3 minute read

Scottish Grand National hero Kitty’s Light bids for a rare double in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The seven-year-old is turning out just seven days after providing trainer Christian Williams with back-to-back victories in Scotland's most prestigious jumps race, with the Ferdy Murphy-trained Hot Weld the last horse to win both races in the same season back in 2007.

Williams was dealt a devastating blow recently when his five-year-old daughter Betsy was diagnosed with leukaemia, and the Welsh handler was unsurprisingly emotional in the Ayr winner's enclosure following Kitty's Light's deserved big-race success north of the border.

"It was a wonderful day. It's been a tough few weeks for my family and friends, Kitty's Light has been a flagship horse for the last few years and going into the race winning Scottish National would have been a massive boost, so it was very emotional for everyone," he said.

"We're just lucky enough to be involved in the sport and see the joy that horses can bring. This was just one situation there at the weekend, what the horse did to pick everyone up, and it's all down to Kitty's Light. It was a wonderful, emotional day."

Kitty's Light has been a fantastic servant to his connections, placing in numerous big races prior to this season, including in the last two renewals of the bet365 Gold Cup.

He snapped a near two-year losing streak in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February and having chased home stablemate Win My Wings in the Scottish National last April, went one better with a typically game performance under his regular partner Jack Tudor.

Williams admits only time will tell if those exertions will take their toll just a week later, but is happy to the roll the dice with a horse who is somewhat out of the ordinary.

He added: "The horse seems very well and came out of the race very well. You never really know until you run, but Jack is riding him and he knows the horse better than anyone – he's in the right hands.

"He loves this type of ground and loves this time of year. We haven't ridden him out much this week, but we let him out in the field on Sunday and he galloped off like a lunatic.

"It's obviously brave running him, but we've had the horse since he was a yearling and he is a freak really. If you saw him he'd be the last horse you'd pick out for a four-mile chase, but he defies all that.

"The way he comes out of a race is freakish – you could nearly run him in the next race. I don't know if he's got big lungs or a big heart, but he's different to any other horse we've run."

Williams feels Kitty's Light should already have a bet365 Gold Cup victory under his belt, having been narrowly denied after a controversial finish in 2021.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Enrilo passed the post in front, but having hung badly left in the closing stages, impeding Kitty's Light in the process, he was demoted to third.

However, as Potterman split the pair in second, he was awarded the race, with Kitty's Light promoted from third to second but again having to make do with minor honours.

"Paul Nicholls felt he should have won the race when the result was reversed and we felt we should have won the race," said Williams.

"We think his name should be on that winner's board, so hopefully we can get it up there on Saturday."

On the day he will be crowned champion trainer for a 14th time, Nicholls saddles three runners in his bid for a fourth bet365 Gold Cup success, with popular top-weight Frodon joined by Enrilo and Broken Halo.

"Broken Halo has won the Grand Military and Royal Artillery in his last two starts but this is altogether a tougher race. He's not without an outside chance, but I think the other two – Frodon and Enrilo – have a real chance," explained Nicholls.

"Frodon ran very well the last day in a handicap at Kempton. He was flat out all the way then stayed on strongly up the straight and I just thought this would be a lovely race for him. I'm sure he will run well and he likes Sandown.

"The distance is unknown territory but he got three-and-a-quarter in the Badger Ales staying on strongly. Sandown is the sort of track you can freewheel from the top of the hill down and round the back and I think he will get a trip – I think he's wanting it now.

"Enrilo won the race two years ago but got demoted. He's been a tad disappointing since, but he has dropped to a nice mark and I would say this is as good form as we have had him in for a long time."

Other leading contenders include Harry Fry's Revels Hill, Ben Pauling's recent course scorer Mucho Mas and the Evan Williams-trained Annsam, who has previously won at Kempton and Ludlow this season.

"It's a big step up in trip, a very competitive race and there's a few horses who are very well-in at the weights," said Williams.

"I think Ludlow was important for us really. Obviously we went up in the weights, but that is almost an irrelevance as it was important to ride him in a different way and it worked out well.

"I was very keen to come and have a go at Saturday. At the end of the day this was a plan and getting there after a good prep is the main thing."

What's gambling really costing you? For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.