Friday, April 22, 2016

bet365 Gold Cup 2016

The curtain falls on the 2015/6 NH season at Sandown tomorrow.

After years spent in the shadow of A P McCoy, Richard Johnson will deservedly collect his first jockeys' title.

In marked contrast, the trainers' title is still undecided; at the time of writing Paul Nicholls leads Willie Mullins by some £44,000. The Ditcheat handler saddles four at Chepstow's evening meeting  - Rainy City finished third in the 4.30 and Simon Squirrel was unplaced in the 5.00; Ruben Cotter goes in the 6.05, Whispering Storm at 8.05.

Tomorrow's finale promises an enthralling conclusion; Nicholls remains odds-on to win the title.

The highlight on the Sandown card is the bet365 Gold Cup at 4.10.

I thought last week's Scottish Grand National handicap rather 'compressed' but incredibly this end-of-season finale sees the bottom weight allotted 10-11 - just five of the twenty runners will carry less than 11-0!

Paul Kealy makes a strong case for The Young Master in the Weekender but on the back of the trainer's comments I'm going to side with stablemate Carole's Destrier. I tipped this one for the Ultima Handicap on the opening day of the Festival but he ran no sort of race whatsoever and was pulled up.

Neil Mulholland points out this has been the target for the selection since winning the London National over this course in December. The horse has also undergone a breathing operation since.

In an ultra-competitive looking event, Carole's Destrier (12/1) is the each-way suggestion; he comes to this fresher than some of his rivals. Most layers offer a quarter the odds four places; bet365 and Sky Bet pay five places.   

2 comments:

TW said...

Three made my short list for the BET365 Gold Cup; Carole's Destrier, Just A Par & Sir Des Champs.

At odds of 25/1 I’ve taken a sporting punt on Sir Des Champs. Whilst there are negatives (he has to prove he is somewhere near the horse he was pre his injury, that he has recovered from his heavy fall in the Grand National and being over looked by Bryan Cooper) there are also a few positives. His handicap mark of 154 is attractive, David Mullins 3lb claim is a plus, the refitting of cheek pieces might help but most of all I’m hopeful the return to racing on a decent surface for the first time since his enforced absence will result in a much improved performance. I’ll probably be made to look silly!

Good Luck.

GeeDee said...

Neil Mulholland trained the winner and the fifth in this year's bet365 Gold Cup but unfortunately the selection wasn't in the money...

The Young Master (8/1) raced prominently and regained the lead after the last to just hold Just A Par (20/1) a short head on the line. A sterling effort too from Sausalito Sunrise under top weight in third while Southfield Theatre (8/1) finished (8/1).

The Druids Nephew (16/1) crept through the field at the business end of the race to claim fifth.

Selection Carole's Destrier (12/1) tried to employ similar tactics but after making some progress was under heavy pressure coming to the Pond fence and weakened thereafter coming home eleventh.

Paul Nicholls secured his 10th trainers' title.