15:35 Sandown

Saturday 28 April 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 7m 32.10s

Blaklion¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 161| BF

6/1

Victorious over the Grand National fences at Aintree in December but brought down at the first when tackling the big race itself a fortnight ago. One to note despite carrying top weight in this.

Form: 24-212B

Regal Encore⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 154

16/1

Inconsistent sort but ran well when winning over 3m at Ascot (soft) in February. Races off a 4lb higher mark here and worth a check in the market.

Form: P8-03P1

Theatre Guide^b,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 149

25/1

Failed to complete the last twice most recently when falling in an eight runner contest at Ascot (3m, soft) last time out. Finished third in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 83-36PF

Rock The Kasbah^p1⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 149

12/1

Pulled up on sole start since winning over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (good-to-soft) in October. Not beaten far when finishing sixth in this race last year and wears cheekpieces for the first time here.

Form: 4126-1P

Present Man^t⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

25/1

In good form in the autumn including when winning a Listed handicap chase at WIncanton (3m1f, soft) in November. Well held the last twice however including over hurdles last time.

Form: 1P-1104

Missed Approach^b⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 146

8/1

Making his first appearance since wind surgery when winning an amateur riders contest over 3m2f at Cheltenham (soft) last month. Has a useful amateur in the saddle once more.

Form: 8-P6321

Royal Vacation^b⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145

20/1

Well held third at Wetherby (good-to-soft) in November and it's been a similar story in three subsequent starts. Returns to fences in this contest.

Form: PP-3P50

Houblon Des Obeaux^b¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| C

25/1

Early casualty when contesting the Grand National two weeks ago. Best form has come on soft and heavy ground and he would appreciate any overnight rain.

Form: 663P3F

Domesday Book^b⁴⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 140

25/1

Winning for the second time over fences when successful in an amateur riders contest at Cheltenham (3m2f, good) 13 months ago. Absent since and set a tough task on his return.

Form: 456831-

Benbens⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| CD

50/1

Pulled up in two of his three starts since winning over C&D on good-to-soft ground in December. Races off a mark 1lb higher than for that latest success.

Form: 7419PP

Carole's Destrier^p1⁶⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138| CD

14/1

Pulled up the last twice including at Doncaster in February. Handicap mark is falling as a result and wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 0/29-8PP

Bigbadjohn¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

12/1

Victorious at Kempton (3m, good) in February when making his debut for this yard but was an early casualty at Aintree subsequently. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: U7081U

Minella Daddy^b⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137

8/1

Finished a decent second to Regal Encore at Ascot (3m, soft) in February but well beaten at Cheltenham subsequently and stamina to prove on this occasion.

Form: 12P-420

Sugar Baron^b⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

12/1

Finished runner-up twice including over C&D earlier in the season. Well beaten at Cheltenham subsequently. Represents a leading stable in this contest.

Form: 6F7-220

Relentless Dreamer^p,t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 136

33/1

Placed over 4m1f at Musselburgh (soft) in February and ran well to finish sixth at Kempton (3m, good) later that month. Best form has come on a sound surface.

Form: P21636

Step Back^p1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: M Bradstock| OR: 135| BF

7/1

Placed in a handicap chase here over 3m in February and off the mark over fences when winning at Fakenham (3m, good-to-soft) earlier this month. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 119-231

Rathlin Rose^b¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 133| C

16/1

Won and placed in military riders events here this season and was also successful at Ascot (3m, soft) a month ago. Fell at Aintree last time out however but interesting from out of the handicap given his course record (3/4)

Form: 6P121F

Dawson City³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Gundry| OR: 133

14/1

Winner over an extended 3m6f at Exeter (soft) in February and ran well to finish 8L second at Newbury last time out. Likely more needed if he's to take this from out of the handicap.

Form: P-4P312

The Young Master^p⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132| CD

12/1

Well held in the main since taking this contest in 2016. Races off a 13lb lower mark this time around and interesting to see how he fares having unseated early on at Ayr last week.

Form: U63P6U

Band Of Blood^b³⁴

25/1

Disappointing in two starts since winning over 3m at Doncaster (good-to-soft) in February. Worth a check in the market on his first start since a wind operation. Races from out of the handicap in this.

Form: 54/1106

Forecasts

Blaklion (6/1), Step Back (7/1), Missed Approach (8/1), Minella Daddy (8/1), Rock The Kasbah (12/1), The Young Master (12/1), Sugar Baron (12/1), Bigbadjohn (12/1), Carole's Destrier (14/1), Dawson City (14/1), Regal Encore (16/1), Rathlin Rose (16/1), Royal Vacation (20/1), Present Man (25/1), Theatre Guide (25/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (25/1), Band Of Blood (25/1), Domesday Book (25/1), Relentless Dreamer (33/1), Benbens (50/1)

BLAKLION has put in some impressive weight carrying performances in the past and he can gain compensation for his early exit at Aintree earlier this month by taking this prestigious staying chase. The selection is versatile in terms of ground conditions and can get the better of Missed Approach who showed that he is in good heart when winning at Cheltenham last time out while Rathlin Rose who boasts an impressive record at this venue can take third ahead of Theatre Guide who ran well in this race 12 months ago.