Bet365 Gold Cup

As April draws to a close, so too does the British National Hunt season. It is Sandown Park which provides a fitting finale each year, with the Saturday card that marks the official end of the season. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for one of the highlights of the finale meeting; The Bet365 Gold Cup.

This 3m 5½f handicap chase was first run at Sandown in 1957. Open to runners aged five and older, the contest now offers £150,000 in total prize money.

Bet365 Gold Cup Betting Tips and Race Preview 2019

The bet365 Gold Cup is the final big jumps race of the season. For that reason it plays an important role but it’s much more than ceremonial. This is a valuable handicap chase with the winner come the end of 3 miles 5 furlongs picking up almost £85,000 for connections. It’s also highly prestigious with over 60 years of history. With respect to that history, punters are solely concerned with the future and ending the National Hunt season with a big win.

Gamble Looks a Big Ask

The big betting news ahead of the bet365 Gold Cup is the big gamble on Talkischeap. The seven-year-old novice has come in for a lot of support with the weight of money pushing his price in all the way to 8/1 from 20/1.

Is this a gamble worth following or little more than a desperate attempt to end the season with a win? It may well be a case of the latter. He disappointed after receving a lot of support on his handicap debut last time out at Kempton and it’s tough to see him doing anything different in a race of the bet365 Gold Cup’s calibre.

Give Me A Copper Ready to Fulfil His Potential

There was a real buzz about Give Me A Copper when he made his return after almost 15 months out to run at Sandown. Connections were hopeful that the class they believe he possesses would be enough to make up for his lack of chasing experience and entered him in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National.

As it’s turned out, the nine-year-old didn’t make either of those huge contests as the sort of mistakes you might expect from such an inexperienced chaser cost him the chance to win at Sandown and then saw him fall in the Ultimat Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.

Undeterred, connections have pressed on with the entry into the bet365 Gold Cup. Their patience may well be rewarded. The nine-year-old is certainly a classy horse who has the raw ability to beat his competition on Saturday. Those recent mistakes are reflected in his price but the 11/1 that Racebets are quoting looks very generous about his chances.

Rock The Kasbah Can Bounce Back From National Disappointment

Rock The Kasbah was many punters’ idea of an excellent outside bet for the Grand National. The nine-year-old has done some very good work in competitive long distances chases before and looked well treated by the handicapper.

Unfortunately, Philip Hobbs’ charge was brought down at the 19th fence. Connections were understandably delighted that he suffered no serious damage and will be able to put that disappointment behind them if Rock The Kasbah runs well in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Again, he looks well treated by the handicapper and will have no problem whether the ground stays good or moves towards good to soft. Rock The Kasbah is a reliable campaigner who should be right in the running come the closing stages so an each way bet is in order at 14/1 with bet365.

Bet365 Gold Cup Previous Winners

  • 2018 – Step Back – jockey Jamie Moore, trainer Mark Bradstock
  • 2017 – Henllan Harri – jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Peter Bowen
  • 2016 – The Young Master – jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen, trainer Neil Mulholland
  • 2015 – Just A Par – jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2014 – Hadrian’s Approach – jockey Barry Geraghty, trainer Nicky Henderson
  • 2013 – Quentin Collonges – jockey Andrew Tinkler, trainer Henry Daly
  • 2012 – Tidal Bay – jockey Daryl Jacob, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2011 – Poker de Sivola – jockey Timmy Murphy, trainer Ferdy Murphy
  • 2010 – Church Island – jockey Adrian Heskin, trainer Michael Hourigan
  • 2009 – Hennessy – jockey Tony McCoy, trainer Carl Llewellyn
  • 2008 – Monkerhostin – jockey Richard Johnson, trainer Philip Hobbs
  • 2007 – Hot Weld – jockey, trainer Ferdy Murphy

Bet365 Gold Cup History

First making its appearance on the racing calendar in 1957, this stamina sapping event has been run at Sandown every year barring 1973 when it was transferred to Newcastle.

This contest has the distinction of being the first to benefit from commercial sponsorship. Whitbread Brewers already had something of a racing connection through its chairman, Colonel Bill Whitbread, who had ridden in the Grand National, and they duly lent their backing to this race.

The contest became known to many a racing fan simply as “The Whitbread”, before the long running sponsorship came to an end in 2001. Various companies have since lent their support to the event, with Bet365 taking over in 2008.

This wouldn’t really be a top class staying chase without the names of legendary duo, Arkle and Desert Orchid appearing on the roll of honour. With multiple victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and King George VI between them, the pair duly make an appearance. Arkle prevailing here in 1965 and Desert Orchid in 1988. Arkle’s win was particularly noteworthy given the welter burden he carried to success. Even a record 12st7lbs wasn’t enough to stop the classiest chaser of them all.

Other notable winners include Mill House (1967), who had previously landed the hat trick of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Hennessy Gold Cup and King George VI Chase in 1963. Mr Frisk meanwhile was clearly in a rich vain of form in 1990 as the Kim Bailey runner took this just three weeks after his famous success in the Grand National.

Previous form has at times proved a useful pointer when looking for the winner. Larbawn (1968, 1969), Diamond Edge (1979, 1981), Topsham Bay (1992, 1993) and Ad Hoc (2001,2003) are all dual winners of the race. No horse has yet won it three times.

Fulke Walwyn is comfortably ahead at the top of the list of most successful trainers here, winning the race seven times between the years of 1958 and 1984. Ron Barry rode Charlie Potheen (1973) and The Dikler (1974) to success for Walwyn, and having also triumphed aboard Taxidermist (1971), he leads the way in the jockeys ranks.