EL PRESENTE HAS BIG CHANCE IN BET365 GOLD CUP

The final day of the UK Jumps season. The big question is will Altior be able to win on just his second run of the whole season. Henry De Bromhead sends over Put The Kettle On who won the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. She should enjoy the jumping test and stiff finish at Sandown. The heart says Altior can win and maybe go our in style like his stablemate Theinval last Sunday.

We look at the much better betting race that is the bet365 Gold Cup. Sixteen runners go to post on watered ground which is officially good, good to firm in places on the chase course.

The stats show that eight out of the past nine winners carried 11 stone or less with Tidal Bay the exception carrying 11-12 to victory in 2012. However, the race this year is a tight-knit handicap with just 18lbs between the top weight Crosspark and second from the bottom Bob Mahler. The outlier is Supreme Escape who gets in carrying just 10 stone. I believe Supreme Escape to be too short at around 7/1 considering he too ages to get to the front at Chepstow in a much weaker race over a similar trip.

El Presente looks a much better bet having really got the hang of chasing following a couple of blips over fences when starting out over fences. He has finished 131113 on his latest six runs over fences. He caught the eye on his comeback run last month at Ludlow when not given a hard time behind Checkitout. That was his first run since winning the Badger Beers Chase at Wincanton from Potterman. El Presente finished off his race strongly at Wincanton and will love the good ground and extra half a mile. Kim Baily and David Bass have enjoyed a great season and can end this campaign with another big win.

Kitty’s Light has been on my shortlist for this race since rattling home for third place in the Badger Beers Chase at Wincanton. I rate that form strongly as it was a true run race and Kitty’s Light was impeded by a faller after the third last fence. He hit the line hard and looks sure to relish the extra half a mile. Trainer Christian Williams gave him a break around Christmas. Kitty’s Light ran twice in Lingfield NH bumpers as well as a poor run at Newbury over hurdles. He reverted to fences last month at Kelso and won the Borders Handicap Chase.

Stamina is Kitty’s Light strong point and at Kelso he powered home to beat Didero Vallis by a neck. As a result, the handicapper has raised him 4lbs to a career high mark of 139. Regular jockey Jack Tudor claims off 3lbs leaving Kitty’s Light carrying 10-12 today. Kitty’s Light remains unexposed over fences. He has won four of his six chase starts and placed on the other two runs.

Of the rest I think Plan of Attack does not have the form figures to suggest he should be a 9/2 favourite. The Alan King trained Potterman has a chance if staying this trip while the Neil Mulholland pair The Young Master & Doing Fine go well at Sandown but are getting on in years.

Sandown - 3:40

0.5 Point Each Way El Presente 9/1 Skybet paying 6 places.

0.5 Point Each Way Kitty's Light 8/1 Skybet paying 6 places.

Compare Odds at Sandown 15:40 Betting Odds Winner | Horse Racing | Oddschecker