SADLY, the weather has put paid to the Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final and an absorbing card at Sandown Park.

I simply don’t understand why they don’t spend the money to sort out the area by the Pond Fence, which time and time again has been the main reason for the most recent abandonments.

The remainder of racing this afternoon looks moderate to say the least despite there being some competitive handicaps at Wincanton this afternoon, and I shall be pinning my hopes on INTIMATE in the class three handicap hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs at 3.15.

The Venetia Williams-trained charge has been crying out for a stiffer test of stamina following two staying on efforts at Fontwell Park and Uttoxeter, and a fast run race around this tight track should see him outstay Astronomic Blue down the home stretch.

The extra yardage here, stepping up to an extended two miles and five furlongs, should prove right up his street and the deep ground shouldn’t prove a problem.

The feature race at the Somerset track is the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase at 2.40.

Many of you may want to be on the top weight Huelgoat who landed a course and distance contest on November 11 off a mark of 115.

He subsequently finished down the field when stepped up to three miles on soft ground at Sandown Park, when he patently didn’t stay, as he backed out of the race quickly from the third last after racing prominently.

Off a 5lbs lower rating he has to be considered, as does the hat-trick seeking George Saint, but he will need a career best in this higher class.

That could leave JACAMAR to make the most of his feather weight in the stamina-sapping ground. The now nine-year-old has plummeted in the weights from a recent high of 135 to his current mark of 113 and showed last time out over the course and distance that his turn was close at hand.

That day he was always close up to the action, got slightly outpaced at the top of the stretch before staying on nicely close home. This tougher ground may well suit him a whole lot better.

The final race on the card, the extended three-mile staying hurdle at 3.50, is going to be a right old slog with the ground likely to be opening up by then, and I would pre suppose that plenty of the connections wouldn’t mind a bit of rain to make the ground a wee bit easier to go through.

I fancy the chance of GALWAY MAHLER here, who is gradually returning to form following a fairly recent fallow time. The selection is still a maiden following eight races, but he performed a clear career best last time out at Lingfield Park, when he kept on stoutly to finish a length and a half third behind Haston Clermont.

There is little doubt that his breeding lines suggest that a bottomless test of stamina will suit, and I will be surprised if the son of Mahler is not involved at the sharp end and is taken to account for four-timer seeking top weight Percy Veering.

It is also worth having a second look at the card at Kempton Park where both ARATUS (6.45) and TRUE COURAGE (7.45) could both go well at each-way prices.

The last named raced with the choke out at Chelmsford City last time out off a mark of 82 after winning previously at the Essex track off 78.

I think he is worth another chance to recoup losses if Dylan Hogan can get his charge into a good rhythm and relax.

Back over the sticks at Newcastle I am also particularly keen on ATTENTION ALL under top weight in the handicap chase at 2.50, where the step back up in trip to two-and-a-half miles should aid his chance.

He just seems to find the minimum trip a bit too sharp, and in a race with very little strength in depth, the six-year-old can give the weight away to the likes of Cookill and En Meme Temps before being stepped back up in grade for Rebecca Menzies.

Also on the Gosforth Park card, I think we will get a huge run out of DONSO STAR at a massive price in the concluding extended two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle at 3.25.

The six-year-old looked badly in need of his last start following a 214-day break, but hopefully he comes forward for that run.

There are bits and pieces of form from last year, albeit he didn’t win, that could see him massively outrun his current double figure price.

Finally, I shall also be having a play on two horses at Southwell. I think that TOP BUTTON is interesting for Jack Jones in the extended mile handicap at 5.00, and also the well handicapped POWDERING at 6.00.

The last named is now 6lbs lower than for his win at Hamilton Park last year, and he was a massive eye-catcher at Wolverhampton last time out when finishing off nicely behind Ultramarine just before Christmas.