The bet365Gold Cup traditionally brings down the curtain on the UK National Hunt season but the Grade 3 handicap chase has been rather overshadowed this year by the race to top the trainers’ money list and that’s a real shame.
While jump fans are interested in whether Paul Nicholls or Willie Mullins comes out on top in their particularly duel, the bet365 Gold Cup is worthy of its own page space and is definitely not a sideshow.
There have been some famous winners down the years and 20 stayers will be trying to add their name to the roll of honour this Saturday. Well, technically only 19 as Just A Par won the race 12 months ago and Nicholls also runs ante-post favourite Southfield Theatre. Mullins saddles Sir Des Champs and Measureofmydreams but 16 others aren’t trained by either of the chief protagonists.
bet365 Gold Cup History and Trends
The great Desert Orchid won this under 11st 11lb in 1988 and Life Of A Lord, in 1996, carried 11st 9lb to victory. Tidal Bay surpassed both when shouldering 11st 12lb in 2012 but they are the exceptions to the rule that suggests this is generally not a race for those at the top of the handicap.
Only six of the last 34 winners have carried more than 11st to success, though big outsiders don’t fare particularly well. Only three winners since 1994 have started at bigger odds than 16/1 with a third of the last 15 winners starting at single-figure odds. Those aged nine or younger have a far better strike rate than older chasers when it comes to winners and placed horses.
Several of these ran in the Crabbie’s Grand National and horses that have been placed in that before have gone on to win at Sandown. But none of the six managed to make the frame with The Druids Nephew jumping poorly before being pulled up. Sir Des Champs fell as did Hadrian’s Approach, winner of the bet365 Gold Chase in 2014. Saint Are was another pulled up while Le Reve and Just A Par both finished tailed off.
Sam Waley-Cohen claims 3lb and that means that THE YOUNG MASTER falls into the ideal weight range with only 10st 12lb. He seems to have been around for a while but is still only seven and came right back to form in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when third behind Grade 1 winners Un Temps Pour Tout and Holywell. He’s a general 8/1 and looks sure to run well given stamina won’t be a problem as he’s already won over 3m3f over hurdles.
Of the remainder, Carole’s Destrier could run well going right-handed again after a poor run at Cheltenham and is a general 12/1. Gold Futures is 25/1 with Coral and also interesting if the ground doesn’t deteriorate with Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards a rare raider on southern tracks.
bet365 Gold Cup Chase Current Best Odds
Southfield Theatre (7/1), The Young Master (8/1), Henri Parry Morgan (9/1), Carole’s Destrier (12/1), Measureofmydreams (14/1), The Druids Nephew, Bishops Road, Hadrian’s Approach, Theatre Guide and Le Reve (16/1), Sausalito Sunrise and Just A Par (20/1), Dynaste, Sir Des Champs and Gold Futures and Saint Are (25/1), Oscar Rock, Drop Out Joe and Spring Heeled (33/1), Seventh Sky (50/1)
