LOCAL trainer David Pipe’s veteran chaser Ramses De Teillee is heading to Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon to take part in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase, a race he came second in last year.

 The popular grey will be bidding to secure his most valuable victory over fences in the £100,000 contest, to give the Nicholashayne handler his second success in the race having previously claimed it with Soll in 2016.  

Pipe said: “He is 12 now but he is in amazing form. He is the same as when he was a four-year-old. His enthusiasm is amazing. He is four pounds lower than when he was second in the race last year and this has been the plan for a long time.  

“The ground is what it is, but he will like the ground, although he would probably like it better on the hurdles course where it will be heavier, however there will not be any excuses on that front. 

“He has had several wind operations, and they don’t last forever, and we knew we wanted to go for this first time out.  

“His enthusiasm is amazing as he never has an off day. He comes out bouncing every day and loves life. We have had him since we got him out of a point-to-point as a four-year-old and he has never changed.” 

In his long career Ramses De Teillee has won more than £230,000 in prize money from his 38 starts under rules.