Sandown round out the British jumps season on Saturday, with the bet365 Gold Cup, formerly known as the Whitbread, the feature handicap on the card. Joe Napier previews the race below, providing his 1-2-3 selections.
Kitty’s Light completed a sensational hat-trick of handicap successes last spring, winning this race just a week after glory in the Scottish National.
KITTY’S LIGHT
(Christian Williams/Jack Tudor)
Christian Williams’ charge went on a tear at the end of last term, netting a hat-trick of staying handicap chases within the space of two months in the Eider Chase, the Scottish National, and finally this race. Kitty’s Light was able to win the latter pair off the same mark after a brilliant training performance by his handler and finds himself only 5lb higher to defend his crown in this contest one year on.
Both his mark and his ability suggest he can go very close once again, and it would conclude the National Hunt season on a happy note. However, he would surely have had a difficult enough race in the Grand National at Aintree just two weeks ago, so while he runs off 1lb lower here, it may well have left a mark. This renewal looks a stronger one than in 2023 too.
THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE
(Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)
This has been a productive season for Threeunderthrufive who has proven a reformed character much more in keeping with the two-time Grade 2 winning novice chaser from 2021/22. He disappointed in general the previous term, but three handicap runs have produced two runner-up finished and a Grade 3 success at Ascot in February.
His success this season has not been kind to his handicap mark, which has now reached an all-time high of 156, securing him top-weight and a concession of 2lb and more all round. He is worse off with Kitty’s Light for when finishing fourth to him in the Scottish National, but he may be the bigger improver since then, while he also arrives after a better preparation.
LE MILOS
(Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton)
He will need a lot else to go his way, but this may prove the last chance saloon for Dan Skelton in his quest to be Champion Trainer in Great Britain. Given the importance of this race for that title, something Skelton would have known long in advance, there is every chance he has laid former Coral Gold Cup (formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup) winner Le Milos out for this contest for the majority of the season.
He has not run over fences this term, but that has not stopped many a handicap chase winner and his form from the previous season was one of a horse on the up. He should have added Listed honours to his Coral Gold Cup success, and while the Grand National did not work out as well, he returns to chasing off just 3lb higher than his Newbury victory. The ground should be in his favour and his prep over hurdles should have him 100% for this.
NICK ROCKETT
(Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
Though Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls will cling onto their chances for the Trainers’ Championship for as long as possible, Saturday looks set to be a coronation for Willie Mullins’s remarkable achievement of winning it from across the pond. There will be no better way for him to seal it in style than by claiming the bet365 Gold Cup, and Nick Rockett looks set to be his best chance in the race.
The seven-year-old may not quite have lived up to expectations this season, with plans for a Cheltenham Festival tilt put aside and a seventh place finish in the Irish National below par given he went off favourite. However, he has still broadly run well on all four chase appearances so far and his bumper and novice hurdle form suggests this better surface may aid his chances over this trip. Few would put it past Mullins claiming yet another big prize on the final day.
Jack Kennedy Interview: On Willie Mullins, Sir Alex Ferguson and the Irish Jockeys’ Championship
Jack Kennedy: I won’t die wondering in my pursuit to win Irish Jockeys’ title, Sir Alex Ferguson has a superstar in Caldwell Potter and I’d love to know Willie Mullins’ secret to success. I think 130 winners will be enough to get my the Irish Jockeys’ title JK: It is going to be very tight….
Thu 25 Apr 2024
THE FIELD
Mullins’ contingent in the race was cut from four to three due to We’llhavewan failing to make the top 20 after final declarations. However, his other pair of Minella Cocooner and Aime Desjy are both of interest, the former having run well for a long way in the Irish National when third, with the latter an intriguing prospect up in trip on good ground despite his extortionate odds.
Only one other runner comes across from Ireland, with Amirite representing Henry De Bromhead. A 122-day break should not bother prospective backers, as he has run well fresh before, though his overall profile suggests more would be needed off this mark.
Enrilo was first past the post before being disqualified for interference in the 2021 edition, so may find his form here, just as Slipway did most recently at Kempton. Both could prove interesting at big prices, as may Does He Know, who is handicapped to the hilt, but should appreciate this test of stamina, while he has gone well on quicker going before.
The veteran Sam Brown gets away without a penalty for another fine run at Aintree, while the last of significant note may be Weveallbeencaught, who is unexposed as a marathon chaser, but could well take to this.
VERDICT
Kitty’s Light can make a bold bid to defend his crown, but there would have to be doubts about whether he is fully fit after his Aintree exertions, even though he won this after just a week’s break last season. Chief among his dangers are LE MILOS and Nick Rockett, with preference for Dan Skelton’s charge, as he may well have been perfectly laid out for this by a trainer who has landed a number of recent scalps in big handicaps. This test should suit him on the ground, though Willie Mullins’ charge is second choice with these conditions also promising to advantage him. Slipway and Does He Know look the best of the outsiders, with the former a proven stayer who may be back in top form.
- Le Milos
- Nick Rockett
- Slipway
