No knee-jerk reactions but Sandown 'disappointed' by Royal Artillery field

Tweaking the conditions of the historic Royal Artillery Gold Cup is something Sandown officials could explore after Thursday's race attracted just four runners.

First staged in 1878, the 3m chase is restricted to horses owned or leased by connections with close links to the Royal Artillery, and only military amateur riders are permitted to take part.

Covid restrictions on amateur jockeys meant the race was not staged last year and the 2020 fixture was washed out because of waterlogging, but the previous ten runnings drew a healthy average field of 8.8.

Andrew Cooper: 'race has fallen short of where we'd want to be'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Field sizes in British races have shrunk since the summer but Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper insisted there would be no knee-jerk reaction to the low turnout. He said discussions would take place with the Royal Artillery Steeplechase Committee, which is the main driver in coordinating runners and riders.

He said: "The committee does a lot of work to generate support and runners for the race and, for whatever reason this year, it has fallen short of where we'd want to be.

Royal Artillery Gold Cup card and betting

"Not having the race for the last two years hasn't helped, while the ownership condition of the Royal Artillery compared to the Grand Military Gold Cup, which Sandown stages in March, is narrower. They have to have links to the Royal Artillery, whereas the Grand Military is any branch of the military – army, navy, air force and also includes the Royal Artillery. Something obviously hasn't come together this year, but there's going to be no knee-jerk reaction.

"There's always a debrief and I'm sure the race and conditions will form part of that review. We've never had cause to discuss or tweak any conditions, but the key requirement of those conditions is always why it's going to be challenging to get runners.

Royal Artillery Gold Cup day: longstanding event in the Sandown calendarCredit: Gavin James

"You could say why don't we open up the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, but then it would no longer be the Royal Artillery Gold Cup. It would just be a conditions chase for military riders and that would be a big step to go down and totally against how the race has been run since the late 1800s."

He added: "The race and the day remain and will continue to remain an important part of Sandown's history and I'm sure its future. There'll be about 1,000 gunners coming tomorrow who otherwise wouldn't be coming racing. It's a great reunion for the Royal Artillery regiment nationwide."

Hogan's Height: should be suited by conditionsCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

Jamie Snowden runs Hogan's Height in the race, which he won four times as a jockey. He said: "It's a shame there are only four runners because it's great for the military and for racing. I don't think I'd be where I am today if it wasn't for them.

"Hogan's Height has been a legend and won the Grand Sefton a few years ago and was 12th in the National last season. He came back to form in a hunter chase last time and the conditions suit him as he slips in off 130 without any penalties."

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