The jump season ends on a high at Sandown.
The final day of the jump racing season is a little misleading with jump racing continuing throughout the summer; however, the significance of it lies in the Jockeys and Trainers’ Championship.
Whilst Harry Cobden has pulled nine wins clear of Sean Bowen in the race for the former, the latter could go down to the wire with £95,659 on the line for winning the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
However, Willie Mullins is now more than 90% likely to land the Trainers’ Championship from Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls after winning the Scottish Grand National over the weekend with Macdermott.
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Sandown Bet365 Gold Cup Runners
78 runners still hold an entry before today’s confirmation stage. Here's a look at those heading the betting market for Saturday's race:
Kitty's Light
Last year's winner Kitty's Light is the ante post favourite for this year's renewal (9/2 on Sky Bet). Last year, the son of Nathaniel arrived off back to back wins in the Eider and Scottish Grand National to win here off a mark of 140.
This year, he has been campaigned with the Grand National in mind and ran well in 5th with the recent rainfall not suiting. The forecast good ground will be to his liking and he has every chance of following up off a 5lb higher mark, albeit in a classier renewal.
Threeunderthrufive
The ultra-consistent Threeunderthrufive is the best chance of a winner from the trainers chasing the championship. The son of Shantou followed up two 2nd places with a win in the Swinley Chase at Ascot last time out. The form of that is difficult to assess; however, 5th placed Ballygrifincottage did run well in 7th in the Scottish Grand National at the weekend.
The key to him seems to be good ground and that is something he looks likely to get here. He was 4th behind Kitty's Light in the Scottish National last year but the 4 mile trip slightly stretched him that day. With this being run over 4 furlongs shorter, he could turn the tables.
He's gone up 4lb since his Ascot win but he's a black type winner over fences and hurdles so his mark of 156 is well within reach.
Le Milos
The 2022 Coral Gold Cup winner returns to fences in a bid to give his trainer, Dan Skelton, a major boost in the race for the trainers' championship.
This season he has been campaigned over hurdles, running three times and largely disappointing each time. However, he now returns to fences for the first time since his 10th in last year's Grand National.
His trainer cannot be underestimated when it comes to major handicaps and his Coral Gold Cup win was also on good ground. Although he does need to bounce back, there's every chance he could.
Chianti Classico
Improving novice Chianti Classico bids to cap off a fantastic season with a victory here. After winning two handicap chases at Chepstow and Ascot, the son of Shantou rewarded support when winning the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.
David Bass got him into a lovely rhythm on the front end that day and his performance enticed connections to enter the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' chase at Aintree. He was taken on for the lead by Broadway Boy and got racing far too soon on rain softened ground.
Back on better ground, he may be dangerous if getting into a similar rhythm over Sandown's railway fences.
Bet365 Gold Cup Odds
| Runner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Kitty's Light | 9/2 | 7/2 |
| Threeunderthrufive | 9/1 | 8/1 |
| Le Milos | 10/1 | 8/1 |
| Nick Rockett | 14/1 | 12/1 |
Bet365 Gold Cup Date & Start Time
The Bet365 Gold Cup is due to be run at Sandown at 3.35pm on Saturday 27th April. The race is scheduled to be broadcast on ITV.
Bet365 Gold Cup Tips
Although Kitty's Light has already beaten THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE and is a worthy favourite, I fancy Paul Nicholls's horse to overturn the form. The 4 mile trip stretched him that day and a wind surgery a month later suggests that not everything was right with him.
His 2nd at Cheltenham in December has been boosted with the third Protektorat winning the Ryanair and I think he can defy a career high mark of 156 to win this.
