IT’S the official final day of the national hunt season at Sandown and the traditional curtain closer is the Gold Cup Handicap Chase, due off at 3.35 over an extended three miles and five furlongs.

The weights are headed by Blaklion, an unfortunate casualty at the first fence in the Aintree Grand National, and he has every right on the bare form to be near the top of the betting on what he has achieved this season.

However, he has to give a lot of weight all round here and preference is for the Mark Bradstock trained STEP BACK.