Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase 2009

It is three weeks since all the drama and excitement of the Aintree Grand National Meeting and although we have had the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals together with the Classic Trials for the Guineas since, the racing to me has been low key. However the two day Bet 365 Meeting gets underway on Friday the 24th at Sandown Park with the feature race on Saturday the 25th being the Bet 365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth £165,000 and run over 3 miles and 5 furlongs. To us old timers this is still referred to as the “Whitbread”. There is nothing like the class of past winners Arkle, Mill House or Desert Orchid in the field. Mill House won the race in 1967 when brilliantly ridden by the late David Nicholson. The picture shows Mill House jumping the last at Sandown Park on his way to winning the Gainsborough Chase. He was ridden by his regular partner, Willie Robinson, on this occasion.
This years race looks a very open affair. Lacdoudal won this race in 2006 from Eric’s Charm and My Will. His trainer, Phillip Hobbs, also won the race last year with Monkerhostin. Lacdoudal looked as though he was coming back to form on his last run behind Wichita Lineman at Cheltenham. Oodachee has come in for plenty of support in the antepost market and is probably worth a saver.
It promises to be a great afternoons racing at Sandown Park.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".