Racecards
16:45 Sandown Park
Paddy Power '3 Sleeps To Cheltenham' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 10y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,200 added
- Winner: £7,018
- 2nd: £2,061
- 3rd: £1,030
- 4th: £515
- Form F4632-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
last trio and never travelled, dropped to last at 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
- Form P2-4P13
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey James Bowen
led, joined 2 out, headed between last 2, stayed on same pace after, no chance with winner
- Form 1111-P7
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Kielan Woods
jumped right, chased leader until hit 11th (water), chased leaders, went badly right 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 11-33UP
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey J J Burke
held up in last trio, never on terms
- Form 63-2836
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer S-J Davies
- Jockey Page Fuller
held up in last trio, steady headway into 5th when stumbled badly and unseated rider 12th
- Form 11-U571
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
bit keen tracking leaders on inside, stumbled 12th, plugging on in 3rd when hit 2 out
- Form 414-083
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Jordan Nailor
chased leaders out wide, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, outpaced 11th (water), never on terms after
- Form P006-51
- Age 7
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
tracked leaders going well, went 2nd 11th (water), challenged 3 out, upsides next, led between last 2, went clear run-in, easily
In depth
Verdict
Go Steady went up 9lb for winning a lesser contest at Huntingdon last month but he has an excellent strike-rate. GOLDEN WHISKY got his act together at Ludlow in January and didn’t enjoy going left-handed at Fakenham seven days later. This is a more suitable test and he can defy a further 2lb rise. The Russian Doyen is back in the right grade and Fuji Flight should strip fitter today, though well-backed Wincanton scorer Five Star Getaway is probably a bigger threat given he remains thoroughly unexposed.
Formwatch
Fuji Flight (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place before slow jump 2nd, pecked 10th, effort next, weakened after 3 out, well behind when left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, dist behind Aintree My Dream (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Led, jumped right 4 out, ridden and headed next, tracked leaders, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Admiral Barratry (11-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Zolfo (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place and slightly hampered 2nd, well beaten from 7th, 7th of 9, dist behind Ruinous (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Limited Reserve (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up, pushed along after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Dustin Des Mottes (FR) 40-1 (10-8) Led, not fluent and headed 1st, led next, not fluent and headed 7th, mistake next, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Sky Pirate (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Go Steady 10-3 (11-6) Raced out wide, held up early, good headway into 3rd at 8th, 2nd 3 out, led last, driven clear, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Rob The Getaway (11-6) by 7 1/2l, 7 ran.
Prairie Town (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Dwelt in rear, ridden 6f out, never near leaders, 5th of 8, 25 1/2l behind Bill Cody (9-10) at Southwell 2m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Five Star Getaway (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, led before next, clear between last 2, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Mar beating Baignard (11-11) by 6l, 11 ran.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, bad blunder and unseated rider 4th, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Mar.