Twenty years of PG's Tips

When I published the first blog post on Monday 3rd April 2006, nobody told me it was going to end up like this.

Ten Years of PG's Tips covered the first decade; a short summary of what has happened since follows. 

Back in 2016 I described this undertaking as 'an exercise in self-indulgence with the odd wry laugh here and there helping to ease the pain of egregious performance'. 

Not a lot has changed. 

I'm retired now but, for the avoidance of any doubt, betting on slow horses helped to elongate the working life rather than shorten it. 

Sweet dreams have been few and far between.

Too many selections have been associated with comments-in-running such as: lost many lengths at the start; never travelling; never went a yard; never on terms; hung left / right (like a drunk); outpaced; hampered; headed; no extra; weakened (quickly - vet had nothing to report); in rear / mid div, no impression; (always) behind; struggling; detached (like a big house); beaten (after the first fence); cooked; pulled up; brought down; mistake / bad mistake; didn't jump with fluency; slow jump; fell (in a heap); no chance (when); unseated; slipped up; also ran; ran like a drain; made a (respiratory) noise; bled (from the nose); lost position; and lost x place(s) on the run-in (where x represents an integer between 1 and the number of finishers -1).

I'm struggling to recall a selection associated with descriptors such as easily, comfortably, impressive.

ITV took charge of terrestrial free-to-air racing coverage on 1st January 2017 and the 2018/19 season provided proof that, if you throw enough darts, one day you'll hit the bullseye - the blog's selections showed a profit over the core season and a return on investment of 168% at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Some commentators might describe that performance as a 'hot streak' but my own preferred term remains 'outlier' - I spent large parts of the following summer prostrate on the cheap seats of the living room, desperately trying to fathom what the hell I'd done differently. I was reading 'The Rocking-Horse Winner' by D.H. Lawrence at the time but it offered little in the way of sustenance.

A gift horse at Christmas proved one of the more popular postings, as did these Christmas musings before Ascot's final card of 2025. 

Immediately after the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, racing in the UK was suspended on account of the coronavirus pandemic; that meeting became widely regarded as a significant 'superspreader event' with Sir David King, a former government adviser, describing it as 'the best possible way to accelerate the spread of the virus'. 

For years I attended the Festival on Champion Chase day - a visit to the gents could seem like an expedition into one of Dante's nine circles of Hell where you were obliged to negotiate a Faustian pact of sorts in order to secure a timeous return to the land of the living to do your dough in the bookmakers' benefit once called the Coral Cup.

4.8 million people watched the 2020 Virtual Grand National on television which raised more than £2.6 million for NHS Charities. Cornelius Lysaght declared Potters Corner (18/1) a 'surprise winner' while winning jockey Jack Tudor was not even qualified to ride in the race when the suspension was brought into effect.

Twelve months later Rachael Blackmore, riding Minella Times, became the first female jockey to win the Grand National, but there were no spectators at the track due to the pandemic restrictions in place at that time. In 2022 she won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard; she has since retired from the saddle and has written a book called 'Granny National', aimed at children aged 8-10.

Constitution Hill beat Jonbon 22 lengths in the 2022 Supreme. Rated 170 over hurdles, the gelding is currently building a career for himself on the Flat and is now on a mark of 101 in that sphere; talk of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup has reportedly reached Jack Irish and Harry Strang. 

Tiger Roll won two consecutive Grand Nationals (2018, 2019), Galopin Des Champs two Gold Cups (2023, 2024) and on Boxing Day last year we were treated to 'a race for the ages' when The Jukebox Man pipped Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior a nose and a nose - Jango Baie half a length adrift in fourth - in the King George at Kempton.

These days the betting landscape is noticeably different. For old times' sake, one Saturday morning I decided to go retro and struck a wager in a William Hill shop; that chastening experience was described in An old man walks into a betting shop...

Enough of that sort of drivel. Try this sort instead - a word from a veteran for a veteran in the Middle Distance Veterans' Final at Haydock tomorrow (3.20); 17 are set to face the starter with the going described as good to soft, good in places. 

Numitor won the 2024 running, The Flier Begley the 2025, both when they were ten years of age. 

Genois had Outlaw Peter, Numitor and Neon Moon behind in a qualifier four weeks ago.

Filanderer had Minella Drama and The Flier Begley behind at Market Rasen in January before being pulled up in the Ultima. 

After a long layoff Guard Your Dreams beat Fugitif 13 lengths on heavy ground at Warwick in February (Le Milos third, and probably needs three miles now, Outlaw Peter fourth, and sports first-time cheekpieces, Lord Baddesley fifth) and was subsequently raised eight pounds. He looked unfortunate to be brought down by Will The Wise who jumped badly right at the first in the Racing Plate at the Festival.   

Courtland's second to Twig over three miles at Sandown in November reads well, given Twig pipped Mr Vango in the Becher four weeks later; handler Mickey Bowen recently said [RP Weekender 25-29.03.26]: 'I rode him up the gallop last week and he's as good as he's ever been.'

Preference is for Triple Trade who has been consistent this term, winning twice - once over two miles and once over two and half. The race was run in a time below standard when he finished third behind David's Well and JPR One at Cheltenham in December and he appeared to win a tactical affair with a turn of foot and something in hand at Sandown in January; he starts here off a mark two pounds higher.

Triple Trade is the each-way suggestion; earlier this afternoon he was 14/1 in a place but at the time of writing he's 9/1 with bet365 who are paying five places.   

Finally I'd like to put on record my thanks to regular contributor TW who has provided ratings for the races I've randomly selected these past ten years.  

That's it, twenty years, a score, odds against I've got another ten in me. I shall sign off with the rallying cry known to bettors across the land:

"Back to the drawing board, then!"

The 2022 Veterans' Chase Series Final at Sandown

Eighteen have been declared for this year's final (3.00 Sandown); the going is currently described as soft, good to soft in places - particularly along the back straight - with rain forecast in the morning.

Plenty of old friends - and a couple of old foes - in the field but I must admit I was surprised to see Prime Venture replace Ramses De Teillee at the head of the market earlier today.

Evan Williams' charge won last year's renewal (Sir Ivan third, Indy Five pulled up, 13 ran) and races off the same mark but up front Lilly Pinchin and Valadom took no prisoners that day on ground officially described as heavy; several in the field had cried enough before Prime Venture stayed on best of all, as the the RP Weekender's form analysis highlighted:

"No hanging around courtesy of Valadom and it set up for the distant closers, with conditions taking a toll.

"PRIME VENTURE stays forever and loves testing ground. He took an age to get going but it was clear from two out he had things covered and he surged clear late for a first win in 14 months." 

I'm not sure tomorrow's renewal will 'set up for the distant closers'.

Ramses De Teillee showed benefit for a wind operation in the summer when winning Leg 10 of the series at Warwick in November (Snow Leopardess pulled up); David Pipe's charge has been raised five pounds and carries top weight. 

Current yard form is a concern, as is the fact the grey has never won going right-handed.

As mentioned above, Snow Leopardess was quickly pulled up in Leg 10 after slipping on the approach to the first fence. 

The mare showed no ill effects next time, running well for a long way in the Becher Chase at Aintree to eventually finish eighth. 

The handicapper has played his part and dropped her four pounds to a mark of 142 - she won off 145 at Exeter last February. 

The grey didn't appear to handle the occasion when pulled up in the Grand National in April but has an obvious chance here.

Back in March Saint Xavier was second behind Indy Five in Leg 3 (Prime Venture third, Kauto Riko outpaced and pulled up) and showed his current wellbeing by beating Up Helly Aa King at Haydock in November with subsequent Welsh National winner The Two Amigos third, Coo Star Sivola fifth - and entitled to improve for his seasonal reappearance - and Chambard pulled up, reportedly never travelling with stable form quiet at the time.

On his previous outing Chambard won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham at odds of 40/1 so his chance is certainly respected. 

Sir Ivan has finished third in the past two renewals of this final - last year off a mark off 140 - so 129 could prove lenient. 

Along with Elegant Escape he was pulled up behind Run To Milan in Leg 1 at Exeter in February and finished third behind Dingo Dollar and Wishing And Hoping in Leg 8 at Aintree in October.  

Run To Milan won Leg 1 off a mark of 132 so 128 is certainly workable; with just 20 starts to his name, Victor Dartnall's gelding has fewer miles on the clock than any in this field.  

I've been a Crosspark fan for quite some time but he has his fair share of weight these days. Now with Nick Kent, he finished a creditable second in the 2020 final behind Seeyouatmidnight. 

Up Helly Aa King won Leg 2 at Doncaster in February (Chirico Vallis third) but stable form has to be a concern. 

Chirico Vallis likes to race prominently and won the Native River Handicap Chase off this mark at Chepstow in October 2021, beating Kitty's Light a head before subsequently finishing third behind Eclair Surf in the Classic Chase at Warwick,  form that reads well. 

I've always thought Ballyandy a better hurdler than chaser while Elegant Escape has never been the most fluent of jumpers and the majority of Broken Quest's form is on good ground.

Bermeo races from out of the handicap.

A very competitive renewal with eight runners set to carry 11-9 or more and a number in the field who like to race up with the pace. 

I'll take a small each-way interest in Run To Milan, at the time of writing 12/1 with Coral who are paying five places.

The 2021 Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown

Thirteen have been declared for tomorrow's final due off at 3.00, with the going on the chase course currently described as soft, good to soft in places; heavy rain is predicted throughout most of the day and conditions are expected to deteriorate.

Market leader Aso came home under four lengths behind Blaklion in Leg 12 of the series run on heavy ground at Haydock just over five weeks ago. 11 started that day but only five completed with Dashing Perk, Psychedelic Rock and Primo Venture all pulled up - Primo Venture was subsequently reported to have bled from the nose.

Venetia Williams' charge was raised two pounds to 149 for that effort and, after taking jockey allowances into consideration, has to concede 10 pounds and upwards to the rest of the field.

Final Nudge may have finally nudged 13 years of age recently but he finished third behind Time To Get Up and Midnight Thunder in the Midlands Grand National last March and then reappeared in Leg 10 of the series at Warwick in November to beat Fagan, with Sir Ivan six and a half lengths behind in fourth.

Raised just three pounds, Fergal O'Brien's charge looks weighted to confirm the form.

Sir Ivan is a consistent sort who finished third behind Seeyouatmidnight in last year's renewal off a mark of 135. 

Back in March he beat Valadom (128) and The King's Writ (139) in Leg 3 at Newbury but at the moment, off 140, would appear to be in the grip of the handicapper.

Last time out The King's Writ finished 49 lengths behind L'Homme Presse over an inadequate trip. 

Now on 133, he makes some appeal with amateur rider Mr Joshua Newman able to claim another seven pounds; Kayley Woollacott's charge has been well backed today.    

I prefer David Bass to Lee Marvin aboard Wandrin Star who beat Dancing Shadow and Gwencily Berbas over course and distance nine weeks ago. This one goes particularly well fresh but wouldn't be guaranteed to reproduce his form next time out.

Meanwhile, after that race, Gwencily Berbas made the short journey from David Pipe's yard to Exeter racecourse where, tipped up by Mick Fitzgerald, he won ten lengths at odds of 25/1 over a trip of three miles six and a half furlongs (Dancing Shadow third). A rise of eight pounds to 132 looks reasonable.

After a spell point-to-pointing Rolling Dylan finished second behind Wishing And Hoping in Leg 8 at Aintree in October and then second behind Bali Body over course and distance last month (Valadom third). 

The official going was good that day; to my mind both Rolling Dylan and Valadom prefer better ground, a comment that also applies to Psychedelic Rock.

Prime Venture's fifth behind stablemate Secret Reprieve in the Welsh Grand National 12 months ago reads well. Evan Williams' charge will appreciate underfoot conditions but only has one chase win to his name - a three runner Sedgefield novice - while Dashing Perk doesn't look guaranteed to stay the trip.

Both Indy Five and Dancing Shadow run from out of the handicap. 

The former hasn't looked the easiest at the start this term but made all to win comfortably at Doncaster the last day while the latter had Sir Ivan and Indy Five behind when finishing third to Some Chaos on seasonal debut.

I was impressed with the ride Tom Scudamore gave Gwencily Berbas last time and the manner in which the horse won. Since the move over from Ireland in May the gelding has finished in the first three on all four starts.

At the time of writing Gwencily Berbas is 10/1 with bet365 and Paddy Power who pay one fifth the odds four places.

Gwencily Berbas is the each-way selection.

Finally, I'm going to take another look at Navajo Pass in the finale (3.35). 

Top weight on heavy / desperate ground and the fitting of first-time cheekpieces rings the alarm bells, added to which Donald McCain's charge finished a long way behind Samarrive over course and distance five weeks ago. That said, on his best form - and current RPR ratings - he's entitled to be in the mix and has been backed this evening. 

After the gelding won over two and a half miles at Musselburgh 12 months ago, the trainer indicated his charge would be a better horse this term. 

Navajo Pass underwent wind surgery after finishing well beaten behind Goshen in the Kingwell Hurdle in February and then missed Aintree after suffering a setback. 

Was that run behind Samarrive (Zambezi Mix second) a sighter for this? 

Sandown's Veterans' Chase Final 2020

Amongst the presents beneath the Christmas tree this year I found a copy of Barry Geraghty's autobiography True Colours; something to look forward to after the recent tightening of lockdown restrictions.

For the first wager of the new year, I'm off to Sandown for tomorrow's final of the 2020 Veterans' Chase Series (3.00) where 16 are set to face the starter; the going on the chase course is currently described as soft, good to soft in places.

Crosspark heads the market at the time of writing and I confess to being a fan. 

Back in 2019 Caroline Bailey's charge won the Eider at Newcastle off a mark of 135 and followed that with a fine second behind Takingrisks (declared for the 3.15 at Ayr) in the Scottish National off 142. 

Last season was a complete write-off but the gelding has returned to form this year. 

He was beaten threequarters of a length by Doing Fine (Regal Flow third) over an extended trip in the London National at this track four weeks ago and the handicapper subsequently raised him three pounds. 

Prior to that he was beaten threequarters of a length by Step Back in leg 9 of this veterans' series (Sametegal third, Regal Flow sixth, with Jepeck pulled up and Gold Present refusing to race). 

He races off a career-high mark tomorrow; the balance of his form suggests he is best on good / good to soft ground.

Sir Ivan has been running well recently. Connections had a handicap chase over two miles three and a half furlongs at Chepstow's Welsh National meeting as their original target; this one is short enough in the market as he doesn't look guaranteed to stay this trip on this ground.

Late Romantic was pipped at the post in heart-breaking fashion by The Dutchman in leg 12 of the series at Haydock 31 days ago (Fingerontheswitch fourth with Seeyouatmidnight and Burtons Well pulled up). Five pounds higher, the gelding also holds an entry in the 3.15 at Ayr but this race is the first preference.

On his first run after wind surgery Potters Legend won leg 10 of the series at Warwick (Theatre Guide second, Strong Pursuit third, Gold Present fourth, Valtor sixth). His subsequent second behind Storm Control at Cheltenham off a five pounds higher mark reads well. 

The first four from that Warwick leg appear closely matched - Strong Pursuit, with just ten starts to his name at the age of 11, looks comparatively unexposed but has yet to win over this trip while it's interesting to note that of the two Henderson runners Valtor, owned by Simon Munir and Issac Suede and with some decent form in the book, has been well backed during the day and is now much shorter in the market than Gold Present.

In last year's renewal Jepeck (132), sent off the 3/1 favourite, beat Regal Flow (127) a short head with Theatre Guide (137) a neck away in third (Burtons Well pulled up). Anthony Honeyball's charge has been pulled up twice this term and connections have decided to fit first-time cheekpieces; Burtons Well wears blinkers for the first time.

Theatre Guide and Regal Flow are aged 14 and both turn up in decent form; four of the past five winners have been no older than 12. 

Ben Poste parted company with Minellacelebration on the flat after the seventh in the Becher Chase. Prior to that Katy Price's charge won leg 8 of the series at Aintree with Sametegal third, Theatre Guide sixth and Ballydine ninth; Sametegal is the other runner in the field who has not won over this distance. 

In a competitive event two each-way chances are of interest: Fingerontheswitch and Seeyouatmidnight.

The former finished some 24 lengths behind Late Romantic in leg 12 while the latter pulled up in the same race, form I'm not reading too literally as both horses were making their seasonal debut. Late Romantic has gone up five while Fingerontheswitch has gone down two, Seeyouatmidnight one. 

I tipped Seeyouatmidnight to win the 2018 Grand National; in the event Sandy Thomson's charge ran out of petrol from three out. In his younger days he beat the likes of Bristol De Mai and Blacklion and finished third behind Vicente in the 2016 Scottish National. 

In more recent times he won leg 4 of this series at Carlisle in March (Jepeck fourth, Takingrisks fifth). A fragile sort with not too many miles on the clock, I'd expect to see significant improvement for that spin; his past record shows he has produced a good performance after a similar preparatory run.

Millie Wonnacott gets on well with Fingerontheswtich, her seven pound claim an added bonus. Form behind Copperhead in the Silver Buck Chase at Wincanton and Ok Corral in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster reads well. 

Millie fractured vertebrae in her back in a fall at Newton Abbot in August but returned to ride Doing Fine to victory for this stable in the London National here four weeks ago. The Mulholland yard has been operating at a 24% win strike rate in the past fortnight; Fingerontheswtich is the younger of the two under consideration.

It's possible to make a case for several in the field. Fingerontheswtich is the each-way selection; at the time of writing Paddy Power offer 12/1 and pay one fifth the odds five places. 

Sandown segue

What were the chances of this then?

First post of the new decade and I'm talking about, er, Cheltenham.

In the very first race on New Year's Day the stewards controversially disqualified first past the post Protektorat and declared the second, Imperial Alcazar, the winner; one imagines Sir Alex Ferguson, part owner of Protektorat, would not have been amused. Dan and Harry Skelton certainly weren't - the trainer told the Racing Post the decision had ruined his trip to Disneyland and an appeal can be expected. 

A little over an hour later Champ took a crashing fall two from home in the Dipper; connections have been forced back to the drawing board. The Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot next month is a possibility but Nicky Henderson's charge remains the clear 7/2 favourite in ante-post markets for the RSA come March.

That's twice Champ has raced at Cheltenham and twice he has come back beaten - he finished second to City Island in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle last March.

I'd be the first to admit the eyesight isn't what it used to be but when Nicky Henderson told reporters that up to that fateful encounter with the penultimate flight it was the best he'd seen the horse jump, well, I nearly fell in a heap of my own. To my mind some jumps were good but others less so and Richard Hoiles said as much in commentary. Watch this space as they say.

The Tolworth Hurdle (2.25) is the highlight on the card at Sandown tomorrow while the Veterans' Handicap Chase (3.00) is being run in memory of Houblon Des Obeaux who suffered a heart attack here in the London National last month.

I've spent my preparation time looking at the Read Nico De Boinville's Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle at 3.35; the going on the hurdle track is described as soft, heavy in places.

Nico De Boinville is booked to ride market leader Gunnery so, taking the advice proffered by the race title, I've taken a quick peek at Nico's blog. Rated 90 on the Flat, Gunnery may well appear well handicapped allocated a hurdle rating of 121; he won a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Doncaster six days ago but, that said, tomorrow's race looks far more competitive.

Often displaying a tendency to pull hard, Gunnery raced from the front at Doncaster; he's likely to face competition for the lead tomorrow with Totterdown another who likes to front run. Sent off an even money shot on his debut for the Fergal O'Brien yard in November, Totterdown ran his rivals ragged over course and distance.

A listed race here last month ties in a couple of tomorrow's runners. Mack The Man beat Protektorat (see above) with Smarty Wild fourth, Ruacana fifth and Distingo sixth. The handicapper has since tinkered with the weights but with less than five lengths covering the trio you might expect the layers' prices to be far closer - this evening Smarty Wild is quoted 13/2, Distingo 16/1 and Ruacana 20/1.

Distingo is of most interest - from Gary Moore's Straight from the Stable tour in the Weekender 16-20.01.19:

"We thought a lot of this horse last season and he hasn't quite delivered yet." 

The gelding's third behind Jolly's Cracked It (November 2018) reads well and if he can build on his most recent effort, 16/1 looks value.

I'm prepared to oppose the four runners who have been off the track for some considerable time - Colin Tizzard's two course and distance winners Eldorado Allen (392 days) and Ainchea (700 days); Mill Green (262 days but supported in the market this evening); and Remiluc (643 days).

It seems barely believable that John Constable won the Market Rasen Summer Hurdle off a mark of 150 in 2017, and the following December, off a mark of 156, finished four and a half lengths adrift of My Tent Or Yours in the International Hurdle.

You don't need me to tell you it has been downhill since.

Without holding my breath, I've been waiting for any small sign of revival from Evan Williams' charge who starts tomorrow's race off 127 - and trainer's daughter Isabel can claim a further seven. His latest effort at Cheltenham last month was the first sign of an improvement in form.

On his seasonal debut Blu Cavalier was soundly beaten in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot but three weeks later he came out and won well at Doncaster. The handicapper has raised him four pounds for that effort but my reading of the form is the pilot that day, Jonjo O'Neill Jr, was unable to claim whereas tomorrow Ben Jones (also known as 'Jones the Jockey' in our house) can claim five so, in effect, he's one pound better off.

Last February Ali Stronge's ten-year-old finished third in the Betfair Hurdle at Ascot behind Al Dancer and Magic Dancer; that form reads well but a ten-year-old hasn't won this in the past ten years.

On balance I prefer Blu Cavalier's profile to that of Distingo. Sky Bet offer 11/1 and pay one fifth the odds four places; Blu Cavalier is the each-way selection.

The Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown

Small fields for the most part at Sandown tomorrow.

Ed Chamberlin won't be the only one desperate to see the Irish-trained mare Laurina, currently as low as 7/2 with several layers for the Champion Hurdle, make her seasonal debut at 1.50. She faces just three opponents.

Thirty five minutes later six face the starter for the Tolworth. Seven days ago at Newbury the Challow turned into something of a tactical affair; here both Elixir De Nutz and Southfield Stone have made all previously so, hopefully, we'll see a truly run race.

By contrast seventeen runners have been declared for the Veterans' Handicap Chase at 3.00. 

Those looking for an unexposed type in this sort of race might usually expect to have their work cut out but market leader Rock Gone has relatively low mileage on the clock with just six chase starts to his name; he has never won over this trip.

Sam Twiston-Davies rides for Dr Richard Newland and I'm assuming Sam has chosen Rock Gone, having also ridden the favourite's stablemate Band Of Blood when fourth behind Cultram Abbey at Kelso last month. 

Cultram Abbey was raised five pounds for that effort but he looked good. He has done a lot of his racing around Perth and Carlisle.

Charlie Longsdon saddles Pete The Feat and Loose Chips who finished first and third respectively in the 2017 renewal; both clearly love it around here and hold each-way chances.

Aged 15, the former is the oldest runner in the race while the latter beat Rock Gone over this course and distance in November (Rathlin Rose fourth, Pete The Feat seventh, Tenor Nivernais ninth and Theatre Guide tenth) and now meets the second eight pounds worse off.

Rathlin Rose would be expected to come on for that fourth behind Loose Chips on his seasonal debut and has also been dropped two pounds to a mark of 130. Last March Rathlin Rose won at Ascot off 128 with Houblon Des Obeaux third, Loose Chips fourth and Band Of Blood fifth.

Buywise came home in front last year (Pete The Feat second, Loose Chips fifth and Houblon Des Obeaux sixth) but he has always been a horse that takes at least one liberty at the obstacles in his races.

With the covers down and the going on the chase track currently described as good to soft, soft in places, good in places on the back straight, underfoot conditions may not be quite as testing as in some previous years. 

Course and distance winner Le Reve is likely to appreciate better ground and that comment may also apply to top weight Exitas and Houblon Des Obeaux who appeared to get stuck in the mud behind Daklondike at Haydock last time. Although apparently unfancied in the market, Venetia Williams' charge is there with every chance on Racing Post ratings and the stable is in very good form.

Henlan Harri likes it here, will appreciate the better ground and has gone well after a layoff in the past but the stable hasn't had a winner for 24 days.

A wide open event and, of course, it's possible to make a case for several in the field. 

I'm tempted by Band Of Blood who should certainly finish closer to Cultram Abbey but Sam Twiston-Davies is clearly keen on Rock Gone so I'm going to take an each-way interest in Houblon Des Obeaux, sixth in this race last year off 143, beaten under 12 lengths. Paddy Power offer 20/1 and pay one fifth the odds six places.

A quick footnote on Plumpton's card on Sunday. The novice chase at 1.10 should prove highly informative while my New Year's Day each-way selection Big Meadow tries again in the Sussex National after unseating at the first at Exeter. Richard Johnson rides but the drying ground is still the negative.

Sandown veterans

I've been on the lookout for a young unexposed type in the 32Red Veterans' Handicap Chase at Sandown tomorrow but haven't had that much luck... Aerial from the Nicholls yard has the fewest miles on the clock with five wins recorded from nineteen runs.

These vets, they're an absolute credit to the game.

Top weight Shuil Royale boasts the best career wins-to-runs ratio in the field at 30.3% while just three record a figure lower than 15%; in 2011 Cody Wyoming won a Lingfield maiden hurdle at odds of 100/1 and currently shows a profit of £86.45 to a £1.00 stake.

In fact twelve of the runners boast a profit to level stakes - if only they'd given me this list of horses eight years ago...

Of course, with over £100,000 in added prize money, tomorrow's renewal is highly competitive - Aachen, beaten a neck by Soll last year, tries once again at the grand old age of thirteen.

In working through the form, I've discarded the four horses that have not previously won over three miles or more (Astracad, Ericht, Baileys Concerto and Cody Wyoming) and have then looked at the Scotty Brand Veterans' Handicap Chase, the last qualifying leg of the series, run over 22 furlongs at Kelso in early December.

That day Gas Line Boy made most to beat Cloudy Too (second), Aerial (fourth), Wychwoods Brook (fifth) and Dynaste (seventh). Ratings for that race and tomorrow's are compared below:

Gas Line Boy          was 136  now 145
Cloudy Too             was 142  now 140
Aerial                      was 135  now 134
Wychwoods Brook was 132  now 130
Dynaste                  was 150  now 145

I'm not inclined to take the Kelso form too literally. Dynaste never turned up, Wychwoods Brook was making his seasonal debut and there's a possibility Brian Hughes may have pinched the race up front over a shorter trip on slightly better ground.

Of those named above, it's hard to be confident about Dynaste and he's short enough in the market (comments that apply to Rocky Creek too).

Wychwoods Brook has a Peter Marsh Chase to his name and jockey James Nixon can claim seven but he hasn't always been the cleanest of jumpers so the 2016 Peter Marsh Chase winner Cloudy Too (14/1 generally) is the each-way selection with Aerial feared. Rain would certainly help the selection -  most layers are paying a quarter the odds four places.

Capitaine is my idea of the Tolworth winner but the race makes little appeal as a betting medium.

Over at Wincanton, Oneida Trial, mentioned in last week's post, goes in the 1.30 but the price - 12/1 with Paddy Power - doesn't really tempt on what we know so far while Daryl Jacob has a word for Fortunate George in the 3.15; Daryl travels to the track from Sandown after riding Midnight Jazz in the mares' listed hurdle.