An emotional win for the Christian Williams team following Kitty's Light victory in the Scottish National. We wish the Williams family all the best as their daughter works through her Leukemia treatments.
It's the last day of the jumps season in both the UK & Ireland today. What a cracking season it has been and no doubt Constitution Hill has shone brightest of them all. What a sight it would be if he goes chasing next winter!
We take aim at the bet365 Gold Cup and hopefully our luck has changed following last weekends winner.
Lydia Richards has a progressive national type horse on her hands in Certainly Red. He is not slow as he finished off last season with a victory over three miles on good ground at Kempton. This season he was brought down on his first start before winning cosily at Wincanton over 3m1f on good to soft ground. He has defied the handicapper twice over fences this year. He won here over 2m4f on soft ground in January and then won well at Wincanton over 3m1f hitting the line hard. The ground has changed to good to soft, soft in places at Sandown and this horse looks all stamina by Midnight Legend. This looks the plan with Lydia giving Certainly Red a spin over hurdles off a break at Ascot earlier this month. Caoilin Quinn is great value for his 5lb claim having rode 25 winners throughout this season already.
Mucho Mas looks a natural over fences. He has only run four times over fences but his record of 2211 lets you know this is his game. The form of his second-place finish to subsequent Aintree Festival winner Bill Baxter at Lingfield on soft ground is strong. Both wins over fences have come since upped in trip to three miles. He won at Lingfield on heavy so has bags of stamina and then won here over three miles on soft ground when in front a long time. Mucho Mas is up to a mark of 134 but remains open to improvement. Ben Pauling has enjoyed a stellar season since moving yards and a win here would most certainly be the “icing on the cake” so to speak.
Sandown 2:15
0.5 point each way Certainly Red 9/1 Betway, William Hill & Skybet, all 6 places.
0.5 point each way Mucho Mas 14/1 Paddy Power, Betfair SB & Bet365, 6 places.
Best of Luck, Nicky