Cocooner to strike at Sandown for Mullins

Minella Cocooner can likely seal a dream season for Willie Mullins with victory in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown tomorrow.

The Closutton handler has enjoyed another epic campaign, with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, Champion Hurdle hero State Man and Grand National victor I Am Maximus among those to have put him on the verge of a first British trainers’ championship.

The £95,659 first prize on offer in this contest would almost certainly complete the feat and while Mullins mounts a three-strong assault, it is Irish National third Minella Cocooner who makes most appeal.

Minella Cocooner was a Grade One winner over hurdles and has had a mixed season after switching to fences, registering his sole win at Navan in January before posting his best effort so far when beaten four lengths at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Heavy ground was not in his favour that day, when saddled with top weight, and conditions should be more to his liking in Esher, with the excellent Danny Mullins retaining the ride.

El Fabiolo is the Mullins representative in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase, but Jonbon is fancied to exact revenge for his Cheltenham Festival defeat last year.

Jonbon came out on top when the pair met over hurdles, while El Fabiolo was too good in last season’s Arkle but this year’s planned Cheltenham showdown did not pan out, with Jonbon missing the meeting entirely, while a terrible jumping error in the Champion Chase led to El Fabiolo being pulled up.

The Nicky Hendersontrained Jonbon bounced back to form when stepped up to two and a half miles in the Melling Chase, putting behind him a shock defeat at Cheltenham in January with a solid round of jumping and plenty of determination in the finish.