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This is the final great test of the British jumps season, a race that asks searching questions of stamina, resolution and, perhaps most importantly at this stage of a long campaign, durability. Run over Sandown’s demanding fences and invariably on ground that takes some getting, it is a handicap that rewards those still progressing rather than those whose season has already reached its crescendo.
This year’s renewal has depth in abundance, with a strong Irish contingent adding further intrigue, but as ever the profile of the likely winner is a horse arriving on the upgrade, unexposed at the trip, and still well treated by the handicapper.
At the head of many shortlists will be Lookaway, whose recent progression has been both smooth and convincing. A dual winner coming into the spring, he has shaped like a horse well suited by a thorough test of stamina, and his profile suggests there may yet be more to come. His mark demands further improvement, but he is precisely the type connections like to target at this meeting.
Similarly progressive is Havaila, already proven over course and distance and representing a yard that knows exactly what is required here. His recent victories have been achieved with a degree of authority, and crucially he arrives relatively fresh compared to many. In a race where attrition is often decisive, that could prove a significant edge.
From the younger brigade, Kap Vert and Major Fortune bring upward curves into the contest. The former has been quietly progressive in staying handicaps and retains the look of a horse who has not yet reached his ceiling, while Major Fortune, from the Dan Skelton yard, has been admirably consistent and arrives here in winning form. Whether he has the tactical pace for a race that can develop quickly from the Pond Fence is another matter, but his attitude is not in doubt.
The Irish challenge is typically strong, with Brave Fortune and Kim Roque both representing Joseph O’Brien. Brave Fortune, in particular, has hinted at significant ability in competitive company and could be well suited by this more galloping track. Road To Home adds further intrigue for Willie Mullins, a yard that has increasingly targeted British staying handicaps with success; his profile suggests he could be very well treated if translating his Irish form.
At the more exposed end of the spectrum sit seasoned campaigners such as Beauport, Certainly Red and Mr Vango. Beauport, a former course-and-distance winner, has the class to feature but must defy a lofty mark, while Certainly Red, now a veteran, retains enthusiasm but may find younger legs too strong in the closing stages. Mr Vango, another with proven stamina reserves, is undoubtedly capable on his day but has become difficult to predict.
Resplendent Grey and Panic Attack represent higher-class operators dipping into handicap company, both carrying the burden of elevated ratings but possessing the raw ability to play a major role if things fall their way. The former, a course-and-distance winner, is particularly interesting if able to dominate, while Panic Attack’s consistency this season marks him down as a reliable contender, albeit one who may find little margin for error off top weight.
Of the remainder, Rock My Way and Top Of The Bill make appeal as solid each-way types, likely to keep galloping when others have cried enough, while Dartmoor Pirate and Montregard add further depth to a race where few can be dismissed entirely.
Ultimately, the bet365 Gold Cup often hinges not on brilliance but on resilience. It is a race that exposes any weakness in stamina or jumping under pressure, and those arriving with fewer miles on the clock frequently hold sway. In that respect, the progressive profiles of Lookaway and Havaila make them particularly compelling, with the former just preferred as the type to improve again for this searching examination.
Whatever the outcome, this is a race that rarely fails to deliver a fitting finale to the season, where the emphasis is placed squarely on courage and staying power rather than speed alone.
Bet365 Gold Cup Chase
£175,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 4f 166y, Class 1
42 entries
Going:
