Godsmejudge eyes Gold Cup win

SCOTTISH Grand National runner-up Godsmejudge and his stablemate ­Midnight Appeal, who fell in the Ayr showpiece, return to the racecourse today to contest the prestigious bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Bertie Milan, ridden by Lucy Alexander, wins at Perth yesterday Picture: Grossick Racing

Godsmejudge ran a fantastic race to finish second when attempting to ­defend his Scottish National crown, but Midnight Appeal fell at the 18th fence. “Godsmejudge showed all his old fire when trying to win a second Scottish National at Ayr two weeks ago and, having looked destined for fourth place jumping the second last, he kept on battling and was a fast-finishing second at the line,” the trainer said.

“He has come out of the race fine, so, while it is the other way round, we are giving it another roll of the dice. We also run Midnight Appeal, who tipped up at Ayr, but has also come back A1 and he won the Alanbrooke (Challenge Cup) over the course two years ago.”

Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland is also looking to take another major staying prize this weekend as Ardkilly Witness goes for glory in the race. Newland was thrust into the limelight on Merseyside earlier this month as 25-1 shot Pineau De Re ­galloped into the history books with a brilliant display in the world’s most ­famous steeplechase.

Less than 24 hours later, Ardkilly Witness justified odds-on favouritism in a novice chase at Market Rasen and Newland is looking forward to seeing his charge tackle three miles and five furlongs for the first time in the traditional highlight on the final day of the National Hunt season. “We’ve had this race in mind for a while and his preparation has gone pretty smoothly,” said the Worcestershire-based trainer. “We’re very happy with the horse, he seems in good form and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Philip Hobbs turns out Roalco De Farges just a fortnight after he was pulled up in the Scottish Grand National. He said: “He was disappointing at Ayr and we’ve no idea why. He seems ­absolutely fine since, so we’ll let him take his chance on Saturday and we just have to hope he can bounce back.”

At Perth yesterday, Lucy Alexander and Bertie Milan made history as the partnership became the first Scottish winners of the GA Engineering Highland National. Up with the pace throughout the 3m 7f marathon, the 13-2 scorer saw off Ulster National hero Hidden Horizons by three lengths.

Winning trainer Nick Alexander was full of praise for his daughter and said: “Lucy gave him a great ride as he’d never been this far before. The owners had to twist my arm to run as I had my eye on a three-mile race in a fortnight’s time.

“He’s had a break and I wondered if he’d be fit enough but clearly he was. I’ve had a few runners in this before, including the joint-favourite Papamoa last year, and it’s wonderful to finally win it.”

Alexander jnr said: “It’s great to win at our local track as this is a big race for us and he jumped very well. He got a bit close the last two but we got away with it.”

King’s Chorister landed the 2m 4f handicap hurdle for the second year running as he returned to form under Craig Nichol. Winning trainer Barry Murtagh said: “He has had a moderate season through no fault of his own as he tried his chasing and he didn’t like it.

“He was well treated at his best here and we might have a look at another race for him at Sedgefield.”

Sandown

2.05 Dolores Delightful (NB)

2.40 Rolling Aces

3.15 Sire De Grugy

3.50 Godsmejudge (nap)

4.25 Polly Peachum

5.00 Foundation Man

5.30 Henryville

Haydock

1.20 Nubar Boy

1.50 One Scoop Or Two

2.20 Sir Reginald

2.55 Galuppi

3.25 Foxtrot Romeo

4.00 Ski Lift

4.35 Frankthetank

5.10 Karaka Jack

Leicster

2.00 Dark Leopard

2.30 Hell Of A Lord

3.05 Eagle Top

3.40 Pavlosk

4.15 Kastini

4.50 Gambol

5.20 Prince Regal.

Doncaster

4.55 My Son Max

5.25 Divine

6.00 Roossey

6.30 Penny Drops

7.05 Matalleb

7.35 Spifer

8.05 Trixie Malone

Ripon

1.40 Sarista

2.15 Lord Aeryn

2.50 Body And Soul

3.30 Esteaming

4.05 Rawaki

4.40 Signore Piccolo

5.15 All Reddy.

Wolverhampton

5.45 Invigilator

6.15 Precision Strike

6.45 Elizabeth Flynn

7.20 Rusty Rocket

7.50 Layline

8.20 My Single Malt

8.50 Sixties Queen

TOMORROW

Ayr

2.00 Galvanize

2.30 Baltic Spirit (nap)

3.00 Jinky

3.30 Jumbo Steps

4.00 Cabal

4.30 Dubai Dynamo

5.00 Sohcahtoa

Kempton

2.15 Dittander

2.45 Rose Kazan

3.15 Triple Aitch

3.45 Angelic Air

4.15 Marweena

4.45 Telegraph

5.15 Ranjaan

5.45 Secret Success