Bet365 Gold Cup Tips: Back To Back Successes On The Cards

Arguably the highlight of the Jumps Finale at Sandown on Saturday is the bet365 Gold Cup, a race in which Kittys Light will aim for back to back successes following a thrilling win in 2023. Plenty are in with a chance of dethroning the Williams charge, however, and Billy Grimshaw is on hand to provide a full preview with two best bet tips...

We know now it's going to take a minor miracle for Willie Mullins not to become the first Irish trainer to win the British Trainers' Title since the legendary Vincent O'Brien, and he could well cap off a phenomenal few months on his travels by scooping another big staying pot at Sandown on Saturday. He sends three to Esher and all have their chances, with Paul Townend opting to ride Nick Rockett which could be an indication of the stable's leanings.

Last weekend up at Ayr of course we saw it exemplified that Townend does not always choose correctly with Danny Mullins winning the Scottish National aboard Macdermott, so the fact Townend is on Nick Rockett should put no one off particularly Minella Cocooner. He is very interesting with dryer ground as he was markedly better on a sound surface as a novice hurdler before perhaps losing his way a touch since starting over fences. Of the Mullins trio - completed by Aime Desjy - it is Danny's ride Minella Cocooner I'd be sweetest on for all Nick Rockett could well have bundles more improvement to come as a staying chaser.

I am, for my sins, avoiding the Mullins contingent altogether for tipping purposes and indeed I'm swerving the other Irish raider Amirite, who is lightly raced for Henry De Bromhead. After his phenomenal effort when it felt like the whole nation was roaring him on at Aintre, KITTY'S LIGHT is the one for me to go back-to-back. He should already have won this race twice  considering the controversy in 2021 with Enrilo - who is back here again too - and providing he is over his Aintree exertions, he is the one they all have to stop. His third in 2022 off the same mark of 145 reads very well indeed considering what the winner Hewick has gone on to achieve and it could be argued Kitty's Light is a better horse these days.

Christian Williams has done a phenomenal job with this horse at this time of year for a few seasons now and he has proven he can back up a big performance with another on numerous occasions. The Grand National these days is similar to any other staying handicap - that is not a gripe by the way, I much preferred the 2024 spectacle to those of the past - and so for Kitty's Light to have been dropped a pound for his run there when he was best home of the Brits and only beaten by past Grade 1 winners looks like leniency from the handicapper. He is 5/1 in a place while I type this and that is a knocking bet.

I was all set to row in purely with one bet in this race, however at a much bigger price I can't resist having ENRILO on side off a featherweight. Obviously he won the race then lost it in the Steward's Room back in 2021 and has not really been the same horse since, however there have been a few excuses and running off what is effectively 10st1 on ground he should like, he looks slightly overpriced.

Nicholls is known to target this meeting and for all that he is very, very unlikely to catch Willie Mullins, he will still be keen to finish best of the rest and gazump his former assistant Dan Skelton. Enrilo looks like the second or third string and could go off a wild price, but he isn't one to totally discount despite his long winless run.