The British jump racing season draws to a close on Saturday with ITV bringing us six live races from Sandown’s Jump Finale alongside two flat races from Leicester and Haydock.
- 1:50 Sandown: bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase – Classic Anthem @ 9/2
- 2:05 Leicester: Carling King Richard III Cup Handicap – Billyjoh @ 7/1
- 2:25 Sandown: bet365 Oaksey Chase – Pic D’orhy @ 5/2
- 2:40 Haydock: Try Unibet’s New Same Race Multis Handicap – English Oak @ 5/1
- 3:00 Sandown: bet365 Select Hurdle – Lucky Place @ 9/4
- 3:35 Sandown: bet365 Celebration Chase – Jonbon @ 1/2
- 4:10 Sandown: bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase – Victtorino @ 18/1
- 4:45 Sandown: bet365 Handicap Hurdle – Dr Eggman @ 7/1
Much of the focus towards the closure of the 2024/25 jumps season has surrounded the trainers championship title race between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton. ITV will televise six races from Sandown on Jump Finale day to cover all the twists and turns.
The first live race from Esher is the Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase and is followed by two Grade 2s in the Oaksey Chase and the Select Hurdle. The classiest race of the day follows, the Grade 1 Celebration Chase, which carries a prize fund of £175k. Mullins and Skelton will both be represented but may be battling for the places with Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon strongly fancied at the top of the market.
The bet365 Gold Cup will also be worth £175k this year and Willie Mullins has ten entries in the race, including the top three in the betting with High Class Hero, Dancing City and Grangeclare West. Dan Skelton has just one runner, Hoe Joly Smoke. Venetia Williams’ Victtorino has performed well in big handicaps this season and can go well at a big prize.
The trainers’ title could be done and dusted by the final race of the day at Sandown, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle, but Willie Mullins will have four runners, Jump Allen, Bunting, Dr Eggman and King Alexander. Dan Skelton will be represented by Mostly Sunny and Got Grey.
Supporting the jumps action on our screens will be two races on the flat. The first is the 6f King Richard III Cup Handicap from Leicester, the second is a 7f Handicap from Haydock.