15:00 Sandown

Friday 26 January 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Grand Military Gold Cup (Chase For Military Amateur Jockeys)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 47.20s

Farceur Du Large¹⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-10| J: Maj Will Kellard⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 130

11/1

Capable performer on his day but ended time with Noel Meade on a downer and needs to bounce back on this debut for new connections.

Form: 80UP-P8

Broken Halo^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-5| J: Bdr Jody Sole⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| CD

5/1

Useful chaser who made it 2-2 under Brigadier Jody Sole when landing this race 12 months ago. Has failed to complete on 2 of his 3 subsequent starts but will have a serious chance if able to bounce back to his very best.

Form: 8110-FP

Enjoy Your Life³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-5| J: Sgt Nick Oliver⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| BF| D

8/1

Fairly useful ex-French winning hurdler/chaser who built on his solid reappearance second at Wincanton when cosily landing a 3m Exeter handicap in November. Conditions were perhaps too testing for him over the same C&D next time but others make more appeal in any case.

Form: 52-7214

I See You Well³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-5| J: Nathan Rahman⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 120| CD

20/1

Plumpton specialist who gained his latest success over this C&D in December 2022. Reproduction of that form would put him firmly in the picture but he's rather up-and-down nowadays and others look safer.

Form: 0-28265

Up Helly Aa King^t²⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 12-5| J: Mrs Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123| D

18/1

Not getting any younger but he's a likeable sort and duly left his reappearance spin behind when landing a 6-runner Ayr handicap (3m, heavy) earlier this month. Decent fourth in a veterans' over this C&D last January and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 4242-61

Almazhar Garde^p,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 110

22/1

Runner-up in this race last year but he's not been in anything like the same form since and losing run stretches back to 2021.

Form: 29-306P

Fil D'ariane^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Capt Douglas White⁽⁷⁾| T: Douglas White| OR: 100| D

80/1

Pulled up on latest start under Rules back in July 2021, which was his final start for Tom Symonds. Placed all 3 starts between the flags since, including when third of 14 back form a lengthy absence last month, but he looks up against it here.

Form: 33P21/3

Golden Sovereign⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Maj Charlie O'Shea⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 122

10/1

Opened chase account at Wincanton on final start of 2020/21 campaign and placed both completed starts at that course last term. Below par following a wind op on return at Exeter but entitled to come on for that and represents trainer-jockey combination that landed this race in 2022.

Form: 31/32U-4

Nestor Park^b¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Lt W Aprahamian⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 130| BF

4/1

Just one win to his name over fences but, to his credit, he has made the frame on several occasions. Not at his very best in 3 starts so far this season, albeit there were positives to take from his latest effort in first-time blinkers (retained here) ar Warwick recently.

Form: P2-3375

Rose Of Arcadia^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tpr Lucy Westlake⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128| D

85/40

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who made a winning reappearance at Newton Abbot (26.5f, heavy) in October. Solid efforts in defeat the last twice, latterly finishing third of 11 in the Sussex National, and she has to be high on the shortlist.

Form: 13-1733

Forecasts

Rose Of Arcadia (85/40), Nestor Park (4/1), Broken Halo (5/1), Enjoy Your Life (8/1), Golden Sovereign (10/1), Farceur Du Large (11/1), Up Helly Aa King (18/1), I See You Well (20/1), Almazhar Garde (22/1), Fil D'ariane (80/1)

The mare ROSE OF ARCADIA appeals as the most likely winner judged on the improved form she has shown this season. Nestor Park ran well for a long way in a competitive Warwick handicap last time and should have a part to play, while last year's winner Broken Halo, Golden Sovereign and the veteran Up Helly Aa King are all worth a second look.