Sandown and Fakenham

it´s Royal Artillery Gold Cup day at Sandown and this 3 mile chase for serving officers (and other ranks in these democratic times) was apparently the late Queen Mum´s favourite race. Today´s edition at 16.00 CET is only a shadow of its former glory with none of the 8 runners currently in good form, but Gwanako (Paul Nicholls/ Jody Sole), Railway Dillon (Donald McCain/ Lucy Gardner) and Fine Parchment (Charlie Mann/ Richard Dpencer) are the best on ratings and one of them will probably win. The best race on the card is the listed mares novice hurdle at 15.25, and She Ranks Me (McCain/ Jason Maguire) has already won two similar events but must now carry a penalty. She is cvlrearly very useful, but we cannot see her conceding 5 lbs to Twigline (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) and Utopie des Bordes (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty); the latter was a Group One winner in France over fences, but ran out a very easy winner on her first U.K. start - over sticks, while the former was an e asy winner on a minor race at Fairyhouse in November and is taking as huge leap in class here. Mullins rarely sends runners over to the lesser meetings in the U.K. so his mare must be very seriously considered, but we still think that the Henderson runner is the likelier winner. Henderson and Geraghty also have prospects to two more winners later on - Master of the Game, despite a 9 months absence, at 16.30 and Heronry at 17.05.
Henderson can also be on the scorecard at Fakenham with Free Thinking (Sam Waley-Cohen) in the mares bumper at 17.30; this close relation to Long Run looks a cut above today´s opposition. Selling handicap hurdles are not normally a good betting medium, nor our cup of tea. but we will go out on a limb and say that Dalrymple (Polly Gundry/ Tom O´Brien) is our best bet of the day at 14.10; this is a very poor race, and he has run well enough in his recent starts to win here and will also appreciate the better ground.
There are 3 all-weather fixtures today, at Lingfield this afternoon, and Wolverhampton and Dundalk (Ireland) this evening, but the quality is poor throughout and we would rather keep our powder dry for tomorrow´s excellent N.H. cards.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Pistol - Captain Cardington - Sash Of Honour
2. Race: Relax - Mountainous - There`S No Panic
3. Race: Utopie Des Bordes - Twigline - She Ranks Me
4. Race: Railway Dillon - Gwanako - Fine Parchment
5. Race: Master Of The Game - Tominator - Leviathan
6. Race: Liberty Court - Lost Legend - Goodtoknow
7. Race: Rash Move - Bold Addition - Herecomesthetruth