15:35 Sandown

Saturday 27 April 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 7m 32.75s

Threeunderthrufive^p,t⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 156

22/1

Dual Grade 2 winner as a novice who posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat before returning to winning ways at Ascot (23.8f, good to soft) in February. Finds himself on career-high mark now but ought to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 684-221

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Does He Know^p⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 154

33/1

Smart chaser who returned to form with positive tactics readopted (also fitted with cheekpieces) when landing the Grimthorpe at Doncaster (26f, heavy) last month. 5 lb rise fair but this looks much more competitive.

Form: 13-P451

Sam Brown^t,v¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 154

22/1

Returned to form since fitted with a visor this year, taking Veterans' events at Warwick and Ascot before good second of 13 in handicap chase at Aintree (25f, soft) 14 days ago, staying on well. Can race off same mark here but slower conditions would be more suitable.

Form: 514512

Minella Cocooner²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151

17/2

Smart winner at 22f over hurdles (second in the 2022 Albert Bartlett) who posted his best effort in this sphere when third of 20 in Irish National (29.1f, heavy) at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Faces different conditions here but is unexposed over staying trips and must enter calculations.

Form: 2-31363

Le Milos⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149| C

13/2

Big improver over fences for this yard last season, including victory in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Not really threatened in 3 starts over hurdles this term but looks nicely treated, returned to the larger obstacles, and is a big player.

Form: 120-300

Nick Rockett²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| BF

7/1

Developed into a smart novice hurdler last spring and has taken well to fences on return, winning Fairyhouse maiden before good second in Navan Grade 3 (24f) in February. May have found testing conditions against him when seventh in Irish National latest and remains open to improvement.

Form: 11-4127

Kitty's Light^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 145| CD

11/2

Signed off last season by landing an exceptional hat-trick, winning the Eider Chase and Scottish National before taking this contest (off 5 lb lower). Arrives on back of fine fifth in Grand National a fortnight ago and looks the one to beat with ground conditions likely to suit.

Form: 470575

Kinondo Kwetu^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 144

18/1

Most progressive over fences, making it 6 wins from 8 starts when seeing off another improver (pair well clear) at Aintree in May. Back from a break when creditable fourth at same course (25f, soft) a fortnight ago and should have ground conditions to suit here.

Form: 33-13P4

Annual Invictus⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 143

20/1

Very capable chaser/hurdler on his day who looked as good as ever when landing Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster (26f) in January. Not seen to best effect at Cheltenham since but could only manage sixth (off 3 lb lower) in this contest last season.

Form: 186-417

Amirite^t¹²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

6/1

Low-mileage 8-y-o who has acquitted himself well in both starts this term, latest when fifth of 27 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.5f) over Christmas. Both his wins have come on a sound surface and he goes particularly well fresh so he ticks plenty of boxes.

Form: 3U3P-45

Aime Desjy¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

16/1

Has taken well to chasing and readily landed the odds in novice at Gowran (20f) last month. Emerged with plenty of credit when fifth in Topham Chase at Aintree (21.1f) latest but this much longer trip is new territory for him.

Form: 035215

Courtland⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 141

20/1

Thrived last summer landing four handicap chases (at up to 23f) either side of a fine second in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Back to winning ways, albeit fortunately, at Hereford last month but asked a much bigger question now.

Form: 1216P1

Slipway⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 138

22/1

Looked a stayer going places in 2022, adding the Southern National at Fontwell (27.7f) to his CV. Form dipped thereafter but returned to winning ways (back from 3 months off) at Kempton (24f, good to soft) last time and is not out of things.

Form: 19P-901

Rapper^v⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 138

40/1

Three-time winner over fences who showed he retains all his ability when second in Ascot handicap (23.8f) in February. Fell in Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival since, however, and his overall profile is slightly off-putting.

Form: P-P4P2F

Fortescue^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 137| C

50/1

Run creditably in Newbury Veterans' races the last twice but it's been over 2 years since his last success and he may well find this company too demanding.

Form: 0-42722

Certainly Red^p1³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 135| BF| C

22/1

Completed a hat-trick last term and not disgraced when seventh (off 7 lb higher) in this contest on final start. Made the frame on several occasions this season but hard to see him regaining the winning thread in this company. Cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 4352P3

Enrilo^p⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| C

22/1

Smart at his peak (first past the post in 2021 renewal of this event) and posted best effort for a while when chasing home emphatic winner Inis Oirr in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (31.4f) in February. Posted another solid effort at Taunton latest but Harry Cobden prefers Threeunderthrufive

Form: P6F-423

Bangers And Cash^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

16/1

Progressed into a useful staying chaser last season, winning 3 of his last 4 starts. Gradually worked his way back to form this term, latest when third in course handicap (24.2f, good to soft) last month but will need more to take a hand here.

Form: 1-P8343

Weveallbeencaught^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

14/1

Useful winning hurdler who shaped with promise in this sphere when placed in a pair of novice events at Cheltenham earlier this season. Rather gone backwards since, however, and has something to prove now.

Form: 7P-3266

Flash Collonges^b1,t⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

33/1

Got off the mark in this sphere at Newbury last term and still in touch when falling 19th in Scottish Grand National at Ayr following month. Lightly raced and disappointing since, though, and is now tried in blinkers.

Form: 231F-0P

Forecasts

Kitty's Light (11/2), Amirite (6/1), Le Milos (13/2), Nick Rockett (7/1), Minella Cocooner (17/2), Weveallbeencaught (14/1), Aime Desjy (16/1), Bangers And Cash (16/1), Kinondo Kwetu (18/1), Annual Invictus (20/1), Courtland (20/1), Certainly Red (22/1), Sam Brown (22/1), Enrilo (22/1), Threeunderthrufive (22/1), Slipway (22/1), Does He Know (33/1), Flash Collonges (33/1), Rapper (40/1), Fortescue (50/1)

Plenty with claims in a typically competitive renewal of this contest, including last year's victor KITTY'S LIGHT, who boasts a tremendous record in marathon events and looks fairly treated in his bid for a repeat success. Last season's Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos has had a light campaign and looks well handicapped, whilst Nick Rockett remains with potential and is the choice of Paul Townend. Kinondo Kwetu and Amirite will be suited by likely better ground and complete the shortlist.