See below the ReadHorseRacing bet365 Gold Cup jockey colours guide to help quickly see your fancied runners ahead of Saturday’s huge Sandown Park contest.
With a maximum of 14 bet365 Gold Cup runners lining up for the end-of-season finale, there’s a decent £98k prize on offer.
Plus we’ll also see last year’s winner Resplendent Grey back to defend his crown and will again be ridden by champion jump jockey Sean Bowen.
You can see all the profiles, odds, jockeys, trainers and the ReadHorseRacing STAR RATINGS below to help with your bet365 Gold Cup bets.
Oh, and finally – you can also whittle down the runners further with Andy Newton’s key bet365 Gold Cup trends.
bet365 Gold Cup Race Details 2026
📅 Date: Saturday, 25th April 2026
⌚ Time: 3:30pm
🏇 Course: Sandown Park
🔄 Trip: 3m 4 1/2f
💷 Winner’s Prize: £98,473
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
💡See Andy Newton’s DAILY Horse Racing Cheat Sheet – including NAP, NB, Lucky 15 tips, plus trainer stats, lay of the day and much more
bet365 Gold Cup Colours and Runners Guide 2026
1. RESPLENDENT GREY
- Age: 8
- Weight: 12st
- Trainer: Olly Murphy
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 152
- Form: 1-1020
- Odds: 14/1
📝Comment: Took this race 12 months ago and will trying to become the first ‘back-to-back’ winner since Topsham Bay (1992-93).
Returned this season with a top win at Carlisle but has been disappointing since. Is back rated 10lbs higher than last year too, so more on his plate and needs a return to form.
But likely to have had this race as his big target, champion jockey Sean Bowen, who has three wins in this race, rides and we know he likes the better ground.
Being the past winner – certainly can’t rule out.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
2. HENRY’S FRIEND
- Age: 9
- Weight: 11-6
- Trainer: Ben Pauling
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 144
- Form: 8-1869
- Odds: 16/1
📝Comment: From the King George-winning Ben Pauling team and has a similar profile to Resplendent Grey – having won first time out this season and been poor since.
But is only a pound higher now when last winning and is another that will like the better ground.
Only run here at Sandown was a fair second in 2022 in a Grade 2 Novices Hurdle and has been freshened up with 2 months off.
Anyone called Henry – or people who have a friend called Henry – are sure to be all over him.
Has won over 3m2f – so each-way claims if bouncing back as Resplendent looks to make it another ‘grey’ day for the bookies.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
3. ROCK MY WAY
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st
- Trainer: Joe Tizzard
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 138
- Form: -01822
- Odds: 12/1
📝Comment: The Tizzard camp are still to win the bet365 Gold Cup but have a fair chance of breaking that duck here.
Was a decent second in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last time and with the third Git Maker running well (2nd) in the Scottish National last weekend, that form has been boosted.
Gets in off the same mark and we know he stays.
But is still 7lbs higher than his last career win and is also racing at Sandown for the first time.
Meaning Rock My Way looks far from solid.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
4. ROAD TO HOME
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10-13
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 137
- Form: 3533P2
- Odds: 10/1
📝Comment: Pulled out of the Scottish National late on last weekend, but if lining up here this Willie Mullins runner is sure to be popular.
The yard won this in 2024 too with Minella Cocooner and heads here off the back of a decent second in the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham.
Is up another 6lbs from that run though and is still to win a race over fences (5 runs).
But is also 8lbs better off with the Kim Muir winner Ask Brewster this time and was only touched off by a neck.
The longer trip should also suit and coming from the powerful Mullins camp Road To Home could finally break his duck over the bigger obstacles.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. TRANSMISSION
- Age: 9
- Weight: 10-13
- Trainer: Neil Mulholland
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 137
- Form: -08813
- Odds: 16/1
📝Comment: From the Neil Mulholland team, who won this race in 2016 with The Young Master.
Was last seen running 3rd to Havaila in the Sussex National at Plumpton (9 lengths) and is 3lbs better off this time.
Does stay well though, having won the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February over 4m – but is 8lbs higher this time.
Certainly won’t mind the better ground either and should strip fitter for his last run, seeing as it came after two months off.
Transmission looks to be giving out the right signals and looks a lively e/w player.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
6. OUR POWER
- Age: 11
- Weight: 10-13
- Trainer: Sam Thomas
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 137
- Form: 33-F64
- Odds: 25/1
📝Comment: Another that pulled out of last weekend’s Scottish Grand National.
Last seen 100 days ago when well down the field at Wincanton in the Somerset National and has 21 lengths to find with Rock My Way on his Ascot run in November.
Is not getting any younger at 11 and his last win was now 11 races ago in 2023 in the Coral Trophy at Kempton.
But does stay – having run third in the Scottish Grand National last season and is 6lbs better off this time.
First ever run at Sandown too – so with his advancing years is the ‘power’ just fading?
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
7. IN D’OR
- Age: 8
- Weight: 10-13
- Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
- Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- Rating: 137
- Form: 136-33
- Odds: 11/2
📝Comment: This Fergal O’Brien runner has been well-backed in midweek and it’s not hard to see why.
He was last seen running third to The Jukebox Kid at Ascot and is lightly-raced with only six career runs.
Has won two of those and was 6th to subsequent Welsh National winner Haiti Couleurs in the NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2025.
Loves good ground and has run well at Sandown in the past (3rd both times).
Off a career-high mark now (137) but is unexposed over these staying trip and over fences in general, so looks a player.
You just wonder if the value in his price has gone now though.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. CERTAINLY RED
- Age: 12
- Weight: 10-13
- Trainer: Lydia Richards
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 137
- Form: /21P-3
- Odds: 33/1
📝Comment: We had three 11 year-old winners of this race since 2008, so it’s not impossible for the older horses to get the job done.
This old-boy (12) was also 4th in the race in 2024 – only beaten 3 1/2 lengths – and is just 2lbs higher now.
Two-time course winner at the Esher track too and showed last time when 3rd here that he’s still enjoying his racing.
But we are yet to see an 12 year-old win the bet365 Gold Cup, since the race was first run in 1957.
Star Rating: ⭐
9. HAVAILA
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10-11
- Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 135
- Form: 2-3611
- Odds: 9/2
📝Comment:The Gary & Josh Moore yard love to have winners at Sandown – actually who doesn’t – but this course is often kind to them.
That said, they are yet to win the bet365 Gold Cup, but have a top chance of putting that right on Saturday.
This 7yold heads here having won his last two, including the Sussex National last time at Plumpton over 3m 4 1/2f so we know he stays.
Has won over hurdles at the track before too, but will need another step forward after being hiked up 10lbs for his last win.
That’s certainly possible though – heading here with 10 top three finishes (4 wins) from his 12 starts over fences.
One of the likely favourites – but this race has only seen one winning outright market leader since 1991.
But regardless, is still a big player.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. ASK BREWSTER
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10-11
- Trainer: Mrs C Williams
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 135
- Form: 11-151
- Odds: 7/1
📝Comment: Yet another that was pulled from last weekend’s Scottish Grand National.
Last seen winning the Kim Muir at Cheltenham – with Road To Home just behind in second.
But might do well to uphold that form on 8lb worse terms with the Mullins runner this time.
While his only run here at Sandown saw him down the field in the London National back in December.
Has age on his side at 7, but I’m not sure Brewster will be landing the bet365 Gold Cup millions here.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
11. MONTREGARD
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10-8
- Trainer: Tom Lacey
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 132
- Form: 11P21
- Odds: 6/1
📝Comment: He might have won the Aintree Grand National four times, but top owner JP McManus is yet to record a success in the bet365 Gold Cup.
However, he’s for a decent chance of putting that right this year with this promising 7oyld.
He gets in with just 10-8 in weight and is up just 4lbs for a recent win at Ascot in February.
Yet another that did have an entry in the Scottish Grand National last week – but connections decided to come here instead and that could be a shrewd move.
Is up just 4lbs for that win and been freshened up with two months off.
The longer trip is an unknown, with 3m the furthest he’s gone, but the better ground will help him get home.
Have a BIG chance.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
12. GABBYS CROSS
- Age: 11
- Weight: 10-7
- Trainer: Nick Scholfield
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 131
- Form: 43P22P
- Odds: 100/1
📝Comment: Pulled up in two of his last four starts, with two silvers sandwiched in the middle of those.
With his most recent race – coming in the Scottish National last week (PU).
But is now 19 races without a win – which came at Galway in 2022 – so I’m happy to put a ‘Cross’ through Gabbys.
Star Rating: ⭐
13. LIVIN ON LUCO
- Age: 8
- Weight: 10-5
- Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 129
- Form: 3-1462
- Odds: 12/1
📝Comment: Trainer Philip Hobbs has two bet365 Gold Cups to his name (2006 and 2008) and could easily add to that on Saturday.
This 8yold ran a blinder to be 4th in the Welsh National back in December and has since run a close second at Exeter over 3m 6 1/2f – so we know he stays.
Up 2lbs more from that last run, so back to the same Welsh National mark, which will make him competitive again.
Only has 10-5 to carry on what will also be his first run at Sandown – so heads here with a lively e/w chance.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
14. INVINCIBLE NAO
- Age: 8
- Weight: 10-5
- Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore
- Jockey: TBC
- Rating: 124
- Form: -14364
- Odds: 33/1
📝Comment: The second of the Moore runners and has shown a liking for Sandown – with several placed efforts and a win at the track in November.
Is rated only 2lbs higher than his last win and was a fair third in the Surrey National at Lingfield back in January over 3m5f.
Plus, also won the 2025 Sussex National at Plumpton over 3m 4 1/2f, so we know he stays.
Has won on better ground too but does have ground to find with Montregard on his Ascot run two starts ago in February.
Probably worse 33/1 shots, with his track experience a big plus.
Star Rating: ⭐⭐
Note: bet365 Gold Cup odds are subject to change
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