Racecards
15:50 Sandown Park
bet365 Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 3m 5f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £150,000 added
- Winner: £85,425
- 2nd: £32,055
- 3rd: £16,050
- 4th: £7,995
- Form 614396
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
pecked and unseated rider 1st
- Form 23-1R12
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in rear, not fluent 10th, 14th or 17th, headway 18th, struggling 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
- Form 132801
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer J H Culloty
- Jockey D N Russell
prominent, led after 1st until 2nd, stayed in touch, not fluent and lost place 16th, no impression after, plugged on from 2 out
- Form 91P-26U
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3rd until 14th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 12PP-1P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey R T Dunne
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, behind 12th, pulled up after next
- Form UU1510
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 146
mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, headway 13th, outpaced 17th, rallied 3 out, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms with leaders
- Form 35-2U10
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up, headway 18th, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, driven to lead flat, stayed on
- Form 31-5PP2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch, 3rd when mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on flat, unable to challenge front pair
Bally Legend
10- Form 142134
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey Ian Popham
mid-division, ridden 17th, well beaten after 4 out
- Form 01024F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
held up in rear, hampered 1st, headway approaching 15th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 09P82U
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, went 2nd 14th, led before 3 out, driven and headed flat, held close home
- Form 1P-PF05
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
prominent, led 2nd, clear before 11th until after 13th, not fluent 15th, headed before 3 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 14P-01F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D O'Meara
- Jockey Jake Greenall
mid-division, struggling when not fluent 14th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 21-44P2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey R Mahon
in touch, lost place before 14th, ridden and struggling 17th, mistake 19th, no impression
- Form 12-00P5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
prominent until mistake 6th, ridden 12th, behind when pulled up before 14th
- Form 231251
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey T J O'Brien
led until after 1st, tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 12/P31P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, not fluent 4th or 12th, headway from 16th, went 2nd 3 out until 2 out, no extra before last
- Form 6P712P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, in rear when not fluent 7th, mistake 10th, behind next, pulled up before 14th
- Form P34145
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
mistakes in rear, stayed on from 3 out, never on terms with leaders
- Form 5017UF
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey D C Costello
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
It's no surprise that last year's runner-up, SAME DIFFERENCE, has been well backed. He's 7lb lower in the handicap this year and looked to be on the way back when fifth to Spring Heeled in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Granted luck in-running, it's difficult to see Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge, who's been lightly-campaigned this season, finishing out of the money. Godsmejudge almost won a second Scottish National in a row at Ayr two weeks ago, when Summery Justice was fifth and Roalco Des Farges pulled up, and also comes into the reckoning while subsequent Market Rasen winner Ardkilly Witness is fancied to reverse Kempton running with Bally Legend and Bury Parade over this longer trip. Rose Of The Moon, Burton Port and Twirling Magnet all failed to finish in the Grand National and that may have left its mark but Poungach isn't badly handicapped and could have each-way claims.
Formwatch
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Prominent until not fluent 3rd, tracked leaders, hit 7th, not fluent and lost place 9th, ridden and last before 12th, hit 14th and 15th, soon well beaten, last of 6, 23l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd.
Bury Parade (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in last trio, pushed wide on bend after 9th, steady headway 4 out, hit inside wing 2 out, not clear run on inside and switched left approaching last, stayed on flat, went 2nd final 100 yards, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Bally Legend (10-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Spring Heeled (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) With leader, led 4th, pecked 4 out, pressed when rival blundered and left clear last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Mar beating Cause Of Causes (11-8) by 1 3/4l, 23 ran.
Carruthers 33-1 (11-4) Unseated rider start, in a race won by Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd, 17 ran.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 28-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, blundered 16th, soon lost place, tailed off, pulled up, in a race won by Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 29 ran.
Restless Harry 28-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened next, 12th of 23, 24l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) In touch, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 14th of 23, 30l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Godsmejudge (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden before 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 29, 1 1/2l behind Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Bally Legend 16-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, pushed along briefly after 7th, ridden 9th, effort 13th, 4th and one pace when mistake last, 4th of 10, 14l behind Buywise (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd.
Midnight Appeal 25-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, mistake 9th, fell 17th, in a race won by Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 29 ran.
Burton Port (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) In touch on inside when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f (1) gs, 40 ran.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, outpaced 12th, soon beaten, tailed off 2 out, last of 5, well behind Maggio (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f lst chs (1) gs in Mar.
Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, lost place 24th (2nd bechers), under pressure when fell 26th, in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f (1) gs, 40 ran.
Poungach (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Raced wide tracking leaders, pushed along on bend after 14th, not fluent next, driven in 3rd after 4 out, outpaced before next, rallied under pressure to 2nd between last 2, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Gotoyourplay (10-3) at Taunton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Mar.
Same Difference (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 8th, not fluent 15th, mistake next, soon struggling, stayed on flat, no threat, 5th of 23, 30l behind Spring Heeled (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Mar.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Prominent, led 3rd until before 5th, led 10th, clear when jumped right and hit 3 out, went right last 2, all out, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd beating Milborough (11-4) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Roalco De Farges (FR) 9-1fav (10-0) Held up behind, mistake 9th, headway before 9 out, weakened from 4 out, pulled up, in a race won by Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 29 ran.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Mid-division, dropped towards rear 9th, struggling 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Goulanes (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Summery Justice (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, pushed along before 9 out, blundered 8 out, ridden 7 out, plugged on from 4 out, no impression, 5th of 29, 23l behind Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Twirling Magnet (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In touch, fell 1st, in a race won by Pineau De Re (10-6) at Aintree 4m 3f (1) gs, 40 ran.