Horse racing tips: Bet365 Gold Cup 14-1 pick plus 1-2-3-4 for last major race of jumps season

Stand by for an epic climax to the 2024-25 jumps campaign. and Dan Skelton take their gripping head-to-head for the trainers’ championship to the last day of the season.

The pair have been locked in a daily battle since Mullins claimed an unprecedented 1-2-3 in the Grand National to put himself right on the heels of longtime leader Skelton, who has never won the title. The contest, which is determined by prize-money, has ebbed and flowed every day and it will go down to the wire on Saturday at Sandown which hosts the bet365 Jumps Finale.

Mullins jointly holds both the Irish and British jumps trainers’ titles, sealing his first British championship last April when Minella Cocooner landed the bet365 Gold Cup in an end of season spree which included victories in the Grand National and Scottish Grand National.

This time he has followed success at Aintree with another victory in the Scottish Grand National and has declared ten, half the field, in the feature handicap of a meeting when £685,000 up for grabs.

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has changed the running order to ensure the outcome of the Mullins vs Skelton battle gets live coverage. So in collaboration with Sandown and the BHA the first race of the day will now start at 1.20pm, 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled.

Mullins has so much firepower he may have overwhelmed Skelton by the time the 20 runners line up for the feature race in which his opponent has just one runner. He is highly likely to win the race again, but which horse will it be? His ten runners are analysed below.

Grangeclare West (Bryan Hayes) Latest William Hill odds - 16-1
The classiest horse in the field, having chased home Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. Ran right up to form in the Grand National finishing third behind Nick Rockett and bound to be in the mix again.

Minella Cocooner (Danny Mullins) - 14-1
Last year’s big race winner hasn’t added to his score since but produced his best run of the campaign to take seventh in the Grand National. Only 2lb higher up the handicap than 12 months ago and another for the shortlist.

Dancing City (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) 8-1
Was on a four race winning spree until disappointing at Cheltenham. Came down too early in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree to work out where he may have finished. Could bring a touch of class if he copes with quicker ground.

High Class Hero (Paul Townend) 6-1
Townend rarely picks the wrong horse but it’s possible his boss has decided to keep faith with Danny Mullins, who rode the victorious Minella Cocooner last year, and Bryan Hayes, who has ridden Grangeclare West on his last three starts. High Class Hero is still an unknown quantity and had an off day when beaten at odds of 2-13 last time.

Lombron (Rachael Blackmore) 33-1
Off the mark over fences at the third attempt in a small race at Clonmel in March. Has a lot more on his plate this time.

Olympic Man (Jonathan Burke) 40-1
Runs in the Galopin Des Champs colours, he started favourite for the Scottish Grand National and ran well for a long way until tiring. Should appreciate the shorter trip.

O’Moore Park (Sean O’Keeffe) 25-1
Takes a significant step up in distance from 2lb out of the handicap. Showed what he was capable of when third in the Golden Miller at the Festival and was second on his return to Cheltenham this month for the Silver Trophy. He could offer a lot more.

Spanish Harlem (Sam Twiston-Davies) 40-1
Carried out in the Scottish Grand National, in which he finished sixth a year earlier, is winless from nine runs over fences.

Chosen Witness (Kevin Sexton) 25-1
Hasn’t completed his last two starts so a clear round would be a decent effort on the evidence of recent form.

Klarc Kent (Kieran Callaghan (5)) 25-1
Improved on last year’s fourth place to finish second in the Scottish Grand National but still yet to win a chase from 12 efforts and is out of the handicap this time.

1-2-3-4 Verdict: Minella Cocooner, Dancing City, Grangeclare West, O’Moore Park