Now dropped back in grade, Vieux Lion Rouge looks weighted to run a huge race and each-way value in the 3m Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final at Sandown on Saturday (15:00).
Trained by David Pipe, this 11-year old won the Grade 3 Becher Chase at Aintree in 2016 when travelling well throughout, before getting the better of a ding-dong tussle up the long run-in with Highland Lodge by a short head off a mark of 152.
Vieux Lion Rouge then followed-up in good style in the 2017 Grand National Trial at Haydock when beating Blaklion by 2 1/4 lengths off 14. He then very well in the big one itself when sixth to One For Arthur off 149.
The son of Sabiango also ran very well in the 2018 Becher Chase when a 4 1/4 lengths runner-up to Walk In The Mill off 146.
Vieux Lion Rouge also looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when scoring in a class 2 handicap at Chepstow, where he rallied gamely to get the better of On Tour by a neck off 142.
He then failed to shine over hurdles at Cheltenham, but was far from disgraced last time out in the Becher again when ninth of 18 to Walk On The Mill.
Vieux Lion Rouge has since been dropped a couple of pounds. He is now able to race in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final less competitive class 2 affair off 143 – just 1lb higher than when last successful.
It gives him leading claims from a handicapping perspective in a grade where Vieux Lion Rouge boasts a 40 per cent strike rate.
So, at 16/1 with Boylesports who pay four places, he looks overpriced and well worth an each-way wager.
Indefatigable makes plenty of appeal in Mares’ Hurdle
Indefatigable has run well to finish runner-up on her last two starts, so worth siding with to go one better and land a deserved success in the Listed 2m 4f Mares’ Hurdle (12:45).
Trained by Paul Webber, this seven-year-old improved throughout last season when winning two of her six starts over the obstacles and also posting some solid efforts in defeat.
They include when beaten just a neck by Lady Buttons in a Grade 2 at Doncaster and a 5 1/4 lengths fifth of 22 to Eglantine Du Seuil in a Grade 2 at the Cheltenham Festival.
The daughter of Schiaparelli went on to round off the campaign with an easy 10-length success in a Listed contest over 2m 4f at Cheltenham.
Indefatigable has had just three outings this season and found only the aforementioned Lady Buttons, a winner again since, too strong in the second of those when staying on strongly to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths in a 2m Listed affair at Wetherby.
She has since run a blinder to finish a 4 1/2 lengths runner-up to handicap blot Dame De Compagnie in a hot 16-runner class 2 at Cheltenham.
The form of those races just about set the standard in this. Indefatigable is a tough, consistent sort who has won once and been placed once in two starts over the trip.
Gavin Sheehan also gets a good tune out of her. Indefatigable won’t mind the testing conditions at the Esher venue, so she looks the one to be on in this.
Johnbb a bet to follow-up in handicap chase
The Tom Lacey trained Johnbb scored with tons in hand last time out, so looks a worthy 7/4 favourite with Coral to make light of a rise in the weights and follow-up in the 2m handicap chase (13:50).
That success came over course and distance in a class 3 where the six-year-old travelled ominously well-throughout under Robbie Power, before being produced to take up the running on the bridle at the final fence.
He then showed a smart turn of foot to readily beat Paddy’s Poem, who had previously given 9lb and a beating to a subsequent three-time winner, by three lengths.
It was a most taking display by Johnbb on just his second start over the larger obstacles and he was value for much more than the winning margin.
He made a total mockey of his opening handicap chase mark of 124 and is a lightly-raced sort who has bags of untapped potential.
That suggests a 6lb rise in the weights could well be on the lenient side and a revised rating of 130 could still seriously underestimate Johnbb’s ability.
This class 2 does represent a step up in class, but he’s fully expected to take it in his stride en route to even better things.
