The Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series Final at Sandown offers seasoned National Hunt horses a valuable opportunity to shine. This year’s edition features a smaller field of nine runners, each bringing a wealth of experience and high-class form to the competition. Among the contenders, Copperhead and Eldorado Allen from Joe Tizzard’s stable stand out, both having achieved Grade Two wins over fences.
Copperhead has strong credentials, having finished second over two and a half miles at Cheltenham last month. He is set to benefit from a return to three miles, a distance at which he has demonstrated impressive form, including a notable performance over course and distance in November. With Freddie Gingell, the season’s leading conditional jockey, claiming a valuable 3lb, Copperhead looks well-positioned for a strong run. His stablemate, Eldorado Allen, who finished third behind him at Cheltenham, also has solid claims. While Copperhead is 3lb worse off for this rematch, his recent form and proven stamina make him a leading contender.
The race also features Chambard, a surprise winner of the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022, and Sam Brown, who claimed a major handicap on Grand National day at Aintree the same year. These seasoned campaigners add depth to the field, along with familiar names like Smarty Wild and Remastered. The latter, runner-up in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in 2022, brings consistency and class to the lineup.
Elsewhere on the Sandown card, Jupiter Du Gite drops back to two and a half miles in the 1.50 race, a move expected to suit the headstrong runner. Despite his exuberance over three miles last time, he finished just six lengths behind the winner. A more controlled performance could see him capitalize on his potential, especially given the strong track record of the Gary Moore stable.
At Wincanton, the 2.05 race features Our Dylan, who boasts an impressive strike rate with three wins and three places from his last six starts. A 7lb rise for his latest success is largely mitigated by Josh Newman’s claim, making him a leading contender in a relatively weak field. Later, in the 2.40 veterans’ event, Nocte Volatus looks well-placed. Now officially 10 years old, he has shown his ability in open company, finishing close behind a high-class rival at Ascot in November. With Cameron Iles’s 7lb claim, he has strong prospects.
In the 2.25 at Sandown, Della Casa Lunga steps up after an impressive handicap success at Kempton. Her front-running style, coupled with a significant improvement following a wind operation, makes her a formidable contender. At Wincanton, Ninth Loch in the 3.15 is an intriguing prospect. Recently acquired by Harry Derham, the horse has shown promise and will be partnered by Victoria Malzard, whose UK riding record is impressive.
Rounding off the Sandown card, Aurigny Mill in the 3.35 looks to bounce back from a troubled run at Ascot. If he can recapture the form of his Newbury debut for Robert Walford, he represents excellent value at early odds. Across both venues, these seasoned competitors and rising stars promise a thrilling day of National Hunt racing.
