An 11-year-old gelding named Nocte Volatus delivered a thrilling victory for punters at Sandown Park on Saturday, landing a significant gamble in the feature race on a day where the British winter severely disrupted the national hunt programme.
Frost Bites Hard But Sandown Survives
While the prestigious £100,000 Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase Final went ahead at Sandown after the track passed an 8am inspection, the cold snap proved too much for several other venues. Meetings at Newcastle and Wincanton were abandoned, with officials at the latter conducting multiple checks before finally conceding defeat due to frost affecting worn areas of the course.
Nocte Volatus Wings In For Tom Lacey
Trained by Tom Lacey and ridden by Stan Sheppard, Nocte Volatus was sent off the 11-4 favourite, having been backed in from 11-2 on the morning of the race. The confidence proved well-founded as the veteran chaser held off the challenge of Dan Skelton's Le Milos to win by a length and a quarter, with Gabbys Cross taking third.
"It's brilliant to win a nice pot like that with an improving 11-year-old," said an elated Lacey, securing the valuable veterans' prize for the first time. "I can't put into words the importance of winning on days like today. It happens quite a lot for Dan and others but it's nice to show that, given the ammunition, a smaller yard can compete on the big stage."
Jockey Stan Sheppard praised the unique jumping style of the winner, stating: "He's fairly on the edge with his jumping - he's got his own way of doing it - so you just have to hold on tight!"
Weekend Programme Decimated by Weather
The chaos extended into Sunday, with only the all-weather fixture at Southwell surviving after the loss of cards at Naas, Chepstow, and Plumpton. The Southwell meeting was a late addition by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to avoid a complete blank day.
This decision, however, raised concerns from the National Association of Racing Staff about the extra demands placed on stable staff after the busy festive period. The BHA acknowledged the potential inconvenience but stated the risk of a blank day justified adding the fixture.
The frosty conditions continue to cast a shadow, with inspections already called for Monday's scheduled meetings at Lingfield and Ludlow. Tuesday's card at Musselburgh has been scrapped entirely.
