KITTY’S Light is the automatic favourite for this afternoon’s Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, now that he is running. And it would be some hat-trick: Eider Chase, Scottish Grand National, Bet365 Gold Cup.

The case is strong. He is 6lb well-in for starters. He races today off his Scottish National mark of 140, 3lb lower than the mark off which he finished second in last year’s Scottish National, not the new mark of 146 which he was awarded after last week’s win.

And he is a thorough stayer, still only seven, an unlucky third in this race two years ago, promoted to second, when he was only five.

And he is trained by Christian Williams.

The worry is that he has had just seven days off since his Scottish National win. At the price, the percentage call is to look beyond him.

Enrilo was the one who checked Kitty’s Light’s run on the run-in in the 2021 renewal of this race, and he hasn’t won since he won a three-mile novices’ handicap chase at Newbury six weeks before that renewal, but he is down to a mark of 137 now, 6lb lower than he was for the 2021 renewal. He could be a well handicapped horse now.

A faller in the Badger Beer Chase on his debut this season, he was pulled up next time at Kempton, but he ran well for a long way back at Kempton last time in the Coral Trophy.

He travelled and jumped well just behind the pace before he came under a ride as they left the back straight, in a race in which the hold-up horses came to the fore.

It is possible that Paul Nicholls has had this race in mind for Enrilo for a while, he goes well at the track, he won a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle there in the 2019/20 season, and we know that he should stay the trip.

He was clear over the last in the 2021 renewal before he idled on the run-in. And he will have the excellent Harry Cobden for company.

Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap

Gloire D’Athon could also go well in the Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase later on the card.

Sarah Humphrey’s horse made all the running to win a novices’ handicap chase over today’s course and distance on Tingle Creek Chase weekend in December, picking up well from the front to see off Raffle Ticket, and then keeping on well enough on the run-in, always holding the late challenge from Fable, who has enhanced the form since and who is 4lb higher now than he was then.

He was beaten by Lord Baddesley at Plumpton in February, but that was his first run back after a break, and he couldn’t get to the front in a race in which the winner made all.

He should do better now with that run under his belt, and he should be happier back at Sandown, where he is one for one, over this course and distance.

He is a progressive young chaser, he has won three of his six chases, and he gets to race today off a mark of 125, just 3lb higher than the mark off which he won in December. He has the potential to go higher than that.

Enrilo, 2.15 Sandown, 8/1 (generally), 1pt each-way

Gloire D’Athon, 3.25 Sandown, 14/1 (generally), 1pt win