FOR those who like to follow old favourites there is a contrast in where to find some popular performers last weekend.

At Sandown today we had a veterans’ race worth €61,900 to the winner, the culmination of a series of races over the winter. Some might argue that is a lot of money for horses at the end of their careers. It attracted a field of 19.

On the same card the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle was worth £25,630 to the winner. The Grade 1 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival is worth £110,000. Dan Skelton protested that the

However, it’s full of popular old horses that race fans would genuinely like to see winning again. Dynaste was a Gold Cup contender a few seasons ago but will now find it hard to win in ‘open’ handicap company. Pretty much all the runners have given their owners and the public many days of enjoyment but are too high in the handicap to find a winnable race. The race proved hugely successful with a popular winner in Peat The Feat, still well able to win a race on the right mark, at 13 years of age.

In Ireland, among the entries for Aghabullogue and Tinahley point-to-points, the open included fellow one-time Gold Cup contenders First Lieutenant, Sir Des Champs and On His Own. All three would struggle to find a winnable race on track but should have no trouble in a point-to-point.

There are three veterans’ race in the Irish calendar, an up to 123 rated over three miles at Limerick last week won by Smokey Joe Joe, a 135 and under rated over three miles at Navan on March 4th and a 140 rated over two and a half at Wexford on St Patrick’s Day (the only one that the higher class horse are eligible for). Perhaps there is room to include a race or two more for them to have a last hurrah in the track.