Runner-by-runner guide to the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown

The bet365 Gold Cup, formerly known as the Whitbread, has been won by some star names in the past including Arkle and Desert Orchid, plus Tidal Bay in recent years, and this year’s renewal looks another highly-competitive contest.

A maximum field of 20 have stood their ground for the 3m5f Grade Three handicap and last year’s impressive winner Step Back will bid to become the first back-to-back winner of this race since Topsham Bay in 1993.

The nine-year-old is now vying for favouritism having been well supported this week and will be a hard horse to catch if he is in the same form on Saturday.

Neil Mulholland issued a positive bulletin on The Young Master – another previous winner of the race – this week and believes his ten-year-old has plenty in his favour.

The conditions are likely to be on the fast side which will pose a question mark for a number of the runners plus many need to prove their stamina over this marathon trip.

Here’s a guide to all 20 contenders:

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. General odds: 12-1.

Bounced back to winning ways at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when wearing blinkers for the first time before producing a career best to win the Ultima at the Festival.

Has never won over this trip but shapes as though it is within reach and brings some strong form into the race. He has also won on an array of ground conditions.

However, he now finds himself on a career-high rating of 160 and has to carry the welter burden of 11st 12lb which will make life harder for him.

Trainer: Venetia Williams. General odds: 20-1.

Thorough stayer who has some useful form next to his name and finished midfield in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time out.

Remains 5lb above his last winning rating, although he did go close in the Welsh National at Chepstow in December off a 1lb lower mark and a reproduction of that run would give him a chance.

The ground is a worry though as, despite the fact he has won on good to soft, he has shown his best form on soft and heavy ground and connections will be hoping for rain.

Trainer: Philip Hobbs. General odds: 14-1.

Was no match for Step Back in this race last year when conceding a stone to that rival but meets him on 7lb better terms this year.

Things did not go to plan for Rock The Kasbah in the Grand National last time out where he was brought down, but he was never really travelling or jumping with any zest up until that point and will find this test more suitable.

Won a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham in November off a rating of 147 and that form would give him an each-way chance, although he is now 5lb higher and will need to produce a career best to get his head in front.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. General odds: 16-1.

Finished a well-beaten third in this race last year and will need to raise his game to go two places better this year.

Produced a good performance to win the Badger Ales at Wincanton for the second time in November but has disappointed on his last two starts, which is a worry.

However, he is the type to bounce back and the fact he has been given a break since his last run is a positive as he goes well fresh. A rating of 150 looks on the steep side though and needs to prove he stays the trip.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. General odds: 20-1.

Grade One winning hurdler who has produced some decent performances over fences and recorded a career-best effort to win a 3m handicap chase at Kempton in December where he carried top weight to victory.

Failed to land a blow in the Topham Chase on his last start and remains 6lb higher than his victory at Kempton.

Has never run over further than three miles and the trip is a major worry for this strong traveller. The Paul Nicholls team have been operating at a strike rate of 38 per cent in the past fortnight which is a positive though.

Trainer: Rebecca Curtis. General odds: 20-1.

Caused an upset to win the Scottish National last year before he was not seen for over 300 days. Was trained for the Grand National this season but failed to get home as he was pulled up before two out.

Finds himself on a career-high rating of 145 now – 10lb higher than his victory in the Scottish National - and is probably in the grip of the handicapper.

The trip and ground will be ideal for him but will need to have got over his Grand National exertions.

Trainer: Mark Bradstock. General odds: 8-1.

Ran out an impressive winner of this race 12 months ago off a 10lb lower rating. Has not been in the same form since though and was pulled up in the Grand National last time out.

The fact he has been well supported in the betting this week is a positive sign and if he reproduces his performance from last year, he will go close.

However, he comes with risks attached having run below par on his last three starts – he came into the race last year after an impressive victory - and no horse has won back-to-back renewals of this race for 26 years.

Trainer: Alan King. General odds: 8-1.

Consistent performer who showed a good level of form in novice chases this season and was well supported on his handicap debut over fences at Kempton over three miles in February where he faded up the home straight.

He is still relatively lightly-raced and remains unexposed over fences plus a rating of 145 looks fair considering he wasn't beaten far by some useful horses – including La Bague Au Roi – in novice chases.

This race has been the plan for him since his Kempton run and, although he was a shade disappointing there, there should be more to come from him.

The trip does pose a big question mark though, although good ground will help his cause.

Trainer: Philip Hobbs. General odds: 16-1.

Improved for a step up in trip when a close third behind Cogry at Cheltenham in December but was no match for Beware The Bear on his next start and was also beaten by Yala Enki on his seasonal debut.

Benefitted from a drop in class when second over a trip just short of 3m5f at Taunton last time out, so this test should not be a problem for him.

He is also versatile ground-wise but will need to improve to beat the main protagonists here and also pulled up on his only start at Sandown.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. General odds: 25-1.

Useful performer on his day who was narrowly denied when second in this race behind Henllan Harri in 2017.

Bolted up at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in 2018 and clearly had his problems afterwards as he was absent for almost a year.

Has failed to sparkle in three runs since and, even if he does bounce back, he is now a ten-year-old and is likely to prove vulnerable.

The handicapper hasn’t given him much respite despite those three disappointing runs, and it requires a leap of faith to support him here.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. General odds: 12-1.

Lightly-raced nine-year-old who has always been held in high regard and was well fancied for the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival but fell at the last when beaten.

Has endured lengthy absences during his career but has looked a horse with an abundance of ability on more than one occasion.

This will be his first start over a marathon trip and needs to prove he has the required stamina. He looks to have the ability to go close if he is on song, although he has a bit to prove at present.

Trainer: Neil Mulholland. General odds: 10-1.

Showed a great attitude to land this contest in 2016 off a 6lb higher rating and, although he struggled to get his head in front afterwards, he finally got back to winning ways on his seasonal debut before he was victorious at Cheltenham in November.

Put a disappointing run behind him when third in the Kim Muir at the Festival and a similar performance will be good enough to go close here.

Although he was unable to land a blow in this race in 2017 and 2018, he is in much better form this time around and it would be no surprise if he ran a big race.

Trainer: Colin Tizzard. General odds: 25-1.

Benefitted from switching back to hurdles when second behind Paisley Park in the JLT Hurdle at Ascot in December and filled the same position in the Cleeve Hurdle on his next start.

Has not shown in his true form on his last two starts at Grade One level over the smaller obstacles and now switches back to fences.

Would have a chance if he could show the same level of form over the larger obstacles but is rated 10lb lower over fences and needs bounce back to form.

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies. General odds: 25-1.

Looked a horse with a big future over fences when winning a Grade One at Aintree in 2017 but it’s fair to say he has been disappointing over the past couple of years and has not recorded a victory since.

However, he has run a couple of decent races in defeat in competitive handicaps and he has the ability to be a force should he put his best foot forward.

However, this trip is a concern as he has never won over further than 2m4f and hasn’t shaped as though he has been crying out for this sort of stamina test. The track is sure to suit though as he won the Imperial Cup on his only start at Sandown in 2016.

Trainer: Charlie Longsdon. General odds: 20-1.

Has not got many miles on the clock for his age and was victorious over three miles at Sandown last year.

Caught the eye when third wearing cheekpieces for the first time in a Grade Two at Haydock in January where he stayed on after making a bad blunder at a crucial stage.

Heavy ground was probably to blame for his below-par effort in the Midlands National on his most recent start and his jumping lacked fluency.

This trip should benefit him and, should he get into a good rhythm with his jumping, he is capable of making his presence felt.

Trainer: Evan Williams. General odds: 20-1.

Reached a fair level over hurdles and, despite the fact he is yet to win in six starts over fences, he has run some respectable races in defeat.

Finished fourth in the Midlands National last time out, so should have no problem staying the trip and remains with potential over the larger obstacles.

However, he will undoubtedly need a career best to be a threat here and his losing run stretches back to November 2017.

Trainer: Harry Fry. General odds: 12-1.

Got his chasing career off to a flying start this season winning his first two starts over fences before finishing second behind Adrien Du Pont at Kempton.

Ran well for a long way in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival on his latest start before fading and shaped as though he may not have stayed the trip.

Has an extra three furlongs to contend with here, so his stamina is a worry, although good ground will be in his favour.

He is only seven though and is lightly-raced plus he has only had four starts over fences, so he is open to plenty of improvement.

Trainer: Dan Skelton. General odds: 25-1.

Has won three times over fences and went close in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in December before finishing second in a Grade Three Handicap.

Ran well for a long way in the Kim Muir last time out and his trainer could hardly be in better form plus he goes well on all types of ground.

Only has 10st 1lb to carry but is another in this race that is not guaranteed to stay the trip and hasn’t always been the most fluent jumper.

Trainer: David Pipe. General odds: 16-1.

Course specialist who has won three times at Sandown and bounced back to winning ways at Ascot in March.

However, he pulled up in this race last year and doesn’t always put his best foot forward, so is not one to rely on.

It will also be a good performance if he was to win this having finished ninth in the Scottish National just 14 days ago and is 5lb above his last winning mark.

Trainer: Lucy Wadham. General odds: 16-1.

11-year-old who has bundles of stamina and has won four times at Sandown. Won in good style at the track in March and sneaks in at the bottom of the weights.

He also finished third in this race in 2015 but was pulled up in 2016 and 2017. Not as good as he once was and is probably vulnerable upped in class here, despite the fact a return to Sandown will suit.

A tricky puzzle to solve and a case can be made for a number of the contenders.

It is definitely a worry that last year's winner Step Back has not been in the same form this season, but he is sure to go close if he reproduces a similar performance to 12 months ago.

Even though he is 10lb higher in the handicap now, he would probably still have won last year carrying the extra weight.

It is best to forgive Ballydine’s most recent effort and he shaped as though this race will suit at Haydock in January. There should be a lot more to come from him and he looks to have a good each-way chance.

2016 winner The Young Master was not beaten far at the Cheltenham Festival last time out and should run his race once again with Sam Waley-Cohen taking a useful 3lb off.

Conditions will be ideal for him and he will appreciate the return to 3m5f, so another big run can be expected.

1. The Young Master. 2. Ballydine. 3. Step Back.

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