Whoever invented veterans’ chase handicaps – for horses aged ten and above – please take a bow. I love them and I have yet to come across anyone in the sport who doesn’t relish the prospect of these old warriors running against each other in their twilight racing years.
Inevitably, horses of this age will be past their prime so it makes sense to have them competing on a level playing field, insofar as they race against rivals broadly their own age. Usually I am happy just to watch such contests without having a bet – but I will make an exception tomorrow for the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Sandown (3 p.m.).
This series final is the richest prize of the season in any veterans’ race, with more than £51,000 to the winner. The Grade 1 Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle on the same card is worth considerably less to winning connections.
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