bet365 Gold Cup Runners: The Field For 2024 Season Finale

The bet365 Gold Cup of 2024 promises to be one of the most thrilling renewals of the race in recent years, with Willie Mullins, Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls all desperate to win it for their title chances. There are also a host of other connections hoping to snag this valuable prize up at Ayr and here we take a look at the confirmed field of 20 runners and riders...

The bet365 Gold Cup is the feature handicap on the final day of the British jumps season and there are 20 runners confirmed at the 48 hour stage. The headline grabbing figure is the three entrants for British champion trainer-elect Willie Mullins, as he aims to solidify his position as the top handler this side of the Irish Sea this season after scooping both the Aintree and Ayr Grand Nationals.

Mullins’ group is led by Minella Cocooner and Nick Rockett, third and seventh in the Irish Grand National at the beginning of the month. Both are novice chasers this season, thus seeking to emulate Hewick, victor of this race two years ago, in triumphing without a prior year's experience over fences.

The remaining 16 runners bar Amirite for Henry De Bromhead are from the home contingent - The Goffer was taken out for Gordon Elliott - with Christian Williams’ Kitty’s Light aiming for back-to-back victories in the race. He finished gallantly fifth in the Grand National and is now 1lb lower, just two weeks later, hoping to repeat his triumph from a year ago, achieved off a mark of 140.

Dan Skelton and Pul Nicholls both know that they will not be Champion Trainer now this season, yet could finish with a flourish as both boast significant entries with former Coral Gold Cup hero Le Milos and recent Ascot winner Threeunderthrufive respectively. Nicholls is set to also field Enrilo and Flash Collonges in the race, who could be interesting outsiders and the former has earned a tenitive tip from our editor..