Steve Ryder casts his eye over Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, including race trends, runners & his race prediction.
The bet365 Gold Cup is a Premier Handicap run at Sandown over 3m4½f. This year it will be run on Saturday 25th April at 3:30.
bet365 Gold Cup Winners, Trends & Stats
Larbawn (1968 & 1969), Diamond Edge (1979 & 1981), Topsham Bay (1992 & 1993) and Ad Hoc (2001 & 2003) have all won this race twice. Resplendent Grey attempts to repeat his victory from 2025 this year.
• All 12 of the previous 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
• All 12 of the previous 12 winners had at least 3 runs that season
• 11 of the previous 12 winners had won over 3 miles or further
• 10 of the previous 12 winners were rated between 135 and 149
• 9 of the previous 12 winners carried 11st or less
• 9 of the previous 12 winners were beaten last time out
bet365 Gold Cup Declared Runners & Guide
14 Declared for the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown:
Havaila
Montregard
In D'Or
Ask Brewster
Livin On Luco
Road to Home
Transmission
Rock My Way
Resplendent Grey
Henry's Friend
Our Power
Certainly Red
Invincible Nao
Gabby's Cross
HAVAILA
Progressive Gary & Josh Moore trained chaser who has won his previous two starts. He won by seven lengths at Newbury in March off a mark of 116 before following up in emphatic style in the Sussex National by five lengths. The handicapper has raised the seven-year-old 10lbs for that success but he arrives in form.
IN D’OR
Eight-year-old who has finished 3rd on both of his starts since joining Fergal O’Brien from the Venetia Williams stable. He now returns from a 98 day break back at a track where he finished 3rd last season over 3 miles.
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MONTREGARD
Tom Lacey trained seven-year-old who finished one place ahead of In D’Or at Ascot in January before winning the Swinley Chase at the same track in February. He was a NR on account of the heavy ground at Ayr in the Scottish Grand National last weekend and this race could suit him better.
ASK BREWSTER
Prolific chaser who has won four of his previous five starts over fences. He could only finish 5th in the London National in December over this course and distance but bounced back to defy odds of 22/1 to win the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time. He was a NR in the Scottish Grand National last weekend because of the heavy ground.
RESPLENDENT GREY
Olly Murphy trained chaser who won this race last season when fitted with first-time cheekpieces. He won on his reappearance at Carlisle in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase before finishing 2nd at Windsor in the Fleur De Lys Chase. He needs to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Who is the favourite to win the bet365 Gold Cup?
At the time of writing (Thursday morning), Havaila is the 4/1 favourite for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. He is joined at the top of the market by In D'Or (11/2) and Montregard (11/2). Ask Brewster (8/1) is the only other horse priced up under 10/1.
bet365 Gold Cup Betting Insights
As highlighted on the trends video for this race, both ROCK MY WAY (best priced at 12/1) and Transmission tick all of boxes but with the latter not currently jocked up on the BHA site (at the time of writing), I will just back the Joe Tizzard trained eight-year-old. He has been running consistently well this season with a victory at Ascot and two runner-up efforts at both Musselburgh and Uttoxeter.
Rock My Way finished only 8 lengths behind Isaac Des Obeaux in the Midlands National on his previous start when appearing to find 4m2f too far on soft ground. That rival ran well in the Scottish Grand National last weekend off a 7lb higher mark and Rock My Way runs here off the same mark.
Recommended Bet: Rock My Way 12/1 (0.5pt ew)
Oddschecker Betting Data: So far this week on Oddschecker, Montregard is the most popular bet on the platform, picking up 24% of all bets placed.
