15:00 Sandown

Friday 15 February 2019

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 44.15s

Rathlin Rose^b⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-10| J: Mr G Disney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| BF| CD

9/4

Winner of this race in 2017 and 2018 so bidding for a hat-trick. Not at his best last time out over C&D but pulled up before winning 12 months ago. Surely been laid out for this so has strong claims once again.

Form: 21FP-40

Huff And Puff¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-5| J: Major Harry Wallace⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

8/1

3m1½f distance tackled at Ludlow latest furthest he's ever ran over and proved stamina with a win on first run since May. Upped 3lb for the success but a repeat effort surely see him go close here and handles all ground seemingly.

Form: 51/13-91

A Tail Of Intrigue¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Max Chenery⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Joanne Priest| OR: 101| D

33/1

Third in this in 2017 but failed to complete in four of seven races since. Well beaten last time out at Sedgefield (sixth of seven) and hard now to be optimistic.

Form: PPP-146

Cabragh^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Nathan Rahman⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 102| D

20/1

Sixth in this a year ago and unplaced since. Handicap continues to fall but not of any great appeal now and will do well to make the frame.

Form: 68-5765

Carlos Du Fruitier^b³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Brodie Hampson| T: B Pauling| OR: 128

2/1

Never won over fences but consistent run coming into this with four straight placed efforts. Second ins a decent Newbury handicap latest reads well and looks a genuine threat to all here with a decent jockey booked.

Form: 0P3332

Keltus^t⁴³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Maj Charlie O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 130| D

11/2

Three-time winner for Paul Nicholls earlier in his career but arrives here after a 439 day absence after finishing second in a point-to-point last season. Tall order after such a layoff.

Form: 29/2062-

Late Romantic^t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Bdr Jody Sole⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 123| D

8/1

Three-time point-to-point winner successfully made the switch to rules racing with a second at Newcastle followed by a third in the Lincolnshire National latest. In good order and stays well so has possibilities here.

Form: U11U-23

Shelford^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mrs Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 122| D

12/1

Only chase win a three-runner Towcester contest in 2017. Showed little last term and similar story first time out this season in a hunters chase. Up against it on recent form.

Form: 36-5548

Forecasts

Carlos Du Fruitier (2/1), Rathlin Rose (9/4), Keltus (11/2), Huff And Puff (8/1), Late Romantic (8/1), Shelford (12/1), Cabragh (20/1), A Tail Of Intrigue (33/1)

RATHLIN ROSE can land the hat-trick here for Guy Disney. He always seems to save his best efforts for this race and looks to have been laid out with it in mind by David Pipe; he will surely be a hugely popular winner if successful. Carlos Du Fruitier looks a big danger as the youngest runner in the field and he has been knocking on the door of late. Late Romantic is another in good form and worthy of consideration.