Racecard | 15:15 Betfred Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | Sandown Park

Kelami bids to pull off a massive bonus by landing this year's Betfred Gold Cup and is taken to do so, with Inca Trail, Royal Auclair, Juveigneur and Jack High all likely to make it a stern test for the French raider. Kelami's success in the William Hill National Hunt Chase shows that he lines up at the top of his form, and Francois Doumen's seven-year-old, who was not stopping at the finish at Cheltenham, had earlier finished a good third to Forest Gunner and Double Honour at Haydock, so his stamina is not in question. It could be pointed out that the last Cheltenham Festival winner to do the double was Arkle 40 years ago, but horses who have contested the Festival contest have actually supplied five of the last 11 winners here, so we are prepared to stick with Kelami who still has a decent weight despite his six-pound rise. Paul Nicholls has one last throw of the dice in his bid to overhaul Martin Pipe in the battle for the trainer's title, and the best of the Ditcheat handler's brigade could well be Inca Trail who has been a quirky sort in the past. He seems a reformed character though since being fitted with blinkers and has won three of his last five starts, including when given the tenderest of rides here last month. His stablemate Royal Auclair is 16lb higher than when just beaten by Puntal last year but showed his well being with a fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and more recently when second to Hedgehunter in the National. Nicholls has won this prize twice in recent years with ad Hoc and the stable should again be in the shake-up. Juveigneur bids to salvage what in the main has been a dismal season for Nicky Henderson, and as he landed the Kim Muir on his first outing since coming over from France, is also chasing the ¿250,000 bonus. He disappointed in the Topham but has reportedly been working well this week. Any rain would Jack High, second in the Irish Grand National, but he has a bit to find with one of Pipe's entries, Zeta's River who is well handicapped. There are plenty more in with a shout, but we return to Kelami as the answer.

Formwatch

Therealbandit (IRE) 7-2 Not fluent, held up last, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, one pace and no impression between last 2, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Quazar at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gd.

Royal Auclair (FR) 40-1 Held up, headway 17th, effort after 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 40, 14l behind Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.

Comply Or Die (IRE) 4-1fav Chased leaders, led 8th, headed 19th, weakened approaching 22nd, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Joes Edge at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd, 20 ran.

Joly Bey (FR) 16-1 Held up towards rear, headway 17th and in touch, effort 3 out, weakened next, 14th of 40, well behind Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.

Stormez (FR) 16-1 Behind and mistakes, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 20th in race won by Joes Edge at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd, 20 ran.

Ballycassidy (IRE) 66-1 Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 40 ran.

Iris Bleu (FR) 16-1 Mid-division, took keen hold early, weakened 5 out, 8th of 20, 39l behind Joes Edge at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd.

Jurancon II (FR) 12-1 Held up in rear, driven and not going well from 8th, mistake 12th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Lords Best at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd.

Kelami (FR) 8-1 Always prominent, tracked leaders going well from 4 out, hit 2 out, led before last, ran on well, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar beating Keen Leader by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.

Inca Trail (IRE) 5-2 Dropped out last, smooth headway 2 out, effort on bit last, ran on to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Mar beating Boy's Hurrah by 3/4l, 5 ran.

Merchants Friend (IRE) 80-1 Mid-division when fell at the 10th in race won by Hedgehunter at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 40 ran.

Juveigneur (FR) 11-2 Mid-division, headway when mistake 10th, weakened 3 out, 13th of 30, 42l behind Cregg House at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs.

Maximize (IRE) 20-1 Never going well in rear, mistake 8th, 13th of 24, 48l behind Juveigneur at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Mar.

Zeta's River (IRE) 2-1fav Towards rear, headway approaching 15th, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Imperial Dream at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs (B) gd.

Whitenzo (FR) 11-2 Pulled hard early, tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, clear 3 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) hvy in Mar beating Kittenkat by 8l, 11 ran.

Jack High (IRE) 10-1 Towards rear, headway 4 out, 6th before next, led 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed after last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 26, 3/4l behind Numbersixvalverde at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 1 sft in Mar.

Lucky Bay (IRE) 12-1 Led to 5th, stayed prominent until mistake 13th, weakened next, 11th of 14, 47l behind Zeta's River at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Mar.

Boy's Hurrah (IRE) 12-1 Held up in touch, losing place when not fluent 10th, soon behind, 16th of 30, well behind Cregg House at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs.

Joint Authority (IRE) 14-1 Behind, headway 6th, weakened 14th, 6th of 10, 40l behind Beau Supreme at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Mar.

Racecards

15:15 Sandown Park

Betfred Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Jack High (IRE)

Juveigneur (FR)

Kelami (FR)

Whitenzo (FR)

Therealbandit (IRE)

Royal Auclair (FR)

Comply Or Die (IRE)

Joly Bey (FR)

Stormez (FR)

Ballycassidy (IRE)

Iris Bleu (FR)

Jurancon II (FR)

Kelami (FR)

Inca Trail (IRE)

Merchants Friend (IRE)

Juveigneur (FR)

Maximize (IRE)

Zeta's River (IRE)

Whitenzo (FR)

Jack High (IRE)

Lucky Bay (IRE)

Boy's Hurrah (IRE)

Joint Authority (IRE)

Previous results

Puntal (FR)

Ad Hoc (IRE)

Bounce Back (USA)

In depth

Verdict

Formwatch