It is disappointing that Sandown’s big handicap chase tomorrow, the bet365 Gold Cup (3.30 p.m.), has attracted a field of only 14 runners but this is an intriguing race nonetheless with several improving seven-year-olds taking on some older, more experienced horses.
LIVIN ON LUCO has run four times this season, three of them good performances
The younger generation are well represented at the top of the market with seven-year-old geldings Havaila, Montregard, Ask Brewster and the Irish raider Road To Home all having big chances of landing the first prize of just under £100,000.
My marginal preference is for two eight-year-olds from two in-form British yards. IN D’OR is a lightly-raced gelding who was bought for £220,000 in the owner-jockey David Maxwell dispersal sale last year.
Since then, he has put up two big performances for his new Fergal O’Brien yard, finishing third both times behind quality opposition. Stable jockey Jonathan Burke will try to land one last big prize for his trainer before he goes freelance next season. Back In d’Or 2 points win at 11-2 with bet365.
However, I want to back a horse at bigger prices in this race too – one representing the connections that landed the Coral Scottish Grand National less than a week ago with Kap Vert.
Tomorrow joint trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, along with jockey Sean Houlihan, rely on LIVIN ON LUCO, who has run four times this season, three of them good performances.
This gelding’s best run was in the Coral Welsh Grand National in late December when he was beaten just over nine lengths into fourth by Haiti Couleurs. Like In d’Or, Livin On Luco goes well on good ground. Back him 1 point each way at 14-1 with BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying four places.
Jonbon’s career record under rules is incredible – 20 wins and eight seconds from 28 starts – but, at ten years old, trainer Nicky Henderson’s warrior is not quite the force of old. Now officially rated 165, he could easily win the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase (2.55 p.m.) over just under two miles.
However, I would rather bet on the Irish trained SOLNESS who is also officially rated 165. Joseph O’Brien’s eight-year-old gelding went down on his sword to Grey Dawning last time out in the Grade 1 JCB Melling Chaseat Aintree over half a mile further than tomorrow’s trip.
I am hoping this right-handed track will suit Solness better than Aintree where he had a tendency to jump to his right. Back him 2 points win at 9-2, a price available with most but not all bookies.
The 19-runner bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (1.45 p.m) is too difficult for me. However, it is incredible to think that less than two years ago Ambiente Friendly was second in the Betfred Derby at Epsom at odds of just 9-2. Yet, tomorrow, off a modest jump racing of just 117 and now gelded, he is forecast to go off at odds of up to 40-1 in this handicap hurdle at Sandown. How the mighty have fallen.
Pending:
2 points win Solness at 9-2 in the bet365 Celebration Chase.
2 points win In d’Or at 11-2 in the bet365 Gold Cup.
1 point each way Livin On Luco at 14-1 in the bet365 Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
Last weekend: – 0.6 points.
1 point each way Magna Victor at 5-1 in the Slater Menswear Handicap Hurdle, paying 4 places. 3rd (advised bet365 which paid Best Odds Guaranteed of 14-1). + 1.8 points.
1 point each way Traprain Law at 6-1 in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 3rd (but NRs meant bookies paid only two places). – 2 points.
1 point each way Git Maker at 20-1 in the Scottish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 2nd (but Rule 4 of 20p in the £). + 1.6 points.
1 point each way Promontory at 20-1 in the Scottish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2025-26 jumps season: running total – 51.785 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for six full seasons of tipping: + 126 points
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