Our resident pundit has two bets for Saturday's showpiece race at Sandown.
Bet365 Gold Cup - Sandown, Saturday 29th April 3.35pm
Not a vintage renewal by any stretch of the imagination and with feeling that many of the likely field are coming here as an afterthought or a hard season, the two standout candidates appear to be DOING FINE (best price 6-1) and ROCK THE KASBAH (best price 16-1). The former will arrive at the Esher venue in tremendous shape have confirmed his current wellbeing with an easy success at Cheltenham last week and having run well over the C&D in the London Gold Cup behind Rocky Creek back in December, another bold show looks on the cards representing a stable that won this race last year.
The latter was due to run in the big novices’ chase at Ayr last week but connections have decided to take their chance here with a young chaser who has shown a decent level of form since he switched his attentions to the larger obstacles. Off the mark at the first time of asking at Chepstow in October, Philip Hobbs’ inmate has finished placed behind the likes of O O Seven, Politologue and American subsequently and with the speed figures of each of those performances reading well (particularly the latter effort at Uttoxeter), he should easily have enough quality for the examination at the weekend. Although he didn’t set the world alight on his only visit to today’s track back in February, he actually did quite well to finish as close-up as he did after surviving a terrible blunder at the first ditch (took off too soon and landed in the top of the fence) and it was good to see him attack the rest of the fences with relish thereafter.
A hugely consistent and likeable type who has form on ground ranging from good to heavy, he has every chance of providing the same connections as Menorah (won at this meeting for last three years) with another memorable finish to the season.
