bwin.com Haldon Gold Cup (Grade 2 Limited Handicap Chase)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 4m 3.50s

Diego Du Charmil^t¹⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157

5/2

Steady improvement over fences last year and took the Grade 1 event at the Grand National meeting in taking style. No match for Altior at Sandown on his final start but could go a long way in this sphere for leading yard that won this last year.

Form: 132F15-

God's Own¹⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 156| CD

7/2

Successful four times over fences most recently in a Grade 1 at Punchestown (2m, good-to-yielding) in April 2016. Ahead of Diego Du Charmil when they clashed behind Altior at Sandown in April and should have leading claims.

Form: 53/6333-

San Benedeto^p,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 155| D

5/1

Blew away the cobwebs with a run over hurdles at Kempton two weeks ago but is a much better chaser now. Ahead of both stablemate Diego Du Charmil and God's Own behind Altior at Sandown in April and should be bang there once again.

Form: 4542-36

Ozzie The Oscar¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 151

2/1

Won a class 2 handicap off 3lb lower at Warwick on last start over fences back in May. Blew away the cobwebs with a run over hurdles 17 days ago, that should have put him spot on for this and has the ability to go close in what looks a tight race.

Form: 1321-13

Theo^h⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 141

9/1

Had a super summer winning twice at Worcester and is on a career high mark. Well held in better company at Aintree last time and may find a couple of these a bit too hot, but certainly not out of it.

Form: U43-115

Forecasts

Ozzie The Oscar (2/1), Diego Du Charmil (5/2), God's Own (7/2), San Benedeto (5/1), Theo (9/1)

Only the five runners for this years renewal and hard to discount any of them. Diego Du Charmil and SAN BENEDETO both remain with significant potential over fences for last years winning trainer Paul Nicholls. Slight preference is for the latter who gave Altior a real race when the pair clashed with God's Own in April. He gets weight off his stablemate here and could be hard to contain. Ozzie The Oscar had a spin over hurdles and should be cherry ripe for this and shouldn't be discounted either.