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Racecards

15:35 Sandown Park

Betfred Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Class A) (Grade 3) (Class A)

  • 18 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 5f 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 7m 20.30s
  • 18 Ran
1
Silk - Pink, large purple spots and spots on cap
  • Form P52/F-4B
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-12

mid-division, hampered and bumped 13th, driven along next, weakened 16th, pulled up before 2 out

2
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots
14/1
  • Form 2-23306
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-11

in rear when unseated rider 3rd

3
Silk - EMERALD GREEN, white chevron, striped cap
  • Form 13321U
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-10

held up towards rear, mistakes, headway 15th, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, one pace

4
Silk - White, large Red spots and armlets, Red and White quartered cap
25/1
  • Form 1415UU
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-7

always prominent, led 14th, headed 20th, led again 3 out, all out and just held on

5
Silk - Crimson, Gold sleeves, hooped cap
  • Form 3132-20
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-5

in touch, driven along 19th, mistake next, pulled up 4 out, dismounted

6
Silk - Emerald Green, Yellow spots, Yellow and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Purple cap
  • Form 442230
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4

mid-division, headway 15th, ridden to chase leader 4 out, chased winner last, rallied after last, just denied

7
Silk - YELLOW, MAROON chevron and sleeves, MAROON and ORANGE quartered cap
6/1
  • Form 1P042U
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-3

tracked leaders until weakened 14th

8
Silk - YELLOW, MAROON cross belts, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, ROYAL BLUE and YELLOW quartered cap
12/1
  • Form 0P132F
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-1

mid-division, stayed on from 5 out

9
Silk - ROYAL BLUE and EMERALD GREEN QUARTERED, halved sleeves, hooped cap
10/1
  • Form 130336
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-12

in touch, took closer order 15th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, no impression

10
Silk - Pink, White striped sleeves, White cap
  • Form 0P6-3PF
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-12

never a factor

11
Silk - Gold, White hoops, Emerald Green cap
  • Form 1-1F312
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-10

led 1st, stayed prominent, ridden to lead 5 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon one pace

12
Silk - DARK BLUE, YELLOW cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap
  • Form 0P-0P5F
  • Age 10
  • Weight 10-9

in rear, stayed on from 4 out

13
Silk - Dark Green, White and Black hooped sleeves, Red cap
9/1
  • Form 5-1222P
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-6

prominent until ridden and weakened 5 out

14
Silk - YELLOW, MAROON and YELLOW hooped sleeves, quartered cap
  • Form P-64000
  • Age 10
  • Weight 10-0

mistakes in mid-division, driven along 5 out, ridden when mistake 4 out, soon beaten

15
Silk - Light Blue, Pink sleeves, check cap
  • Form 2-42113
  • Age 11
  • Weight 10-0

led 2nd, headed approaching 14th, weakened 18th, pulled up 3 out, dismounted

16
Silk - Red and emerald green diabolo, emerald green sleeves and cap
  • Form 03002P
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

mid-division, mistake 4th and 16th, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out

17
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, YELLOW stars, WHITE sleeves
  • Form P21530
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

rear, ridden after 8th, blundered and lost touch 14th

18
Silk - BROWN, LIGHT BLUE cross belts, striped sleeves, LIGHT BLUE cap
  • Form 2532BF
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

held up in rear, hampered 13th and rider lost iron, ridden from 5 out, stayed on until weakened 2 out

19
NR
  • Form P00F1F
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Shardam has been well supported this week for Sandown's feature race and can reward that faith by getting the better of Rule Supreme, Puntal and Kings Mistral. The selection had looked very progressive before lining up for the Martell Cognac Grand National last time, but fell early on in that race. As such, he will not have taken too much out of himself, and a very good second to Fork Lightning at the Cheltenham Festival the time before reads as very decent form. Enough, in our eyes, to make him worthy of the nomination in this great race. Last year's Scottish National runner-up Stormez - he was sixth in the race last Saturday this time around - has proven he can go well at this time of year, and warrants respect, as does Whats Up Boys, although he has yet to prove that he has fully recovered from an injury he sustained around 18 months ago. The Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Rule Supreme adds a lot of intrigue to the race, as does the game novice Puntal, who ran so well for a long way in the Grand National. Haut Cercy is another to consider as, although he ran poorly when fancied at Cheltenham last time, he comes here fresher than most. The 2002 winner of this race, Bounce Back, is certainly reasonably handicapped if he is back to his best and Kings Mistral, for whom Barry Geraghty has been booked, certainly loves it here and is another that ought to go well. Overall, then, it is a fascinating contest and one in which we opt for Shardam.