bet365 Gold Cup preview & tips: Horse-by-horse guide to Sandown feature on Saturday April 27

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE

Back to winning ways at Ascot in February and only four pounds higher on Saturday. Relatively fresh and consistent, he should give a good account for Paul Nicholls.

DOES HE KNOW

How to win a Grimthorpe? Yes, he does, beating the only other finisher Some Scope by three-and-a-quarter lengths under a positive ride. Been given plenty of time to get over that run but would need cheekpieces to have the same effect they did on Town Moor if he's to be competitive.

SAM BROWN

Firmly in the veteran stage now but the fire still burns, going down all guns blazing behind Cruz Control at Aintree last time. Admirable and tough, the question mark is the trip, he’s unproven at it, and whether he’s vulnerable to younger and potentially improving legs could be another factor.

MINELLA COCOONER

Back on the up when third in the Irish Grand National last time and only three pounds higher. All recent form is on deep ground but has run well in the past on a livelier surface and trained by W P Mullins. Has to be shortlist material.

LE MILOS

One of the last rolls of the dice for Team Skelton in the title race and looks to have been laid out for this all season. They have no peers on British shores when it comes to readying one for a major handicap but would still have liked to have seen a bit more in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last time.

NICK ROCKETT

Improving novice chaser trained by Willie Mullins in a major handicap chase... ring any bells? The worry here is that he didn’t look to get home in the Irish National when sent off the 4/1 favourite at Fairyhouse. Maybe quicker ground at Sandown will help and he remains with potential.

KITTY'S LIGHT

Last year's winner who is only five pounds higher now and will finally get his preferred underfoot conditions at the weekend. Ran a screamer to finish fifth behind I Am Maximus at Aintree, has never found backing up quickly to be a problem in the past and all-in-all he's a worthy favourite.

KINONDO KWETU

Ran well for a long way when fourth behind Cruz Control at Aintree, his first run for six months. Entitled to come forward for it and he is fresh, but whether he wants such a searching stamina test could be another thing.

ANNUAL INVINCTUS

Tenacious winner of the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster and hampered when seventh in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham since. We know he gets the trip having finished sixth in this race last season but three pounds higher and hard to make a compelling case as to why he’ll fare significantly better.

AMIRITE

Fascinating runner for Henry De Bromhead. Pulled up when sent off favourite for last year’s Irish Grand National, he’s had two runs this term, finishing fourth behind stablemate Whacker Clan at Cheltenham in October when he was hampered by a slipping saddle and fifth behind Meetingofthewaters in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. That’s rock-solid handicap form, he would have finished closer but for being trapped behind weakening rivals at a crucial stage and promises to relish this stamina test.

AIME DESJY

Belied a relative lack of experience over fences to run a cracker when fifth in the Topham at Aintree and there’s more to come from him as he gains match practice. The worry is the trip, his best form to date is all around two-and-a-half miles.

COURTLAND

Left clear at the last when winning at Hereford last time. Prolific winner but in much calmer waters than these.

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SLIPWAY

Back to winning ways after three months off when beating Egbert by four lengths at Kempton last month. He stays this far and might go OK at a decent price if in the same form as last time.

RAPPER

Very in and out and was being ridden when falling at the 17th fence in the Kim Muir last time. Has come up short when his sights have been raised to his sort of level in the past. Ground will be fine and promises to stay this far.

FORTESCUE

Still capable on his day but the not-so-proud owner of a Timeform squiggle and would need to be in a very good mood if he’s to shake the principals up.

CERTAINLY RED

Third to Sam Brown at Ascot last month where he finished well after making a series of mistakes at a crucial stage. Will need to be foot perfect at the Railway Fences if he’s to keep tabs on these.

ENRILO

First past the post in the 2021 renewal of this race but pulled up when a 9/2 chance in the 2022 renewal and fell at the second last year. Handicap mark went into freefall and some signs if a revival the last twice, but nothing to suggest he’s going to make it fourth time lucky in the bet365 Gold Cup.

BANGERS AND CASH

Good run when third to Rose Of Arcadia here last month and now below his last winning mark but not operating at the sort of level that suggests he’s ready to win something as competitive as this.

WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT

Hasn’t really gone on since finishing third to Flooring Porter on chasing debut at Cheltenham in October. Beaten a long way when sixth in the Ultima and hard to make a compelling case for him here.

FLASH COLLONGES

Represents the Nicholls team but showed next to nothing in two starts this term. Will need all of the champion trainer’s magic to conjure such a big pot out of him on current evidence.

R21: FLASH DE TOUZAINE

Yet to show anything this season and readily passed over.

R22: YOUR OWN STORY

Went off joint-favourite for last year’s Scottish National but was never a threat in sixth. Ran well in two small field contests this term and if something from out the weights it to outrun their mark it might well be him. Remains an if mind.

Verdict

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A race that changed significantly at the six-day stage. Kitty’s Light deserves his place at the head of the market, Le Milos is a player for the Dan Skelton team, while Minella Cocooner is preferred to Nick Rockett from the Mullins entries.

However, preference is for another Irish raider – AMIRITE – who is also in very good hands. Things haven’t quite fallen perfectly for him yet this season but the form of his Leopardstown run behind Meetingofthewaters is strong and he’s fresher than most too.

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