Racecards
15:25 Ascot
Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 180y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £56,950
- 2nd: £21,370
- 3rd: £10,700
- 4th: £5,330
- Form U/2220F-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 159
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
towards rear of mid-division, pushed along and struggling after 14th, never involved
- Form 111331-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
blundered 1st, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
- Form 522U8-3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey G Sheehan
chased leaders, 3rd 2 out, ridden and one pace between last two, soon dropped to 4th, went 3rd again towards finish
- Form F3UR60-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
mid-division, mistake 15th, driven and stayed on from 2 out, driven between last two, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
- Form 1P3123-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 149
always towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
- Form 4/511PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division approaching 10th, weakened approaching 16th, pulled up 2 out
- Form 11/236-4
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Brendan Powell
always towards rear, never involved, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 56P-701
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
chased leader, led 10th until 13th, chased leader until driven before 2 out, soon switched left, weakened soon after 2 out
- Form 9P342U-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, lost place soon after 16th, struggling 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 1/11418-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer A King
- Jockey D F O'Regan
chased leaders, pushed along and one pace in 5th before hit 2 out, plugged on
- Form 1730/45-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders, 2nd before 2 out, led after 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well
- Form 5P/11P0-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
led until 10th, pressed leader, led again 13th, driven before 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, chased winner but held when lost 2nd at the last, lost 3rd towards finish
- Form P1F121-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
in rear, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 66P6-0F
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Paul Moloney
towards rear, plugged on run-in, never involved
No Buts
215- Form 3/41F02-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Tom Cannon
never fluent towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
What A Warrior is yet another of last year's winners on this card bidding to stage an encore and top weight Houblon Des Obeaux won this in 2013. But the former was well behind Pendra, recent Bangor winner Lost Legend and NED STARK in a similar race at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The latter started favourite that day and would probably have finished closer but for being short of room coming down the hill and again on the turn for home. Alan King's seven-year-old has been dropped 2lb since and should have more to offer. Fox Appeal ran well at Cheltenham last week and shouldn't be far away again if jumping a little better while Virak kept good company last season, though ran poorly when odds-on here in February. Le Reve was third in the bet365 Gold Cup in the spring but tends to reserve his best for Sandown. Bennys Mist would enter calculations if the heavens opened.
Formwatch
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Towards rear, fell 12th, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Virak (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Always handy, challenged 3 out, left in lead next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Apr beating Carrigdhoun (10-13) by 6l, 12 ran.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 7-1fav (11-9) Towards rear and keen, not fluent 1st, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out and mistake, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Whats Happening (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Double Ross (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden before 12th, lost place soon after, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Uxizandre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Le Reve (IRE) 8-1fav (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, led 2 out, joined last, headed final 135 yards, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 20, 4l behind Just A Par (10-3) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Royal Player 22-1 (10-11) Behind, blundered 14th, weakened before 5 out and pulled up, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Present View 3-1fav (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd from 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on, 4th of 9, 9l behind Astracad (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Lost Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Close up, plundered 6th, headway 3 out, jumped right and pressed leader next, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Open Hearted (11-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider approaching 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Ned Stark (IRE) 6-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 8th of 24, 19 3/4l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Pendra (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair before next, one pace when edged right flat, lost place final 100 yards, 5th of 24, 8 1/2l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
What A Warrior (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Led to after 2nd, in touch, lost place 16th, soon behind, 15th of 24, 27 1/4l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Leo Luna 3-10fav (11-10) Made most to 10th, pressed leader, 4 lengths down and outpaced approaching 4 out, rallied to regain lead next, clear when hit last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f (4) gd in Apr beating Midnight Oscar (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 3 ran.
Cantlow (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, progress to chase leaders at 7th, 5th when fell 9th, at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
No Buts 7-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd or 13th, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Seventh Sky (11-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.