A horse who sprang a surprise in the Cheltenham Festival can steal the show on the final day of the National Hunt season at Sandown in the bet365 Gold Cup
ASK BREWSTER has all the answers in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.
The famous old race is the highlight of the Jumps season finale with the ground set to ride on the quick side.
That will suit Ask Brewster who landed the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in the hands of 19-year-old amateur Shane Cotter.
The jockey gets the leg-up again and his claim wipes out the 7lb rise in the weights Ask Brewster has been hit with for the Festival success.
MATTERHORN (2.20, nb) can peak at the right time in the bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown.
The eight-year-old has won seven of his 19 races and has been campaigned cannily by Paul Nicholls.
Harry Cobden has been in the saddle for six of those seven wins and gets a great tune out of the gelding.
Matterhorn’s stamina will be tested but Cobden should be able to control the pace from the front on the quick ground that he needs.
Etalon may challenge him for the lead but his stablemate Doyen Quest is the big danger.
Another front-runner THISTLE ASK (2.55) can strike for the Skelton brothers in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase.
The nine-year-old was picked up for £11,000 and has amassed more than £200,000 in prize money in a remarkable season.
Thistle Ask may get taken on for the lead by smart Irish raider Solness but he will relish the good ground and is taken to fend off Jonbon, who beat him in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot –.
Victory would catapult trainer Dan Skelton past his £5million prize money target.
The bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle is a puzzle and a half and the pin has fallen on WAY OF STARS (1.45).
A winner on the Flat for Andrew Balding he has done well over hurdles for David Pipe and got off the mark at Taunton in March.
He has a lot on his plate but off a rating of 115 he may just have slipped into the race off a lenient mark.
Away from the ITV cameras, LA LUNA ARTISTA (1.13) and FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (5.15) are strong fancies with conditions to suit.
ITV are also showing a single race from both Haydock and Leicester and on Merseyside CABURN (2.35) gets the vote in the William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap.
James Tate’s runner was a solid third at Doncaster in the Cammidge Trophy and could have a fitness edge on his rivals.
At Leicester STRIKE RED (2.05) can reward punters who have kept faith in him.
He was winless in 2025 so is starting the season 13lb lower than 12 months ago and will be fit from a recent spin at Newcastle.
JASON HEAVEY’S SATURDAY TIPS
SANDOWN
1.13 La Luna Artista
1.45 Way Of Stars
2.20 Matterhorn (nb)
2.55 Thistle Ask
3.30 Ask Brewster (Nap)
4.02 Kabral Du Mathan
4.40 Calimystic
5.15 Favour And Fortune
HAYDOCK
1.25 Ravenspire
2.00 Symbol of Majesty
2.35 Caburn
3.10 Cancelled
3.45 Strength Of Spirit
4.20 Full Gas
4.55 Fiscal Policy (trb)
LEICESTER
1.30 From Me To You
2.05 Strike Red
2.44 Under The Twilight
3.19 Von Krolock
3.55 Superior Choice
4.30 Evelyn’s Phoenix
5.05 Pretty Danielle
RIPON
1.40 Thai Ginger
2.15 Mudita
3.00 No More Bolero
3.35 Gibside
4.10 Copper Knight
4.45 The Sweet Escape
5.20 Liverpool Star
DONCASTER
4.35 Maximum Velocity
5.10 Tahalel
5.45 Manatee Mehmas
6.15 Golden Muse
6.45 Director’s Cut
7.15 Sea Of Kings
7.45 Barleybrown
SOUTHWELL
5.30 Clover Time
6.00 Angelardo
6.30 Kenneth
7.00 Down To The Kid
7.30 Luna Celeste
8.00 What Fools Believe
8.30 King Of New York