The Wine Tipster: “He has won on good ground and this has very much looked the target”
EASTER Saturday at Haydock sees the final at 3.15 of the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase over 2m 4f, with the inaugural running in 2024.
There is no doubting the popularity of this series, as we all enjoy watching these races that feature chasers we have followed for several seasons, and it is great news that at Unibet we will be continuing our association with this Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase series for the next three seasons which takes us to the 2028 final.
The 2025 final of the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final sees the 1-2 from the 2024 final, with winner Numitor and runner-up Dubai Days returning to renew rivalry, who I both marked up in the right order last year! Read below for my 1-2 ahead of the 2025 Final!
Outside of my selections The Flier Begley, Glynn (hasn’t run since November, though consistent), Flic Ou Voyou, a big priced winner last time out and The Widdow Maker all come here in good form, whilst Le Milos, who won the Series Qualifer at Warwick, can’t be ignored.
Enjoy whether at a racecourse on Easter Saturday or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Happy Easter.
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
2:25 Musselburgh – Handicap (7f)
Gweedore gave notice his turn wasn’t far away (and that he retained plenty of his ability) when second to Our Havana here last weekend, already enhancing a very good course record. He was only picked off in the closing stages, a much-improved effort on what he’d achieved this winter, and now the suns on his back he should be able to take advantage of his reduced mark sooner rather than later.
3.15 Haydock – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final (2m 4f)
Dubai Days (nap) finished runner-up to Numitor in the inaugural running of the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final last year when beaten five lengths and in this 2025 renewal he is 8lbs better off than last year with his main rival. He has barely put a foot wrong since last February with form figures of 212-12, yet is still only 3lb higher than he was at the start of the calendar year. Dubai Days won the Series Qualifer here in February and he lost little in defeat to the useful-on-his-day Credo at Carlisle last time over three miles. This drop back in trip is in his favour, he has won on good ground and this has very much looked the target.
Numitor the 2024 winner is 12lbs higher now in the official ratings, yet you can’t ignore this evergreen 11-year-old even at his current mark. He has been sensibly campaigned with this final as the target and like 2024 he has had a strong recent run with a victory at Ascot (good second at Newbury 2024), when beating Two For Gold over three miles on good ground at the end of March. Numitor didn’t handle Market Rasen on his penultimate appearance when unsuited by the sharp track, having won a Series Qualifer at Wincanton beating Glynn, who reopposes here. Numitor has proved most effective at this distance or a similar trip, is proven in these conditions and comes to Haydock in good form.
3:35 Musselburgh – Queen’s Cup Handicap (1m 6f)
Align The Stars progressed throughout 2024 and showed he’s trained on in good style with an excellent third in the Further Flight at Nottingham on his return last week, only giving best in the closing stages to the much higher-rated Al Qareem. That was as good as anything he achieved last year but races off the same mark, and with that run under his belt, he should go close here.
Faylaq won over a very similar distance for the first time on at Doncaster last September on good to soft when getting in front late on. This followed a victory on good ground in August over one mile two furlongs. Faylag on seasonal debut is an interesting contender and has each way claims.
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