough still in the tank for this campaign he has a strong chance of a fourth victory this season returning importantly to three miles. Against Numitor (see above) at Cheltenham over a shorter trip it looked like it was all over after the last and then Copperhead’s stamina plus determination took him to within a neck of the winner. He has to be a major player over this distance.

 

3.35 Windsor – Handicap Hurdle (2m)

Wreckless Eric was marked up in my Unibet blog when coming from off to the pace to win at Cheltenham’s November meeting when keeping on really well up the hill in impressive fashion.

At their December fixture he still looked progressive when runner-up to Mirabad, who pulled himself clear of the field, who were all held up and Wreckless Eric had no chance of making up that ground. Though this is a deeper race than the runs at Prestbury Wreckless Eric can continue on an upward curve and show why he will be heading to the Cheltenham Festival. 

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