Easter Weekend Tipping - April 23rd Bet365 Gold Cup

An absolute buffet of racing on display for this bank holiday weekend with eight – yes, eight, meetings on Saturday, with the highlight being the cards on display at Haydock and Sandown, including the Bet365 Whitbread Gold Cup, the Sandown Mile and the Bet365 Hurdle all being Grade 1/Group 1 races respectively. That is followed up by ten meetings on bank holiday Monday, the highlight there being the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

We start off with the showpiece race, and the race that culminates a season. Traditionally known as the Whitbread Gold Cup, a race lined with history, and one aimed at by trainers from an early stage in the season. As such, there is a highly competitive field, with lots of quirks, and not so straightforward form to assess. In the 22 runner field, there are horses that prefer the track, the ground, the distance, the time of the year, who could all pose threats as supposed ‘dark horses’. However I can see nothing past the front two in the market, both of which I have already tipped up earlier in the season. The first one of the two is BABY RUN, who is traditionally known as a hunter chaser. He ran two solid races at the start of the season before going to the two main races, at Cheltenham and Aintree. He fell when looking for all money the winner at Cheltenham, before gaining redemption at Aintree. Sam Twiston-Davies will replace injured brother Willie, but this should further enhance the horses claims, and should run a strong race. The other selection is the other ante post joint favourite BALTHAZAR KING, who has been the definition of consistency this season. Great placed efforts behind eventual Grade 1 winners Master of the Hall and Chicago Grey, he has finally got the winning feeling as of late, winning two novice chases, the second of which was a very strong affair last week at Cheltenham. Richard Johnson is in the form of his life, and with his and the horse’s confidence flourishing, both Balthazar King and Baby Run could be fighting out the finish.

Later on at Sandown, the card reverts to the flat, in a symbolic handing over of the season, and we kick off with the Sandown Mile, where Group 1 winning DICK TURPIN should be too good for this field. He was the model of consistency last year, finishing placed in the 2000 Guineas, Irish Guineas and the St James Palace Stakes, before finally getting his head in front in a Group 1 in France, He was disappointing when finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes, but he clearly did not stay and his trip is a strong run mile, and is simply too good for this field.

The final selection runs in a competitive Grade 3 handicap chase at Haydock, where our one to watch partnership of the season has a very tough and progressive horse in the name of EYRE SQUARE. James Reveley riding for his dad will once again fight this tipster’s cause, and his form this season has been fantastic. He has run 5 times so far this season, winning three times, finishing second once, and falling when looking like he would definitely be fighting out the finish. He is on the upgrade and relatively unexposed against a field of tired handicappers and should hopefully round off the jumps season with a resounding success!

4.35 Haydock Eyre Square

3.45 Sandown Dick Turpin

3.10 Sandown Balthazar King / Baby Run

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner