Architect Tips takes us through the Veterans' Handicap Chase at Sandown before giving his two predictions.
15:00 Sandown
The Veterans' Chase Series Final is a wide-open handicap as a lot of these have chances. The two I have on my shortlist, who I am drawn to the claims of, are SIR IVAN (best price 14/1) and RUN TO MILAN (best price 14/1) who have outstanding each-way claims with the five places generally available with most firms.
The Harry Fry-trained SIR IVAN has resumed this season with solid third placed efforts at Aintree and Fontwell and those performances should have sorted him out fitness-wise as he attempts to roll back the years and land this at the grand old age of 13, in a race that has saw him do well in for the last couple of years.
He has finished third in this race for the last two years. In 2021, he took the bronze medal off a mark of 135, beaten under three lengths and then filled the same position 12 months ago off a mark of 140. He might have gone close without making a bad mistake at the fourth last fence last year too, so his performance can be markedly upgraded on that basis.
He was making relentless progress before that mistake occurred but he then stayed on strongly to make the frame again. Essentially, he is 11 pounds lower this time around, which means he will compete in this race off his lowest mark for the first time and arrives into this year’s heat in arguably better form then the last two years as well.
This great servant is ground-versatile and has looked on good terms with himself in both starts this season despite his advancing years. Off his reduced mark, which is career-low over fences alongside conditions being right up his street, Harry Fry’s charge warrants strong each-way consideration here.
The other one who I really like is the Victor Dartnell-trained RUN TO MILAN, who is four pounds below his last winning mark, has been targeted at this race by Victor Dartnell and is also a great each-way bet at the odds with the form in the booking to play a leading role.
This eleven-year-old is predominantly known for his good record at Exeter but I reckon this course over fences will play to his strengths. He actually beat Sir Ivan at Exeter when last successful and that was off a mark of 132 on soft ground. He is down to a mark of 128 and improved on his reappearance to finish third of 12 at Ffos Las just over two weeks ago and he too should be approaching peak fitness as well.
Given his age, he hasn’t exactly had that many starts over fences and is eight pounds lower than when down the field in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. If you go back to his run at Exeter in January, that is seriously strong form when put in the context of this assignment. In that race, he finished a half-a-length second to Win My Wings and was conceding the winner a pound in weight too.
He should have won that race to be honest, as he was three lengths clear at the final fence but he handed the race to the eventual winner when he decided to hang left on the run-in. The winner boosted the form by landing the Scottish Grand National off a mark of 140, so it is clear to see Run To Milan is really well-handicapped off a mark of 128 here plus his prominent style of racing will suit him around this course which can often favour those up with the pace.
If he gets into his usual rhythm and can run to his best, there is no reason why this solid yardstick cannot go very well here. He has the ammunition to cause some serious damage off this mark, so he makes a lot of each-way appeal in a race where a lot of firms are going extra places due to the competitive field of 17 that are expected to go to post.
Don’t forget to check out my tips, runners and prediction article for the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, where I have two tips in the race. Thanks for reading.
