Hi all,
Inside today's main piece you can read my thoughts on Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The 2024–25 UK National Hunt season wraps up on Saturday at Sandown. It's been a lively campaign—more competitive and engaging than recent years.
The spotlight is on the trainers' title race. Willie Mullins, last year's winner and the first Irish trainer in 70 years to claim the British crown, is closing in on Dan Skelton. Skelton held a narrow lead going into the final days of the season, but Mullins is the odds-on favourite to retain his title.
Sean Bowen has already secured his first Jockeys' Championship. While his tally in Grade 1 and 2 races stands at just one win from 31 rides, his victory aboard Haiti Couleurs in the Boylesports Irish Grand National highlighted his talent. Hopefully he’ll get more opportunities to showcase his ability in big races next season.
Curtain Falls on 2024–25 UK National Hunt Season
Saturday's Sandown card features four standout races including:
3:00 – bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)
3:35 – bet365 Gold Cup with £175,000 in guaranteed prize money.
In addition to the best of the action at Sandown ITV Racing will also broadcast a race from Haydock and Leicester.
🏇 bet365 Gold Cup – Key Trends & Contenders
The bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown is a challenging 3m 5½f handicap chase. Analysing the last 10 running’s (174 runners), several trends emerge:
Age: Horses aged 9 and older have a poor record, with only 1 winner from 96 runners. The last 10 winners were all aged between 7 and 9.
Course Experience: Previous course winners have not fared well, with 0 winners from 47 runners.
Distance Form: All the last 10 winners of the race had run in a race three miles plus last time out and all had a career win at 3m+.
Trends Verdict: The most likely winner will be aged 7 or 8, have not won at Sandown before, and have won a race at three miles or more.
Notable Entries:
Grangeclare West: Willie Mullins' trained top weight. If he runs, only 11 horses would be running off their correct mark, 8 of them trained by Mullins.
Mullins has the top three in the betting: High Class Hero, Dancing City, and Scottish Grand National scorer Captain Cody.
Others to Note: Transmission, last year's winner Minella Cocooner (though the previous course winner trend is off-putting), Spanish Harlem, Tanganyika and Victtorino.
Wednesday Racing at Perth – Trainer's Championship Battle
Valuable prize money is on offer at Perth today, intensifying the Trainer's Championship battle between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton.
Feature Races:
2:48 – Listed 3m Novices’ Hurdle:
Mister Meggit: Fourth in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last time. Drops in class and remains a smart prospect.
Go West: Has jumped well to win his last three starts over hurdles; should go well if he stays three miles.
Kiss Will: Trained by Mullins and the choice of Paul Townend; stepping up in trip after being outclassed in the Turners at Cheltenham.
Intense Approach: Each-way claims for a yard that has won this race twice since 2019.
Roaring Conquest: Trained by Ollie Murphy; lightly raced and capable of better; interestingly could have run in a Class 3 handicap hurdle at this meeting on Friday.
3:18 – Listed 3m Mares’ Chase:
Fun Fun Fun: Odds-on favourite trained by Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend. The one to beat.
Best of luck with your Wednesday bets!
John