EASTER Saturday at Haydock sees the finale at 3.15 of the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Finale over 2m 4f. There is an excellent card at Haydock, including the inaugural running of the finale, which is the culmination an eight-race series over 2m 4f open to runners of 10, 11 and 12 years of age. 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 this 2024 final has total prize money of £100.000, including £52,000 to the winner. It is great news that Unibet we will be continuing our association with this Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase series for the next four seasons which takes us to the 2028 final.
The 2024 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Finale looks very tightly matched, with ground conditions as of Thursday morning heavy soft in places and there is 12mm of rain forecast across today and Friday. On Saturday the racecourse is fortunately predicted to have a very light shower around mid-morning then the rest of the raceday is dry, which is good news.
Champagne Mystery Unibet 100/30 rejoined the Tom George yard from their Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm team France in January and finished fifth to Ga Law on Festival Trials Day, which was a good performance. He was then third behind Golden Son and Heltenham (won at Newbury last Saturday) and comes here with one win over fences from ten appearances.
Riders OnThe Storm Unibet 4/1 has had two starts in this campaign with a third to Mac Tottie (Top Ville Ben who reopposes in second) on Boxing Day at Aintree in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase when travelling well until fading before two out when clearly needing the run. He looked much sharper next time out in early March when running a stormer over two miles to only just get pipped on the line by Homme Public. This final has looked his target and he has a big chance.
Thor De Cerisy Unibet 11/2 is having only his tenth start over fences and has won his last two starts at Chepstow when jumping well. His form figures preceding those successes were 745F for this campaign, so it is hard to interpret what he has really achieved. Interestingly, Harry Cobden is booked to ride.
Numitor Unibet 11/2 – (My Tip) – returned to action this campaign on March 19th in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Exeter and raced well throughout until fading after the last to finish fourth to Stormy Flight in what was a good seasonal debut. Numitor might not have won since March 2022, however he has run some good races in defeat, including a second to the smart Heltenham (won last Saturday at Newbury) last March. This lightly raced type has very much been campaigned over this distance and expect a step up from Exeter.
Top Ville Ben Unibet 13/2 is a game performer who hasn’t won since January 2022 and has dropped to mark of 128. He pulled up behind Cepage at Cheltenham when Le Ligerien was third and finished a place ahead of Riders OnThe Storm on Boxing Day. He would need to show a considerable return to form here.
Le Ligerien Unibet 11/1 was fifth when tried over a shorter trip last time out, however he is very much a 2m 4½f campaigner, finishing second on his penultimate start after a third to Cepage at Cheltenham in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase when challenging for the lead at the last. It is worth noting his victory at Kempton in November when beating Danny Kirwan.
Dubai Days Unibet 10/1 returned to winning ways last time out over 2m 4½f at Ayr and has won on heavy, whilst the mare Pink Legend Unibet 7/1 has to show a return to form, although oftens performs well at this time of the year and the Venetia Williams team are certainly getting the winners.
Interestingly, there is very little course form in the field and Francky Du Berlais Unibet 16/1 is the only course and distance winner back in May 2021. He has been recently campaigned in the cross-country races at Cheltenham.
Daly Tiger Unibet 25/1 in his heyday was running off a mark of 157 and has now dropped to a rating of 118. He hasn’t been victorious since December 2021 and last time out in December he pulled up behind Richmond Lake at Aintree in truly testing conditions.
Unibet are TOP INDUSTRY PRICE EVERY RUNNER in this race!
Out and about today and missing the action from the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Finale? 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 the app and don’t miss a second, wherever you are! 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘!
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