February 16 / 15.00 Sandown

15.00

Good

Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup (A Chase For Military Amateur Jockeys)

  • Prize money: £7333.5
  • 3m 0f 37y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Castel Royal Artillery Gold Cup (A Chase For Military Amateur Jockeys)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 41-768

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
His two chase wins were secured by wide margins but in small-field events over 2m3f and 2m5f; it's been a quiet start this campaign, albeit in decent Class 2 handicaps (2m3f-3m); this is easier and he does have one good piece of form over nearly 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 146y

Class 2

15:35 Sandown

Broken Halo

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Had wind surgery (his second) since last run; scored over 3m4f at Taunton (soft) in March and was still going well (4l down, disputing third) when falling two out in this contest last year; shortlisted.

7/1

Form: 112-4P CD

Last run: 76 days

W: 12st 5lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
This race was one of two wins in military races here last season, both of them under Charlie O'Shea; disappointed last time but was also pulled up prior to his success 12 months ago, and provided he takes to blinkers (replacing usual cheekpieces) he should threaten once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

7th Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:00 Sandown

Rolling Dylan

12st 5lb

J: Maj Charlie O’Shea

T: Philip Hobbs

prominent, briefly led 4th, dropped to midfield 11th, blundered 13th, well behind but stayed on before 2 out, went modest fourth last

7/2

2nd

5

16th Feb 2023

Good

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:00 Sandown

Rolling Dylan

12st 5lb

J: Maj Charlie O’Shea

T: Philip Hobbs

This race was one of two wins in military races here last season, both of them under Charlie O'Shea; disappointed last time but was also pulled up prior to his success 12 months ago, and provided he takes to blinkers (replacing usual cheekpieces) he should threaten once more.

5/2

3

2nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

12:40 Sandown

Rolling Dylan

11st 12lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Philip Hobbs

Very safe jumper (has never fallen) and he landed a double in military races over this C&D (soft/good to soft) early in the year; below par when last seen in May but no surprise if he bounces back after a break; runner-up in this race last season under Ella Herbison.

13/2

Form: 8PPPC4 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Has lost his way over fences since winning at Exeter (3m, good to firm) in October and reverted back to hurdling the last twice (below par); under a bit of a cloud but he's an assured stayer who won't mind the drying ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Red Happy

12st 0lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Completed a hat-trick at around 3m in February/March 2025 but not seen again until refusing to race when a 20-1 shot at Kelso 24 days ago; can only watch after that.

12/1

5

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 3

15:30 Kelso

Red Happy

11st 2lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

In excellent form in February/March 2025, winning three in a row at around 3m (good to soft/good), but has fitness to prove after 393-day absence and will need to hit the ground running to have any chance off current mark.

15/2

1st

4

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Carlisle

Red Happy

11st 10lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

in touch with leaders

7/1

Form: 3P32-9 C

Last run: 47 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Only 2-36 and up against it at the weights, but the same was true when not beaten far behind Rolling Dylan in two military races here last season (including this); better expected than on his reappearance over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:20 Warwick

Ballycross

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) over C&D in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

16/1

1

8th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

13:15 Worcester

Ballycross

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

25/1

7

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Ballycross

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Over five years since his last win; some promise last season but yet to fire in three runs for current stable; down in the weights but with a lot to prove.

25/1

Form: 411937

Last run: 15 days

W: 12st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Gained back-to-back wins in 2m/2m4f good-ground Uttoxeter handicaps last summer but few positives to take from his last three runs and he's raised markedly in distance for this (no worthwhile form beyond 2m4f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Texard

10st 8lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Won easily by 21l off today's mark at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) in April but has lost his way in recent weeks and was pulled up when returned to Market Rasen on Saturday; needs a rebound.

16/1

9

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

15:50 Market Rasen

Texard

11st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Armson

Won by 21l over C&D in April (good to soft) but more recent efforts have been underwhelming; others have more going for them.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 36P4P4

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent and generally disappointing since his last win 16 starts ago; difficult to envisage him snapping that sequence on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

3rd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:37 Southwell

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 3lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

13yo who has inconsistent recent form but was successful (off 1lb lower) in December on most recent Southwell start; not ruled out.

13/2

4th

4

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:49 Leicester

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Multiple chase winner who made it three for the year at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December; hasn't run to the same level since, a recent second at Huntingdon being a remote one, and others further up the list.

14/1

2nd

4

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:55 Huntingdon

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Veteran who had a clearcut win at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December from Extraordinary Man, his 11th chase win; not so good at Hereford or Warwick (on Tuesday) since, however.

6/1

Form: 3P-40P D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Very smart at about 3m in his day but lost his way for Noel Meade, and after changing hands for £48,000 in September he didn't run much of a race on his debut for this yard in a hunter chase at Taunton; reservations on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:20 Carlisle

Tout Est Permis

11st 12lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Very smart at about 3m in his day but lost his way for Noel Meade; has shown nothing in three runs for this yard and now has lots to prove.

7/1

4th

3

26th Feb 2023

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

16:00 Fontwell

Tout Est Permis

11st 12lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

held up in last but in touch with leaders, some headway with one circuit to go, not fluent 14th, shaken up and lost ground when bad mistake 16th, soon got well behind, tailed off

11/10

7

16th Feb 2023

Good

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:00 Sandown

Tout Est Permis

12st 0lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Very smart at about 3m in his day but lost his way for Noel Meade, and after changing hands for £48,000 in September he didn't run much of a race on his debut for this yard in a hunter chase at Taunton; reservations on the back of that.

11/2

Non-runners

Abaya Du Mathan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £7.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Broken Halo

Daily Mail:

Rolling Dylan

TOPSPEED:

Red Happy

The Star:

Texard

D Express:

Ballycross

Telegraph:

Red Happy

RP Ratings:

Broken Halo

POSTDATA:

Broken Halo

WEST COUNTRY:

Broken Halo

The Times:

Broken Halo

The Guardian:

Broken Halo

Daily Mirror:

Broken Halo

The Sun:

Rolling Dylan

Daily Record:

Rolling Dylan