'This has been the plan for a long time' - trainers on their contenders for the £100,000 Veterans' Final

Joe Tizzard-trained runners Copperhead and Eldorado Allen dominate the market for this £100,000 Veterans' Final.

Tizzard's father Colin sent out Theatrical Star to finish second to Pete The Feat in 2017, and it's a race the stable would love to win.

Both representatives come into the 3m contest in terrific form, with Copperhead winning three of his last five starts and finishing second in the other two.

It's a huge turnaround for Copperhead, who looked so exciting when landing Ascot's Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase in February 2020 but duly lost his next 20 races before finally returning to the winner's enclosure at Plumpton in May.

Eldorado Allen, hero of the Haldon Gold Cup in 2021 and Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury the following year, has also contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National during a magnificent career.

One of Eldorado Allen's biggest admirers, Brendan Powell, who rides him at Sandown, said: "He's been a star for so many years. You wouldn't guess he's the age he is from riding him.

"I thought he travelled well at Cheltenham last time and was just a bit outpaced at halfway. The step back up in trip will suit him."

He added: "Copperhead is definitely a big danger. It's amazing to think he went so long without winning."

'It wouldn't surprise me if Fortescue ran a big race'

Fortescue is widely available at double the price of Copperhead with most bookmakers, but he renews rivalry with the Tizzard chaser on 16lb better terms compared to when they met at Aintree in October.

Copperhead was impressive that day in beating Fortescue by 14 lengths, but he had the advantage of a previous run, whereas Henry Daly's runner was making his first start since April.

Fortescue: more effective under testing conditions at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

There is also the likelihood that Fortescue may have been inconvenienced by the good ground on Merseyside and will be more effective on testing terrain at Sandown.

Daly said: "It wouldn't surprise me at all if Fortescue ran a big race. He's in good form, and this has been the plan for a long time. He has won round Sandown, and the ground will hold no fears."

Sam Brown: "should be there or thereabouts at the business end" according to trainer Anthony HoneyballCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Sam Brown
I'm very happy with him. He won the race last year when it was staged at Warwick, but he ran quite well in the bet365 Gold Cup in April, so he does have some Sandown form. He didn't ever get into the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time, but he had run well on his previous start in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase. That run suggests to me that he's still around a 150 horse, so with the 10lb we're taking off him I think he goes there with every chance. He should be there or thereabouts at the business end.

David Pipe, trainer of Remastered
We ran him in the Coral Gold Cup; perhaps we shouldn't have done. He had been travelling really well in his previous race at Wincanton, looking likely to finish first or second when he fell four out. He has never performed well at Sandown, and we weren't really thinking about this race until we saw the lack of entries at the beginning of the week. We're putting cheekpieces back on. We'll see if they help.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Empire Steel
This race has always been the plan. I was delighted with him at Haydock, where he ran a nice race. Hopefully, he'll be there or thereabouts. As you can see from the number of times he's run, he's not been the soundest of horses. Fortunately, we've had a clear run with him since Haydock and I'm really happy with him.

Harry Fry, trainer of Ask Me Early I was pleased to see the rain in midweek. The slower the ground, the better for him. He has come on plenty for his reappearance, and we've had this race in mind for a while. Hopefully, he will give a good account of himself.

Philip Hobbs, joint-trainer of Smarty Wild
He was a bit disappointing on his first run back after a long layoff at Haydock. He seems in good form, so we thought we'd have a go at this even though he is 2lb out of the handicap.

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