15:00 Sandown

Friday 16 February 2018

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 48.0s

Orbasa^b³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-5| J: Bdr Jody Sole⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

2/1

Yet to win beyond 2m4f, but was beaten just under 4L over C&D in December in an amateurs' handicap chase here. Seems to go on most ground, though arguably ideally suited by better going than this. Short-listed nonetheless.

Form: 351644

Rathlin Rose^b²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr G Disney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| CD

4/1

Did the Royal Artillery/Grand Military double over C&D last year, with conditions also soft when he took this. Inconsistent since then, but now stepping back out of handicap company he is entitled to plenty of respect in this field.

Form: 1P-3P6P

Bobonyx^v¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S R Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 79

50/1

A maiden after 25 starts under rules. Stays 3m2f, but has been unable to win from marks in the 70s in handicaps this season, so looks to have an impossible task against some much better opponents.

Form: 2P-5222

Cabragh⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Lt W Aprahamian⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 116| D

7/1

Won a couple of staying chases for Sam England last season at 3m/3m2½f, including on soft. Has a fair bit to find with the leading pair in this race on his debut for this trainer, but may still have an each-way squeak.

Form: 1P332-3

Leo Luna^v¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C J D Rawdon-Mogg⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

7/2

A slip in the weights helped with a back-to-form win at Plumpton (3m1½f, soft) last time. Front pair were 19L clear there and his 5lb rise means he is below a previous winning mark. Not much to find with principals and short-listed as a result.

Form: P/02-341

Midnight Monty^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Major Harry Wallace⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 116

7/1

Won a 3m1f hurdle at Huntingdon last spring and has also scored on soft over fences. Up 1lb here after a good debut for this yard at Market Rasen last time and probably has each-way claims.

Form: PP1-422

Renard^p²⁷⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Maj Will Kellard⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 114

8/1

Was rated 144 at his best over fences, but without a win since December 2013 and was well held in both this and the Grand Military Gold Cup by Rathlin Rose last season. Up against it.

Form: 2/7322-5

Sentimentaljourney⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Nathan Rahman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Varnham| OR: 100| D

33/1

Barely seen under rules since winning a Stratford handicap chase (3m3½f, good) in April 2013. Landed a point-to-point in November, but pulled up last time out and hard to see him making an impact here.

Form: 413/6-1P

Spanish Arch^t⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Lt Cdr Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Victoria Sollitt| OR: 84| D

50/1

Another runner without a win since 2013. Stays beyond 3m, but doesn't look to have been the easiest to train and impossible to recommend him after a 68L point-to-point defeat on his reappearance in December.

Form: P3P/P0-5

Forecasts

Orbasa (2/1), Leo Luna (7/2), Rathlin Rose (4/1), Midnight Monty (7/1), Cabragh (7/1), Renard (8/1), Sentimentaljourney (33/1), Spanish Arch (50/1), Bobonyx (50/1)

Not a huge amount of depth to this contest, as is often the case and RATHLIN ROSE is taken to benefit from the step back out of handicapping and can win this for a second year. Orbasa is an obvious and respected danger to him, while Leo Luna, Midnight Monty and Cabragh all have an each-way shout.