Kitty’s Light bids to finish his season with a bang by winning the bet365 Gold Cup for the second season in a row.
Despite being rated 5lbs higher than 12 months ago, when completing an incredible spring treble of big handicap staying chases, Christian Williams’ popular horse is expected to be a major player having run a stormer when finishing fifth in the Aintree Grand National last fortnight.
A top prize of £95,659 makes the bet365 Gold Cup one of the key battlegrounds in the fight for the British Jump Trainers’ Title on the final day of the season and championship leader Willie Mullins saddles three – Aime Desjy, Minella Cocooner and Nick Rockett.
Dan Skelton is the Closutton maestro’s closest rival and he relies on Le Milos to get the job done on his first try over fences this season.
Paul Nicholls is the third title hopeful and the 14-time champion trainer fires three darts at the contest in top weight Threeunderthrufive, course winner Enrilo and bottom weight Flash Collonges.
The latest bet365 Gold Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
bet365 Gold Cup verdict
Timeform: Plenty with claims in a typically competitive renewal of this contest, including last year’s victor KITTY’S LIGHT, who boasts a tremendous record in marathon events and looks fairly treated in his bid for a repeat success. Last season’s Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos has had a light campaign and looks well handicapped, whilst Nick Rockett remains with potential and is the choice of Paul Townend. Kinondo Kwetu and Amirite will be suited by likely better ground and complete the shortlist.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
bet365 Gold Cup runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the bet365 Gold Cup 2024.
Threeunderthrufive
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 9 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Dual Grade 2 winner as a novice who posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat before returning to winning ways at Ascot (23.8f, good to soft) in February. Finds himself on career-high mark now but ought to be in the shake-up again.
***
Does He Know
Trainer: Kim Bailey Jockey: David Bass Age: 9 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Smart chaser who returned to form with positive tactics readopted (also fitted with cheekpieces) when landing the Grimthorpe at Doncaster (26f, heavy) last month. 5 lb rise fair but this looks much more competitive.
**
Sam Brown
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball Jockey: Freddie Gingell Age: 12 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Returned to form since fitted with a visor this year, taking Veterans’ events at Warwick and Ascot before good second of 13 in handicap chase at Aintree (25f, soft) 14 days ago, staying on well. Can race off same mark here but slower conditions would be more suitable.
**
Minella Cocooner
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Danny Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 11st 9lbs
Smart winner at 22f over hurdles (second in the 2022 Albert Bartlett) who posted his best effort in this sphere when third of 20 in Irish National (29.1f, heavy) at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Faces different conditions here but is unexposed over staying trips and must enter calculations.
***
Le Milos
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 9 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Big improver over fences for this yard last season, including victory in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Not really threatened in 3 starts over hurdles this term but looks nicely treated, returned to the larger obstacles, and is a big player.
****
Nick Rockett
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Paul Townend Age: 7 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Developed into a smart novice hurdler last spring and has taken well to fences on return, winning Fairyhouse maiden before good second in Navan Grade 3 (24f) in February. May have found testing conditions against him when seventh in Irish National latest and remains open to improvement.
***
Kitty’s Light
Trainer: Christian Williams Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 8 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Signed off last season by landing an exceptional hat-trick, winning the Eider Chase and Scottish National before taking this contest (off 5 lb lower). Arrives on back of fine fifth in Grand National a fortnight ago and looks the one to beat with ground conditions likely to suit.
*****
Kinondo Kwetu
Trainer: Sam England Jockey: Jonathan England Age: 8 Weight: 11st 2lbs
Most progressive over fences, making it 6 wins from 8 starts when seeing off another improver (pair well clear) at Aintree in May. Back from a break when creditable fourth at same course (25f, soft) a fortnight ago and should have ground conditions to suit here.
***
Annual Invictus
Trainer: Chris Gordon Jockey: Freddie Gordon Age: 9 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Very capable chaser/hurdler on his day who looked as good as ever when landing Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster (26f) in January. Not seen to best effect at Cheltenham since but could only manage sixth (off 3 lb lower) in this contest last season.
**
Amirite
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 8 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Low-mileage 8-y-o who has acquitted himself well in both starts this term, latest when fifth of 27 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.5f) over Christmas. Both his wins have come on a sound surface and he goes particularly well fresh so he ticks plenty of boxes.
***
Courtland
Trainer: Peter Bowen Jockey: Sean Bowen Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Thrived last summer landing four handicap chases (at up to 23f) either side of a fine second in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Back to winning ways, albeit fortunately, at Hereford last month but asked a much bigger question now.
**
Slipway
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 9 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Looked a stayer going places in 2022, adding the Southern National at Fontwell (27.7f) to his CV. Form dipped thereafter but returned to winning ways (back from 3 months off) at Kempton (24f, good to soft) last time and is not out of things.
***
Rapper
Trainer: Henry Daly Jockey: Richard Patrick Age: 10 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Three-time winner over fences who showed he retains all his ability when second in Ascot handicap (23.8f) in February. Fell in Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival since, however, and his overall profile is slightly off-putting.
**
Fortescue
Trainer: Henry Daly Jockey: Hugh Nugent Age: 10 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Run creditably in Newbury Veterans’ races the last twice but it’s been over 2 years since his last success and he may well find this company too demanding.
**
Certainly Red
Trainer: Lydia Richards Jockey: Marc Goldstein Age: 10 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Completed a hat-trick last term and not disgraced when seventh (off 7 lb higher) in this contest on final start. Made the frame on several occasions this season but hard to see him regaining the winning thread in this company. Cheekpieces on first time.
**
Enrilo
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Angus Cheleda Age: 10 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Smart at his peak (first past the post in 2021 renewal of this event) and posted best effort for a while when chasing home emphatic winner Inis Oirr in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh (31.4f) in February. Posted another solid effort at Taunton latest but Harry Cobden prefers Threeunderthrufive.
**
Bangers And Cash
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Kielan Woods Age: 8 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Progressed into a useful staying chaser last season, winning 3 of his last 4 starts. Gradually worked his way back to form this term, latest when third in course handicap (24.2f, good to soft) last month but will need more to take a hand here.
**
Weveallbeencaught
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 7 Weight: 10st 4lbs
Useful winning hurdler who shaped with promise in this sphere when placed in a pair of novice events at Cheltenham earlier this season. Rather gone backwards since, however, and has something to prove now.
**
Flash Collonges
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Bryony Frost Age: 9 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Got off the mark in this sphere at Newbury last term and still in touch when falling 19th in Scottish Grand National at Ayr following month. Lightly raced and disappointing since, though, and is now tried in blinkers.
**
Flash De Touzaine
Trainer: Miss Elizabeth Doyle Jockey: Reserve Age: 9 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Sole success over fences came at Galway in 2022 and hasn’t fired this season. Best watched.
RESERVE
*
Your Own Story
Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Reserve Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Opened account over fences at Wetherby (30.9f) in March 2023 and acquitted himself well in Scottish Grand National on final start of season. Posted a brace of solid efforts this term but may find likely quicker conditions against him here. 4 lb out of the handicap.
RESERVE
*
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