Bet365 Gold Cup Horse-by-Horse guide

Lewis Lesbirel’s runner-by-runner guide to the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday, in which Nicky Henderson is fancied to seal the trainer’s title.

Theatre Guide – 10yo 11-12 OR: 152 (T: C L Tizzard, J: P J Brennan)

Finished behind both The Young Master and The Druids Nephew at Cheltenham last time out and meets the latter here on worse terms. That came at a time when his yard weren’t firing on all cylinders and an improved showing is expected here with the stable in much better form this time around. Hasn’t given the impression that he stays this longer trip on his two attempts at it in the Welsh National and this race last year and may be more effective over three miles. Remains a classy sort but expected to be fighting it out for minor honours under a big weight here.

Just A Par – 10yo 11-9 OR: 149 (T: P F Nicholls, J: Harry Cobden)

Victorious in this race two years ago but has only managed to win once in nine outings since, that coming at Newbury on his penultimate start. Came within a short-head of a repeat success in this race last year, when looking all over the winner before hanging under pressure and this contest clearly brings out the best in him. Completed in the Grand National last time, as he did in 2016, and evidently a sound jumper. Impossible to rule out given his record in this race and he represents a trainer who will be all out to win this in a last-ditch bid to salvage the trainers' title.

The Young Master – 8yo 11-8 OR: 148 (T: N P Mulholland, J: Mr S Wahey-Cohen) (3)

Made the most of Just A Par's waywardness to win this race by a short-head last year and is 1lb better off with that rival this time around. Fell at Becher’s in the Grand National on his latest outing but prior to that he finished a very creditable sixth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival. He will love the forecast quick ground here and has an obvious chance of repeating last year’s heroics. 

Le Reve – 9yo 11-6 OR: 146 (T: Mrs L Wadham, J: L P Aspell)

Finished third in the 2015 renewal of this race and has won around here three times before so is another who loves the track. Was pulled up in this race off a mark of 148 last year however and is only 2lb lower this time around. Had just the two starts since, unseating his rider at the second on his seasonal reappearance before finishing well beaten in a hurdle race earlier this month. Expected to come on from what one would assume was his prep race for this last time out, but would still need a career best to win a race of this quality off his current mark. 

The Druids Nephew – 10yo 11-3 OR: 143 (T: N P Mulholland, J: N D Fehily)

The second of Neil Mulholland’s trio who is now 10lb better off than when finishing a far-from-disgraced fifth in this race last year. That seems fairly lenient given that he’s only had two starts since, the latest of which when not completely disgraced in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival, finishing seventh. He’s now 3lb lower than his last winning mark and may even improve for the run last time out. It would be interesting to know whether Noel Fehily would have chosen to ride Doing Fine had he been able to do the weight, but regardless, he’s a serious player with a top jockey in the saddle.

Present Man – 7yo 11-2 OR: 142 (T: P F Nicholls, J: Jack Sherwood) (3)

Was given a cracking front-running ride from today’s pilot when winning a Grade Two at Doncaster earlier in the season despite jumping markedly to his right. Beat two useful rivals that day in Potters Legend and O O Seven but today’s trip is an unknown having never raced beyond 3m1f. Blundered his chance away next time out when tried at the highest level in the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton, finishing a distant last of four. Got back on track at Ascot earlier this month where he wandered and idled in front but remains relatively unexposed over fences and provided he puts in a good round of jumping he’ll take a lot of beating on his favoured ground here.

Rock The Kasbah – 7yo 11-2 OR: 142 (T: P J Hobbs, J: R Johnson)

A winner of two of his six starts over fences but is yet to test the water over this longer trip, though shaped as if he’d appreciate it last time out when a good second behind the classy American at Uttoxeter. Remains relatively unexposed over fences compared to a lot of these and it’s possible the step up in distance could eke out a little more improvement. Has a solid each-way chance if he sees out the trip here under the champion jockey.

Vyta Du Roc – 8yo 10-11 OR: 137 (T: N J Henderson, J: D A Jacob)

Classy hurdler who you could argue hasn’t quite translated that form to fences as of yet. Having said that, he did claim the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot before finishing fifth in both the RSA at the Festival and in the Scottish National last season. A repeat of that level of form would see him bang in contention here, as would his fine effort to finish sixth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury earlier this season. Excuses need to be made for his two subsequent poor runs but if he can put them behind him he has a massive chance off his current mark.

Whats Happening – 10yo 10-10 OR: 136 (T: T R George, J: A P Heskin)

Showed his liking for this marathon trip when winning over 3m4f at Cheltenham back in 2015. Has only made three starts since that win, the most recent of which came in the Kim Muir at the Festival where he finished down the field, and he has clearly endured a number of injury problems. For all he finished down the field, he was only beaten 19 lengths in the Kim Muir on what was only his second start after a long lay-off and he is entitled to improve off the back of that outing. Prior to that run he finished second in a Veterans' Chase at Exeter and he may well outrun his odds if he’s put his injury woes behind him. 

Benbens – 12yo 10-9 OR: 135 (T: N A Twiston-Davies, J: Sam Twiston-Davies)

Was given a mammoth task on his penultimate start in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter after over a year off and was pulled up before two out. However, he ran an absolute belter last time out when finishing a close third in the Scottish National and clearly retains considerable ability at the grand old age of 12. Looked to have a hard race on that outing, which was only seven days ago, so you’d have to worry how much that has taken out of him, but his trainer is a master at turning out horses again quickly and if he’s in the same vein of form he’s sure to be in the mix. 

Sugar Baron – 7yo 10-8 OR: 134 (T: N J Henderson, T: Nico de Boinville)

Has done well since making the switch to the larger obstacles and ran a cracker on his penultimate start in the Kim Muir at the Festival after being readily outpaced a long way from home. Stayed on well under pressure to finish a close sixth that day, shaping as if this step in trip will be to his liking. The drying ground will also be in is favour and if he can hold his position better this time around he’s a serious contender. Fell at the first in the Scottish Grand National last time but completed the course loose. If he is over those exertions, he has a great chance of putting the icing on the cake of what has been a fantastic season for his trainer. 

Doing Fine – 9yo 10-3 OR: 129 (N P Mulholland, J: T Scudamore)

Became slightly disappointing for Rebecca Curtis after looking like he may go right to the top over fences. Moved to Neil Mulholland’s yard earlier this season and hasn’t finished out of the frame since, registering three seconds and a win last time out. Got within a neck of Rocky Creek in the London National round here in December under a patient ride from Noel Fehily and successfully gave weight to all but one of his rivals at Wincanton next time out. Earnt this step up in class when winning with some authority on his most recent outing at Cheltenham only 10 days ago where he travelled beautifully through the race. Has to be respected off such a low weight here but will need to find further improvement if he is to win a race of this quality. 

Henllan Harri – 9yo 10-0 OR: 122 (T: P Bowen, J: Sean Bowen)

Has been on the go since early November and this will be his eighth start of the season. Won an ordinary event three starts ago at Ffos Las and has subsequently been beaten twice in far less competitive affairs than this race. Sneaks in here off a featherweight but has upwards of 20lb to find with some of the market principals and, 4lb out of the handicap, he will have to improve markedly on what he has shown to date to figure in this. 

VERDICT:

Neil Mulholland saddles three with The Druids Nephew making the most appeal of that trio. He is now 10lb lower than when fifth in this race last year and conditions look to be right up his street. Doing Fine looks of interest off a low weight but has to find further improvement whilst the same can be said of Rock The Kasbah, who has his first try at this marathon trip.

Paul Nicholls is double-handed with 2015 winner and last year’s runner up Just A Par the mount of Harry Cobden. He could well figure once again and Nicholls’ other runner, Present Man, looks to be well treated and has a great chance if seeing out the trip.

Sugar Baron and Benbens are the representatives from last week’s Scottish National and the latter in particular looked to have a hard race. Sugar Baron looks to be crying out for this trip and has a cracking each-way chance but Nicky Henderson’s other runner, VYTA DU ROC, is just about preferred.

A classy hurdler who won the Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase in his novice campaign last season, he is taken to put a disappointing couple of runs behind him and seal the trainer’s championship title for Nicky Henderson in style.

1 Vyta Du Roc 2 The Druids Nephew 3 Sugar Baron