Go-ahead for Altior but bet365 Gold Cup non-runners force Talkischeap into 4-1

The Alan King-trained Talkischeap has been cut to 4-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup (from 7-1), but that change is in part due to five coming out of Sandown's feature handicap.

Just A Sting, trained by Harry Fry, has also been supported into a general 6-1 (from 9s).

The going – which is good, good to firm in places – has caused Yala Enki, Ballydine and Captain Chaos to be taken out, while Adrien Du Pont (not eaten up) and Flying Angel (bruised foot) also miss the race.

Other notable non-runners on the card include Definitly Red in the Oaksey Chase, Darebin in the Celebration, while Old Guard, Jarveys Plate and With Discretion miss the Select Hurdle.

However, Altior will run, according to trainer Nicky Henderson.

Henderson tweeted: "I’ve walked the course @Sandownpark and I’d like to praise the ground staff who’ve done an excellent job under extremely difficult circumstances. I’m very happy with the conditions so Altior et al are all good to go (except With Discretion who is out because she wants it soft)."

View from the clerk

Officials at the track were watering the course until midnight ahead of the seven-race card which features the Celebration Chase (3.00) and bet365 Gold Cup (3.35).

Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at Sandown, said on Saturday morning: "It's good, good to firm in places at the moment and I don't think that will change for racing. We have had 0.5mm of rain in the last 24 hours, but even that is stretching it a bit. We did a lot of watering last night and finished about midnight.

"It is cold, dry blustery at the moment and we may get the odd patch of rain but nothing in great quantity. The wind situation looks to be marginally improving, we think the strongest winds will be up to the midday period and then it should see a gradual decline in the afternoon, although it will be a blustery day."

Away from Sandown there are seven other meetings on a bumper Saturday.

Haydock, Leicester, Ripon, Doncaster and Wolverhampton also provide British-based punting opportunities, and Irish action at Limerick and Wexford adds further intrigue.

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