16:05 Stratford

Saturday 8 September 2018

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

George Pragnell Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 21.7s

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Selected odds by:

Monbeg Legend⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

11/4

Won first three hurdles starts and already won twice over fences at Ludlow and latest at Uttoxeter when he beat a subsequent winner who was receiving 9lb. Step up from 2m4f may suit and still an unexposed chaser from a top yard.

Form: 120-121

Royal Village¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 130| BF| D

9/2

Dead-heated on chase debut at Market Rasen in a 2m5½f novices handicap. Sound third here next over C&D with 4lb more. Upped another 1lb for that and this is tougher but clearly going the right way.

Form: 15-4413

Easy Street⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129

14/1

Four time chase winner from 2m4f to 3m1½f. Won on return from 337 day absence at Warwick (2m4f) and back to form latest after lesser efforts when close second at Cartmel over 3m1½f. Career high mark now but distance may be ideal.

Form: 67-1P72

Exitas³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 128| C

8/1

Three chase wins have come over 2m1f and 2m2f. Certainly stays 2m4f but this sort of trip is a little doubtful. Running reasonably of late with second here and third at Southwell but this looks tougher.

Form: 735423

Sporting Boy^b,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 127| C

25/1

Seemed to have lost his way over fences but showed some signs of life back over hurdles latest when second at Market Rasen (2m7f). Chase mark not been of appeal lately and still questions to answer.

Form: 4-6U902

Call Me Vic⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 127| CD

7/1

Veteran battled to success over 3m2f latest at Newton Abbot despite looking all out at the finish. Raised 7lb for that and step back to this trip probably not ideal so task looks tougher here.

Form: P8P-741

Earthmoves^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 127

16/1

Two starts this summer seen him a remote and never nearer third at Newton Abbot before he was completely tailed-off in last at Cartmel latest. Plenty of question marks although handicap within his compass at best.

Form: P2P5-36

Our Three Sons¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 125| C

13/2

Twice a winner here over hurdles and second here in July part of a string of good efforts. Drop to 2m latest saw a lesser run but returning to this trip again he has a chance to be involved once more.

Form: 4-12234

Beau Du Brizais²⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124

10/1

Open to improvement over fences in this his fifth start. Fell at the last when beaten in first chase before good seconds next twice. Pulled-up when last seen at Wincanton in near untraceable conditions. Unexposed and chances if ready fitness wise.

Form: 42F22P-

Cusheen Bridge^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: R Johnson| T: C T Pogson| OR: 120

7/1

Almost two years since his last win but now 5lb below last winning mark and promising third latest at Southwell (2m4½f). Step up will suit and presence of champion jockey who surely could have ridden Beau Du Brizais is notable.

Form: 462-493

Forecasts

Monbeg Legend (11/4), Royal Village (9/2), Our Three Sons (13/2), Call Me Vic (7/1), Cusheen Bridge (7/1), Exitas (8/1), Beau Du Brizais (10/1), Easy Street (14/1), Earthmoves (16/1), Sporting Boy (25/1)

Despite giving away plenty of weight here MONBEG LEGEND is fancied to further enhance his impressive strike rate and put quite simply he just looks too classy for these rivals. Cusheen Bridge at the opposite end of the weights is the most feared of the rivals and he looks potentially well handicapped coming into this. Unexposed Beau Du Brizais is also respected and has plenty of time yet to improve.