THE Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series Final has with the loss of Sandown last Saturday been rerouted to Warwick on their Classic Chase Day, which now also includes the Unibet Edward Courage Cup Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. There has been plenty of work behind the scenes to make this happen, with particularly Ed Nicholson, Head of Racing at Unibet and Tommy Williams General Manager at Warwick for The Jockey Club doing a great job.
It is going to be a competitive and enthralling afternoon, with very little to choose between the runners in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series Final where Unibet are paying six places. Earlier, the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase over the marathon trip of three miles five furlongs always sees the field heading for home from a long way out and it is difficult to come from off the pace here. Currently, Malina Girl is favourite at Unibet 9/2 and whilst she fell three out at Cheltenham last time in the race won by Broadway Boy, she surely would have had a major play in the finish, however there are plenty of others in with chances too in the Classic Chase.
At Kempton in the 1.30 Chianti Classico is Unibet 9/4 and this classy individual, who is in my Unibet Racing Ten To Follow, can continue his winning sequence. At 2.07 in the Silviniaco Conti Chase Grade 2, which with the likes of Banbridge, Edwardstone and Pic D’Orhy in the field looks like a Grade 1. They are very closely matched and last year’s winner Pic D’Orhy Unibet 5/2 would just be my selection here.
Enjoy an excellent Saturday afternoon of racing on course or watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
See you at Warwick. Come racing.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.49 Warwick – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m 1f)
Kyntara has vastly improved since joining the Rowleys at the start of the season, winning back-to-back handicaps at Lingfield and latterly at Aintree with the minimum of fuss. That Aintree form has been franked, with the second and fourth both running better next time out, and the yard couldn’t be in better form after a double at Doncaster in the week. Kyntara needs to go up in the weights to get into the Pertemps Final proper so will be all out to win and looks the one to beat.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd in this race!
2.42 Kempton – Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f)
Nemean Lion was marked up for the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle in which he finished fifth after not jumping either of the last two hurdles well and surely would have been much closer to the action as he had travelled well up until then. This is a race where the form always works out well, with the third Luccia winning since and Nemean Lion is 6lb better off with the fourth Sonigino, who reopposes here. On his other appearance this season Nemean Lion won the Welsh Champion Hurdle in good style and it is obvious that the Kerry Lee team think they have a smart individual, as they have been patient in finding the right opportunity since Cheltenham. Nemean Lion surely will be suited by Kempton, with the step up in trip looking to work in his favour and this is only his seventh career start over hurdles.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
3.00 Warwick – Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (3m 5f)
My Silver Lining will relish the step up from 3m 1f to this longer trip as this eight-year-old mare will keep on galloping and will have no problem with the conditions, in a race where there are doubts about some of these seeing out the trip. My Silver Lining showed she had plenty of ability and resolution when winning at Cheltenham in April ahead of a 10-length victory on seasonal debut at Wincanton. She has since followed up with a second at Exeter and last time out finished runner-up behind the smart Animal at Sandown, when staying on well. This race has been the target for My Silver Lining and this brilliant jumper on her 11th jumps appearance can run a big race.
City Chief looks like a real stayer and will benefit from this step in distance as well the Classic Chase being a true test, as they start racing a long way out. On his two starts at Cheltenham this season he has finished fourth when favourite to Malina Girl at the November meeting and although on better terms here will have to admittedly step up to compete with her in the Classic Chase. At the December meeting he was fifth to Broadway Boy in the race when Malina Girl fell three out and if you rewatch both those races City Chief gives every impression that a real test will suit him. City Chief is having only his seventh start over fences for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson and whilst he is only seven this is not prohibitive to winning the Classic Chase, as two seven-year-olds have won in the last ten runnings.
3.35 Warwick – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series Final (3m)
Ramses De Teillee (nap) has shown in the past that catching him fresh, and better still off the back of wind surgery, which he’s won twice off the back of in his career and after a 298-day break on one occasion. He was second in this last year off a 4lb higher mark when runner-up at Sandown in soft, testing conditions, when he stayed on strongly after the last to try and peg back Wishing And Hoping. Ramses De Teillee won on his only appearance here over this trip and he’ll relish the heavy ground conditions, which a few of his more well-fancied rivals won’t. He has wisely been kept fresh, having not raced since last April, and all looks in place for another big effort.
Unibet are paying EXTRA PLACES in this race!
Thomas Darby won over course and distance on his last start back in November when beating Mill Green, Aye Right and Cepage, who all reoppose here. Thomas Darby ran well from the front for most of the race and he idled after the last winning more comfortably than the official distance. He has always been talented, and you can expect another strong performance on only his seventh appearance over fences.
The Wine Tipster’s Fourfold
The corks really could be popping if this one lands!
Roll these win picks from our red-hot tipster into an acca and £5 each way potentially returns over £12,500 if they come in!
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