Sandown - Sat 25/4/09

[fintron]

3.10 - Bet 365 Gold Cup Chase They race over 3m 5f 100y tomorrow and the runners with winning form around the trip are Darkness (27f), Kilbeggan Blade (30f), Lacdoudal (30f), Verasi (26f) and Zacharova (29f). Darkness was well backed prior to the Grand National and finished 13th that day, making several blunders which hampered his chances. However, he has bounced back and been running to a decent level of ability since missing the whole of 2007. He was a dual Group chase winner in 2006 and ran a big race at Newbury in February to show the ability is still there. He will stay all day long, has won at the track on his only previous visit and will handle the ground. He's 8 lbs above his last win. Kilbeggan Blade was another quite well supported prior to the National. He has had a terrific season for Tom George but pulled up before the 21st at Aintree. However, his stamina is assured as he won over 30f at this track in December and is unbeaten in two starts over CD. He's only 4 lb higher than his last chase win in the London National and has previously won on good ground so could go well at a price. Lacdoudal is another course and distance winner and is 12 lbs lower than when taking the race in 2006. Trainer Phillip Hobbs is in good form and he has been running respectably over shorter distances of late, including in the William Hill trophy at Cheltenham last time out. His mark is slowly declining and the 10 yo is vulnerable to progressive types, but he should give a good account, is used to competing in valuable chases and will relish the ground. Verasi is yet to win a chase handicap, although he has enjoyed success in non-handicaps over fences, winning a Grade 2 novices race in 2007 at Lingfield. He has pulled up on four of his last starts though, and isn't one for me. Zacharova sneaks into this race at the foot of the weights but is due to go up 7 lbs in future. Trainer Venetia Williams is in good form at present and the horse too is in good heart, winning the Mon Mome handicap chase at Cheltenham earlier in the month. He also has course winning form to his name, from February this year, and has won on a variety of ground so is another one considered. Final bets: Darkness - 20/1 Bet 365, 0.17 pt Kilbeggan Blade - 14/1 Hills, 0.23 pt Lacdoudal - 7/1 Hills, 0.44 pt Zacharova - 20/1 Hills, 0.16 pt

[TOP CAT]

Re: Sandown - Sat 25/4/09 Sandown looks a very good day out on sat with many good horses on show, BIG BUCKS, VOY POR ETC, i really do hope they get a very good day out and also get the weather for it. One man that will surely not let us down for the sandown card is the one and only ''Mr P Nicholls'' my nap for the hole day is OUMEYADE in the 2-35 am only backing this horse for one reason and one reason only, the BEST MATE colours and owned by Mr Lucky Jim Lewis, Trained by Mr Nicholls and has Sam Thomas on top taking the ride, if he jumps the last upfront in any way, youl hear me from anywhere in the UK. SANDOWN 2-35 OUMEYADE-NAP yaaaaa come racing.