16:10 Perth

Sunday 3 June 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4017:10

Energy Check City Of Perth Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 58.1s

Beeves^b²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 147| CD

5/1

Last year's winner off 4lb lower completing a handicap hat-trick looking totally freshened up by this yard (five wins in total for them). Lightly-raced since and only once seen over conventional fences (last time out); finished creditable third.

Form: 11/197-3

Sadler's Risk³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 145| D

33/1

Smart chaser when at his best with his last win coming in a Grade 3 Punchestown chase when with the de Bromhead yard (below that form afterwards). Pulled-up on his only run for this yard in a Grade 2 Sandown event; down 8lb from last handicap.

Form: 44/380P-

Maggio^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 140| CD

40/1

Veteran chaser who has won over C&D but was pulled-up in the Grand National (last start). Hard to know how much ability that he really retains now although he did win off his mark at Aintree when a 50/1 chance two years ago.

Form: 04/443P-

Pain Au Chocolat³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 139| C

16/1

Has twice scored off a mark of 135 for this yard since leaving Dan Skelton and his form off this mark reads 121. Latest win came in a soft race (favourite departed 4 out) and although he ran well enough last time here this trip will test his stamina.

Form: U42512-

Looking Well⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 136| C

5/1

7th in this last year he's only been seen twice since and wasted a golden winning opportunity at Musselburgh (unseated at the last; 2L clear) in February over 4m. Confirmed he was far from straightforward last time out (went with little fluency).

Form: 126/7UP-

Charmix³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 132| D

28/1

Useful chaser at his best but has only won a novice in this sphere from 10 starts. Hinted at a revival on his first run for this yard over C&D off a 3lb higher mark last time (0-140). This is a little bit tougher but he could strip fitter here.

Form: 04U8F6-

Takingrisks⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 131| D

10/1

Benefitted from a real test at Ayr (3m, heavy) on his penultimate start to gain his first win of the season having run well before. That gruelling test may well have blunted him for a hurdles spin last time and now back over fences off a new mark.

Form: 2F4213-

Henllan Harri^b,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 128| C

6/1

Useful over hurdles and fences with his finest hour coming in the bet365 Gold Cup 2017 (made all). Not won since then and looks to need a through test of stamina (failed to complete two of last three chase runs); did too much over hurdles last time.

Form: 43P6-U7

Lord Ballim^h,t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125| C

9/1

His course win was the final victory in four that he recorded in a purple patch in early 2017 all over shorter trips than he faces today. Not always fluent early on in his races he managed to spring a surprise last time at Worcester; repeat in doubt.

Form: 0PP37-1

Rainy City^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 123| BF| CD

8/1

Has always looked one to treat with caution over fences but finally took advantage of a reduced mark over C&D without having to truly knuckle down. Showed how inconsistent he can be with a lack-lustre effort at Ayr last time when favourite.

Form: 52P21-4

Martiloo^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 123| C

3/1

Has suddenly found her feet over fences and won her last two in this sphere at Aintree and Ayr at 2m4f. Given another 8lb rise for her latest 7L win and now pushed up into an even higher grade; ground fine but has never tried this trip.

Form: U234-11

Forecasts

Martiloo (3/1), Beeves (5/1), Looking Well (5/1), Henllan Harri (6/1), Rainy City (8/1), Lord Ballim (9/1), Takingrisks (10/1), Pain Au Chocolat (16/1), Charmix (28/1), Sadler's Risk (33/1), Maggio (40/1)

An interesting contest as the feature on the card and there are quite a few in this that have to really prove themselves at the trip and one of those would be MARTILOO. This requires some further improvement but she travels strongly in her race winning her last two by 21L and she should enjoy the good pace set by Beeves and Henllan Harri. The former of that duo took this last year and looks sure to make a bold bid again with Lord Ballim another one who fascinates here if he can hold his jumping together. Of the Nicky Richards pair Takingrisks looks the pick over the quirky Looking Well with Charmix one to watch in the market.