16:15 Perth

Sunday 4 June 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Horizon Parking City Of Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 5m 50.24s

Volnay De Thaix²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

11/2

Smart hurdler who has been lightly raced over fences (only six starts in this sphere). Won on his debut over fences but was pulled-up on his last start over them (3m and barely stayed the trip over hurdles). Bounced back to form on his penultimate start back over hurdles in a Grade 2 (chased home stable mate L'Ami Serge) but failed to back that up last time at Haydock and faces a tough test off this mark back over fences.

Form: 52/5P3-9

Beeves^b³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 143| CD

12/1

Quirky sort who can look a bit wayward but has proved to be useful over fences often going from the front and jumping well. Has won his last two starts at Fakenham and over C&D (off a mark of 141) and goes off 143 here a new career high and may also face competition for the lead today. Still not totally out of this though and not written off at all.

Form: 185511-

Upswing^p⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140| D

13/2

Rather enigmatic chaser who has shown some good form of late winning his last two starts at Ffos Las and Cheltenham taking advantage of a falling mark on both occasions despite looking rather idle throughout both races. His last win takes him back up to a mark of 140 and he'll find life tougher off that mark (never won off a mark that high) and can still make mistakes with his jumping.

Form: PP3311-

Cultram Abbey³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 139

11/1

Has shown some useful form over fences and should have won at Carlisle (goes well there) in February when falling at the last when well clear off a 4lb lower mark. Bounced back well from that mishap to run well off this mark (139) over C&D in April when beaten ½ L by Beeves and is slightly better off at the weight for that small defeat.

Form: F/275F2-

Ballykan^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| C| D

5/1

Has a decent win-to-runs ratio over fences (4/17) although his last wins came last summer at Perth (over shorter) and Southwell both off lower marks. Has been beaten on all his start since then but has faced some stiff tasks and finished behind Beeves /Cultram Abbey here last time out when his stamina looked rather stretched and another strong gallop could find him out.

Form: 3456F4-

Rightdownthemiddle³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

5/1

Goes a trainer with a good record at the track with his best recent coming when second to a wide-margin winner (Sizing Cadelco) in a Listed handicap at Aintree in April off today's mark (137). Fell when well found in the market next time out at Punchestown and would be of interest if returning in form here.

Form: 772P2F-

Looking Well⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 135| C

8/1

Showed some useful form when running second to Ziga Boy at Doncaster when returning from a break in January (Sky Bet Chase) over 3m off a mark of 132 travelling well and being nearest at the finish. Back over the same course last time over a little further he appeared unsuited by the conditions (ground to soft) and he struggled and was never a threat. Better ground should suit here.

Form: 2F/2126-

Valadom^p,t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 134| D

25/1

Front-running chaser whose last win came off this mark at Bangor in November when he made all under favourable circumstances and not looked like winning since including over the Cross Country course at Cheltenham (doesn't stay that far). Faces competition for the lead here and not in the same form of late as he was when winning and looks an unlikely winner of this.

Form: 9240-4U

Roc D'Apsis^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 133| D

10/1

Mistake prone chaser who is generally consistent though and deserved his win last time out at Kempton when rallying well to beat Al Alfa. Goes well at that particular track and should be suited by this one although he did take advantage of a falling mark to win there and his jumping errors always make him a risky proposition.

Form: 45234-1

Lord Ballim^h,t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 127| C

8/1

From a yard who have done well with their Northern raids this year and this one has been the flag bearer winning four of his last five over obstacles with the last win coming over fences here (also goes well at Carlisle) Could possibly have made it 5/5 were it not for a soft unseat here on his penultimate start. Faces a further 7lb rise here and a rise in grade but given the style he's won in of late he could well go close again here this strong traveller being a likeable sort.

Form: 2111U1-

Aerlite Supreme^p,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121

16/1

Took advantage of a fall in the weights to win a Warwick last time over 2m4f beating a weak field by 3L. Now faced with a 5lb rise in the weights back in a higher grade and that will make life difficult here.

Form: 8466U-1

Non-Runners

Yes Tom³¹²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 12

T: S R B Crawford J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Ballykan (5/1), Rightdownthemiddle (5/1), Volnay De Thaix (11/2), Upswing (13/2), Lord Ballim (8/1), Looking Well (8/1), Roc D'Apsis (10/1), Cultram Abbey (11/1), Beeves (12/1), Aerlite Supreme (16/1), Yes Tom (20/1), Valadom (25/1)

Needless to say for a race of this class this is competitive and it will take some winning and with Beeves in the field it should be run at a good gallop. Both Cultram Abbey and Upswing are worthy of a look here although the latter can be very idle and takes some knowing while Ballykan will have his supporters but may just find his stamina stretched again. Rightdownthemiddle has to come into the equation on his Aintree form and Volnay De Thaix brings a touch of class to the race. All in all though it’s the improvers LORD BALLIM who gets the overall vote he has to overcome a rise in class but the handicapper may not have caught up with him yet and this strong travelling sort could well have the race run to suit here.