Architect's favourite bet for the Bet365 Gold Cup as 20 runners go to post at Sandown.
15:35 Sandown
It’s Jump Season Finale Day at Sandown headlined by the Bet365 Gold Cup. You can see my pick for every race in today's ITV7, worth up to £50,000 for the winner.
The Bet365 Gold Cup 2024 promises to be an absolute cracker. Let’s look at the leading runners and riders from the latest betting odds through oddschecker.
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Bet365 Gold Cup Runners Guide
Amirite
- Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
- Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- Form: U3P45
- Odds: 6/1
Henry de Bromhead’s only representative in the race. This lightly-raced eight-year-old has been kept fresh since finishing fifth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December and is open to further improvement.
His mark is 4lb higher on British shores, but this course could really suit. He does have his stamina to prove, though, as he was sent off as the favourite for last year’s Irish Grand National and was pulled up after looking like a non-stayer.
Kitty’s Light
- Trainer: Christian Williams
- Jockey: Jack Tudor
- Form: 470575
- Odds: 6/1
Last year’s winner and a serious flag-bearer for the Christian Williams team. This eight-year-old produced a great run in defeat when fifth in the Grand National at Aintree, and the handicapper has surprisingly dropped him 1lb.
In effect, he is only 5Ib higher than when he won this race last year by over two lengths, and he will sneak into this near the foot of the weights. Massive player in his defence bid if this run doesn’t come too soon.
Le Milos
- Trainer: Dan Skelton
- Jockey: Harry Skelton
- Form: 120300
- Odds: 8/1
The 2022 Coral Gold Cup winner has only been seen five times since that success and although he’s failed to make an impact in each of those starts, he’s had valid excuses.
He ran very well in last year’s Grand National until evidently becoming a blatant non-stayer and was ridden conservatively when midfield in last month’s Pertemps Final at Cheltenham.
It appears Dan Skelton has saved him for this race since, and he’s also a dual-course winner, so he will have no issues on that front. He’s only 3Ib above his last winning mark, and the drying ground will be in his favour. He is a very interesting runner and must be considered an all-around player, at least.
Nick Rockett
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Form: 114127
- Odds: 17/2
An unexposed staying chaser who has won four of his eight starts under rules and has plenty more to offer. He finished second in a Grade 2 race in his penultimate race prior to shaping well when he finished seventh in the Irish Grand National on his handicap debut.
That was an encouraging effort given it was just his fourth start over fences and he’s only 1lb higher for this race. The seven-year-old shouldn’t have a problem with the forecast quick ground, and he cannot be ruled out for place purposes, at least for Willie Mullins.
Minella Cocooner
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Jockey: Danny Mullins
- Form: 31363
- Odds: 9/1
Top-class hurdler and chaser, and this Grade 1 winner was last seen running a huge race to finish a close-up third in the Irish Grand National having been shouldered with top weight. He was conceding 8lb to the first and second on heavy ground, so it was a quality performance in defeat.
His mark has been raised 3Ib but he has more to offer down the handicap route. I think he’s Willie Mullins' best chance of lifting this prize. He is one of the more talented horses in the field and will have a lesser weight to carry than last time.
Threeunderthrufive
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Jockey: Harry Cobden
- Form: 684221
- Odds: 12/1
BetMGM UK
Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race four times in his career and this nine-year-old is his big player for this year’s renewal. He’s an extremely consistent chaser and produced a great weight-carrying performance in the Swinley Handicap Chase last time out.
Despite being up to a career-high mark of 156, last year’s Scottish Grand National fourth must be respected. He has been targeted at this race all season and must enter calculations.
Kinondu Kwetu
- Trainer: Sam England
- Jockey: Jonathan England
- Form: 313P4
- Odds: 14/1
Besides a rare blip at Cheltenham in his penultimate start, Sam England’s charge has done very well since going chasing. He’s won six of his 11 starts in this sphere and made the frame in four other races.
His latest fourth at Aintree was decent, and the handicapper has incidentally kept his mark unchanged. This consistent eight-year-old has to be respected and should again give his supporters a fair run at a price.
Weveallbeencaught
- Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
- Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- Form: P3266
- Odds: 14/1
This seven-year-old was once touted as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contender by his handler, Nigel Twiston-Davies, but has ultimately been largely disappointing in this sphere.
He did show a bit more when he finished sixth in the Ultima Handicap Chase last time out at the Cheltenham Festival, but he was still beaten a long way at the finishing line.
Nevertheless, this longer distance could be what the doctor has ordered, and he’s lurking on a dangerous mark, with improvement anticipated. His trainer is seeking a second win in the race.
Slipway
- Trainer: Ben Pauling
- Jockey: Ben Jones
- Form: 9P901
- Odds: 25/1
Having won three times in 2022, this nine-year-old failed to sparkle in four starts for whatever reason last season. However, he was highly- tested and Ben Pauling’s charge capitalised on the ease in class when he returned as a comfortable winner at Kempton last time out.
As a result, he has been hit with a 6Ib in the handicap, but his trainer is having a season to remember, and he could outrun his odds. He won’t lack stamina either, having won the Highland National over 3m6f around this time two years ago.
Enrilo
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Jockey: Angus Cheleda
- Form: 6F423
- Odds: 28/1
Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old was first past the post in this race three years ago but was demoted to third after the stewards judged he had impeded Kitty’s Light in the finish.
His form has been mixed since, and he’s failed to complete the course in the last two editions of this race, but there have been more than enough positive signs of late.
He built upon his second in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh to finish a close-up third last time out, and it’s highly likely that this race has been the plan all season.
He remains on a career-low mark of 134 and hardly has any weight on his back, with his rider claiming a valuable 5Ib. With all things considered, he could run a big race.
Does He Know
- Trainer: Kim Bailey
- Jockey: David Bass
- Form: 3P451
- Odds: 28/1
A very likeable chaser from the Kim Bailey team, who toughed it out under a big weight to win the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last time out. That was his first win in well over a year, and although he’s up an extra 5lb, he’s only 2lb higher than when he scored at Cheltenham’s November meeting in 2022.
He will need a new personal best to take this race, but his prominent style of racing coupled with his assured jumping and grit will serve him well. I’m not quite sure why he’s so high in the betting, in all fairness, so he is an outsider to definitely have on your shortlist, with plenty in his favour.
Fortescue
- Trainer: Henry Daly
- Jockey: Hugh Nugent
- Form: 42722
- Odds: 33/1
Reliability is this 10-year-old’s strong suit. Henry Daly’s candidate has finished second in three of his last four starts and ran well in his previous run over this trip at Haydock when second. His odds are quite appealing.
He doesn’t win often and is more of a place merchant than anything, but he’s well handicapped, and he is 6lb lower than when he won a hot renewal of the Swinley Chase two years ago. Not written off.
Midnite
Bet365 Gold Cup Tips & Predictions
This looks as fiercely competitive as ever, but the Willie Mullins-trained MINELLA COCOONER (tipped at 10/1) makes plenty of each-way appeal. This Grade 1-winning eight-year-old ran a hell of a race to finish third in the Irish Grand National under top weight.
Interestingly, the last two times that he encountered good ground, he finished runner-up in back-to-back Grade 1 championship races at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He’s a strong stayer and carries a nice weight. If he can replicate that performance in this race, he must be a serious player.
