The Joe Tizzard yard are in excellent form and can continue their run of winners with Copperhead in the 3m Trustatrader Apply Today Veterans’ Handicap Chase (15:00) at Exeter.

Tizzard's stable are currently operating at a strike rate of 20% (5-20) in the last fortnight, with a Kempton handicap hurdle winner on Friday and a novice handicap chase victor at Newbury on Saturday. The chestnut Copperhead has been a loyal servant for the yard over the years and won at Graded level as a novice chaser back in 2019. A few years in the wilderness followed, but the gelding came back to somewhere near his best when picking up valuable places in handicap chase company in 2023.

The veterans' chase division has been a triumph in allowing the older horses to remain competitive over fences and Copperhead proved that with three wins and two seconds during 2024. He landed the Veterans' Chase Series Final at Market Rasen in January and has only been given a rise of two pounds for his victory over Sam Brown, an increase that has been negated by jockey Freddie Gingell's three pound claim.

WIN - COPPERHEAD - 7/2