Sandown Gold Cup: Timeform's expert verdict

• Timeform's runner-by-runner guide to Sandown's feature staying chase

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Gold Cup Handicap Chase
15:35 Sandown, Saturday
Live on ITV

1. Threeunderthrufive (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Cobden)

Dual Grade 2 winner as a novice who posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat this season before returning to winning ways at Ascot in February. Finds himself on a career-high mark now but ought to be in the shake-up again.

2. Does He Know (Kim Bailey/ David Bass)

Smart chaser who returned to form with positive tactics readopted and when fitted with cheekpieces in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last month. A 5 lb rise is fair but this looks much more competitive.

3. Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball/ Freddie Gingell (5))

Has returned to form since fitted with a visor this year, taking veterans' events at Warwick and Ascot and staying on well to finish a good second in a premier handicap at Aintree two weeks ago. Can race off the same mark here but slower conditions would be more suitable.

4. Minella Cocoooner (Willie Mullins/ Danny Mullins)

Finished runner-up in the 2022 Albert Bartlett and posted his best effort in this sphere when third in the Irish National at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Faces different conditions here but is unexposed over staying trips and must enter calculations.

5. Le Milos (Dan Skelton/ Harry Skelton)

Was a big improver over fences for this yard last season, notably landing the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. Hasn't really threatened in three starts over hurdles this term but looks nicely treated on his return to the larger obstacles and is a big player.

6. Nick Rockett (Willie Mullins/ Paul Townend)

Developed into a smart novice hurdler last spring and has taken well to fences this term, winning a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse before finishing a good second in a Grade 2 at Navan in February. May have found testing conditions against him when seventh in the Irish National last time and remains open to improvement.

7. Kitty's Light (Christian Williams/ Jack Tudor)

Signed off last season by landing an exceptional hat-trick, winning the Eider Chase and Scottish National before taking this contest (off a 5 lb lower mark than the one he competes from here). Arrives on the back of a fine fifth in the Grand National a fortnight ago and looks the one to beat with ground conditions likely to suit.

8. Kinondo Kwetu (Sam England/ Jonathan England)

Has been most progressive over fences and made it six wins from his first eight starts in this sphere when seeing off another improver, with the pair well clear, at Aintree in May. Was a creditable fourth on his return from a break at Aintree a fortnight ago and should have ground conditions to suit here.

9. Annual Invictus (Chris Gordon/ Freddie Gordon (5))

Very capable chaser and hurdler on his day who looked as good as ever when landing the Great Yorkshire Chase over three and a quarter miles at Doncaster in January. Wasn't seen to best effect at Cheltenham since but could only manage sixth off a 3 lb lower mark in this contest last season.

10. Amirite (Henry de Bromhead/ Rachael Blackmore)

Low-mileage eight-year-old who has acquitted himself well on both starts this term, finishing fifth in the competitive Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas when last seen. Both his wins have come on a sound surface and he goes particularly well fresh so he ticks plenty of boxes.

11. Aime Desjy (Willie Mullins/ Sean O'Keeffe)

Has taken well to chasing and readily landed the odds in a two-and-a-half mile novice at Gowran last month. Emerged with plenty of credit when fifth in the Topham Chase at Aintree last time but this much longer trip is new territory for him.

12. Courtland (Peter Bowen/ Sean Bowen)

Thrived last summer landing four handicap chases at up to two miles seven furlongs and was also a fine second in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. Was back to winning ways, albeit fortunately, at Hereford last month but is asked a much bigger question now.

13. Slipaway (Ben Pauling/ Ben Jones)

Looked a stayer going places in 2022, adding the Southern National at Fontwell to his CV. His form dipped afterwards but he returned to winning ways on his return from three months off at Kempton last time and is not out of things.

14. Rapper (Henry Daly/ Richard Patrick)

Three-time winner over fences who showed he retains all his ability when second to Threeunderthrufive in an Ascot handicap in February. Fell in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham Festival last time, however, and his overall profile is slightly off-putting.

15. Fortescue (Henry Daly/ Hugh Nugent (3))

Has run creditably in veterans' races at Newbury the last twice but it's been over two years since his latest success and he may well find this company too demanding.

16. Certainly Red (Lydia Richards/ Marc Goldstein)

Completed a hat-trick last term and wasn't disgraced when seventh in this contest on his final start of that campaign, off a 7 lb higher mark than the one he competes from here. Has made the frame on several occasions this season but it's hard to see him regaining the winning thread in this company. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

17. Enrilo (Paul Nicholls/ Angus Cheleda (5))

Was first past the post in this race in 2021 (demoted to third) and posted his best effort for a while when chasing home wide-margin winner Inis Oirr in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February. Posted another solid effort at Taunton last time but Harry Cobden prefers Threeunderthrufive.

18. Bangers And Cash (Ben Pauling/ Kielan Woods)

Progressed into a useful staying chaser last season, winning three of his last four starts. Has gradually worked his way back to form this term and ran well when third in a three-mile handicap here last month, but will need more to take a hand here.

19. Weveallbeencaught (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Sam Twiston-Davies)

Useful winning hurdler who shaped with promise in this sphere when placed in a pair of novice events at Cheltenham earlier this season. Has gone backwards since, however, and has something to prove now.

20. Flash Collonges (Paul Nicholls/ Bryony Frost)

Got off the mark in this sphere at Newbury last term and was still in touch when falling at the 19th in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr the following month. Has been lightly raced and disappointing since, though, and is now tried in blinkers.

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Timeform's Analyst Verdict:

Plenty with claims in a typically competitive renewal of this contest, including last year's victor KITTY'S LIGHT, who boasts a tremendous record in marathon events and looks fairly treated in his bid for a repeat success. Last season's Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos has had a light campaign and looks well handicapped, whilst Nick Rockett remains with potential and is the choice of Paul Townend. Kinondo Kwetu and Amirite will be suited by likely better ground and complete the shortlist.

Timeform's 1-2-3:

1. Kitty's Light
2. Le Milos
3. Nick Rockett