Racecards
15:32 Sandown Park
bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m 4f 166y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £160,000 added
- Winner: £90,032
- 2nd: £33,920
- 3rd: £16,976
- 4th: £8,480
- Form 15P111
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Mr R James
off the pace towards rear, pushed along and held in 5th when fell 2 out
- Form 1-P2PP1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Cannon
prominent in chasing group, weakened before 20th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form P2121P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey J C Gainford
mostly tracked clear leader, closer after 4 out, led after 3 out, stayed on strongly
- Form 2P4722
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Jack Tudor
held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders 18th (water), went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace no chance with winner, lost 2nd final 100 yards
- Form P1D-FP4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
prominent in chasing group, 3rd at 17th, disputing 2nd at 20th until 4 out, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before the last
- Form 1-P420U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer S Curran
- Jockey B S Hughes
off the pace towards rear, behind when mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
Fidux (FR)
21- Form 146354
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
off the pace in mid-division, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 7-13R3P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey B Hayes
off the pace and always towards rear
- Form 45-4311
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
off the pace towards rear, behind and jumped slowly 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 04831P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Christian Williams
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
off the pace in mid-division, not fluent 8th, headway 14th, pushed along chasing leaders after 4 out, weakened 3 out, left remote 5th 2 out
- Form P611P0
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leading pair, ridden before hit 18th (water), tailed off and pulled up before 20th
- Form 8P1736
- Age 11
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
never travelled in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
- Form 116-73P
- Age 12
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey Miss L Bradstock
led and went clear after 2nd, hit 4 out and reduced lead, headed after next, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before the last
- Form 99-3311
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear, steady headway 4 out, chasing leaders when switched right approaching 2 out, hit last, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
- Form 123P4P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Phillip Armson
mid-division on inside, weakened 13th, soon towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Verdict
Step Back won this back in 2018 when 5lb higher but he’s not the force of old. MUSICAL SLAVE won over an extended 3m1f at Haydock last week, following up an earlier victory over 3m here. He was only beaten a couple of lengths by Win My Wings at Exeter previously and is a massive 23lb better off with the top weight so must have a good chance in this if he lasts home. Enrilo was first past the post here last year, beating Potterman and Kitty's Light, only to be relegated to third after wandering on the run-in. He is the pick of that trio at the weights today though Kitty's Light deserves a big-race success after seconds behind Cap Du Nord in the Coral Trophy at Kempton and Win My Wings in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. This trip could stretch the stamina of a back-to-form Flegmatik but he is probably the pick of the remainder.
Formwatch
Win My Wings (IRE) 13-2cfav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 16th, chased leaders 19th, travelled strongly to lead before 4 out, cruised clear before 2 out, won hard held, won at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr beating Kitty's Light (11-8) by 7l, 23 ran.
Potterman 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd from 13th, ridden to challenge when not fluent last, led flat, driven out, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Empire Steel (11-11) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Hewick (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Pressed leader, led 15th, headed next, led 17th until 18th, hampered by loose horse and headed before 21st, losing place when blundered 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Kitty's Light 13-2cfav (11-8) Towards rear, headway between horses before 19th, ridden and progress before 4 out where hampered, stayed on into distance 2nd before last, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 23, 7l behind Win My Wings (11-5) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Enrilo (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, led 11th, headed 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, no impression and lost 3rd at the last, 4th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Cap Du Nord (10-3) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 125-1 (10-7) Towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 15th (chair), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Fidux (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Midfield, not fluent 5th, hit 16th, headway on outside before 5 out, ridden before 4 out, kept on, 4th of 23, 24l behind Win My Wings (11-5) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Streets Of Doyen (IRE) 150-1 (11-4) Not fluent in rear, mistake 7th, ridden 10th, behind 13th, pulled up after next, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Flegmatik (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in last pair, steady headway on inside 10th, chased leaders after 4 out, going well on inside before 3 out, switched out after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Foxboro (11-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 15-2 (10-6) Held up in mid-division, mistake and struggling 14th, well beaten when mistake 4 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Via Dolorosa (FR) 33-1 (10-2) In rear, headway into midfield 5th, progress to press leaders 6th, not fluent 10th (bechers), ridden and weakened before 2 out, 17th of 29, dist behind Mac Tottie (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Prime Venture (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway before 5 out, progress when ridden 3 out, kept on but never dangerous, 6th of 23, 26 3/4l behind Win My Wings (11-5) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Step Back (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Mostly in rear until pulled up after 24th, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) hvy in Mar.
Musical Slave (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Towards rear early, headway into mid-division after 6th, tracked leader after 5 out, pressed leader before 3 out, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and led after 2 out, pushed out and drew clear run-in, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Enqarde (11-7) by 6 1/2l, 7 ran.
El Paso Wood (FR) 28-1 (10-6) Midfield, relegated towards rear 11th, ridden after 5 out, lost touch and pulled up before 4 out, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.