Fergal O’Brien’s In D’Or Leads Bet365 Gold Cup Chances as Thistle Ask Eyes Jonbon Upset at Sandown Finale

Fergal O’Brien is targeting a strong performance from his horse In D’Or in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday, aiming to secure compensation after the horse missed both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals due to a minor injury.

The eight-year-old gelding, purchased from the David Maxwell dispersal sale, has shown consistent improvement since joining O’Brien’s Gloucestershire yard from Venetia Williams, with his two runs for the yard representing career-best performances.

In D’Or finished behind subsequent Reynoldstown Chase winner The Jukebox Kid and Swinley Chase victor Montregard at Ascot in his most recent outing, but finished ahead of Kap Vert, who went on to win the Scottish National Hunt Chase over the weekend.

O’Brien noted that while they had hoped In D’Or would develop into a Grand National contender, the horse did not quite meet the requirements for that race, but has been training well and is now pointed toward the Sandown contest as the next logical target.

We hoped he’d be a National horse but he didn’t quite make it into the National, but he’s been training very well. We missed Cheltenham as he picked up a little niggle. Then we missed the National and this was always the next target really.

Fergal O’Brien

The trainer emphasized that In D’Or will arrive at the race in fresh condition, describing him as a light horse who should benefit from the expected good ground at Sandown.

He’ll go there fresh, he’s a light horse and I think the good ground will suit him as well, it’ll be lovely ground.

Fergal O’Brien

O’Brien expressed confidence in the horse’s current form, stating that the performances of the horses that have beaten him in previous races have validated his own efforts, and that connections are aiming for a strong run on behalf of owners Mr and Mrs May, who have been consistent supporters of the yard.

We’re going there with really solid form with everything that he’s run against, the horses that beat him have really franked his form. So we’re looking forward to Saturday, we’re hoping we can have a good run for Mr and Mrs May who have been really good supporters of the yard.

Fergal O’Brien

The connections also highlighted In D’Or’s progression, noting that both of his runs for the yard have represented personal bests and that he has shown improvement with each outing.

His two runs for us have been career bests for him so he’s improved for every run. In both races the form has been franked with horses running well at Cheltenham and places like that but unfortunately we didn’t get to the Festival but that’s horses for you I’m afraid.

Fergal O’Brien

In D’Or is set to carry a rating of 137 for the bet365 Gold Cup, which is three pounds higher than the mark he carried when finishing sixth behind Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last season.

The horse is considered an attractive each-way prospect at odds of 11/2, particularly given his previous performances at Sandown and the suitability of the extended trip of three miles and four and a half furlongs for his running style.

Connections also have confidence in another entry, Our Power, who is engaged at a significantly longer odds of 25/1. The 11-year-old gelding, trained by Sam Thomas, showed promise last year by finishing third in the Scottish Grand National off a mark of 143 and is now set to carry six pounds less, potentially benefiting from improved ground conditions after a rain-affected postponement the previous week.

Earlier on the card, Dan Skelton’s horse Thistle Ask is viewed as having a strong chance in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase, with connections believing the horse was outstayed on soft ground when beaten three lengths by Jonbon at Clarence House in January and should perform better on the improved surface expected at Sandown.

Thistle Ask, who comes into the race fresh after a break, is considered well-suited to right-handed tracks like Sandown, making the odds of 15/8 appear particularly attractive to connections.