15:40 Sandown

Friday 9 March 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:45

Grand Military Gold Cup (Chase For Military Amateur Riders)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 44.82s

More Buck's^t³³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-5| J: Bdr Jody Sole⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| CD

16/1

Makes his belated seasonal reappearance here with his form having tailed off at the end of last season. Has won after a long break, though, and is superior to most of these on ratings.

Form: 114FP3-

Rathlin Rose^b²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr G Disney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| CD

15/8

Won this last year under the same rider, who tends to do well in these sort of contests. Won well over C&D last month and is the one to beat again, even under a penalty.

Form: P-3P6P1

Arbeo¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C J D Rawdon-Mogg⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss R Grissell| OR: 88| C| D

100/1

Fair handicapper on his day, but has regressed in the past couple of seasons and no better in a point-to-point when last seen.

Form: P35PP-5

Baden^p1²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lt W Aprahamian⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| D

4/1

Beaten by a useful handicap chaser in Dingo Dollars on his last two starts, and remains on the same mark here. Could progress further over fences and wears first-time cheek pieces.

Form: P05-422

Cabragh^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Maj Will Kellard⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 113| D

25/1

Well behind Rathlin Rose and Midnight Monty here on stable debut last time out, which was a level of form below what he had shown for his previous yard.

Form: P332-36

Knockanrawley^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W B Ramsay⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130| D

7/2

Usually runs his race, though not the easiest to win with. This drop in trip may help him after perhaps failing to see out a marathon trip at Exeter last time and he went close at Ayr in November; claims.

Form: 26-23P5

Midnight Monty^t²¹

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

11/2

Second on his last three starts, including to Rathln Rose over C&D last time out. No obvious reason he should reverse that form but he could still go well.

Form: P1-4222

Minellahalfcentury^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Maj Charlie O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Claire Harris| OR: 112| D

100/1

Hasn't run under rules since May 2016 and even longer since he won a race. Needs to step up on all recent form shown, including in point to points.

Form: 53P/47-P

Sentimentaljourney²¹

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

100/1

No win under rules since April 2013, though that doesn't tell the whole story as he has only had two starts (and three in point to points) since. Well behind a few of these here last time out.

Form: 13/6-1P7

Spanish Arch^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Lt Cdr Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Victoria Sollitt| OR: 95| D

66/1

Useful in his younger days but not at that level now and unlikely he'll outrun his odds again such as he did when 100/1 fourth here last time.

Form: 3P/P0-54

Winter Lion^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Max Chenery⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129

9/1

Was on a fair losing streak over hurdles for his previous yard but has now moved to a trainer with a 2-2 record in this Has shown some good form in the past and could rediscover that if appreciating the change of scenery.

Form: 248334

Forecasts

Rathlin Rose (15/8), Knockanrawley (7/2), Baden (4/1), Midnight Monty (11/2), Winter Lion (9/1), More Buck's (16/1), Cabragh (25/1), Spanish Arch (66/1), Sentimentaljourney (100/1), Arbeo (100/1), Minellahalfcentury (100/1)

Last year's winner RATHLIN ROSE is clearly the one they all have to beat here. A C&D winner last time out when he had a few of these in behind, he has the benefit of Captain Guy Disney in the saddle, an excellent jockey in these races. He was more than four lengths ahead of Midnight Monty last time and he could be the one to chase him home again, ahead of the reappearing More Buck's.