'If I had a fiver on one it'd be Kitty's Light' - Williams on his Sandown team

Christian Williams, who in his short career has carved out a reputation as a lethal trainer of staying chasers, will take dead aim at Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown with three runners and, on a glorious Glamorgan day, seemed to be warming to the chances of Kitty's Light, who was gleaming in the spring sunshine.

He spent the morning enjoying a stroll on the beach and subsequent splash in the river at Williams' picturesque Ogmore-by-Sea base near Bridgend.

Available at 5-1 with the sponsors for the last major race of the British jumps season, Kitty's Light was joined by stablemates Win My Wings and Cap Du Nord, who are also inked in for Sandown, as the former jump jockey eyed another valuable handicap strike.

Williams started training in 2017 and stable favourite Potters Corner won a Midlands and Welsh Grand National for the yard, while this season the remarkable Win My Wings has landed the Eider and Scottish Grand National to go along with Cap Du Nord's success in Kempton's £150,000 Coral Trophy.

The latter victories underlined the trainer's prowess, but they also came at the expense of Kitty's Light, a Flat-bred son of Nathaniel, who was bought for just 5,000gns as a yearling and was second in the bet365 Gold Cup 12 months ago after being hampered.

"We aimed Kitty’s Light for the Scottish National so we don't worry about things like last year too much. If we had a chip on our shoulder and had a big issue about it we would have laid him out for this race," he said.

Christian Williams: 'We enjoy winning the big races and we'd like better horses'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I just feel a bit sorry for Kitty's because Christian Williams' horses have stopped him in his two races this year – Cap Du Nord at Kempton and Win My Wings at Ayr – but he's won over £60,000 so he's won good money for his owners.

"I think everybody would think that he'd deserve success, not just Christian Williams Racing. He's so consistent and I suppose if I had a fiver on one it probably would be Kitty's Light."

Win My Wings is not far behind Kitty's Light – who will be ridden by Jack Tudor – at 13-2 in the betting for the Sandown showpiece, but she was a commanding seven lengths in front of him in the Scottish National, a victory that has resulted in a 14lb rise in the ratings.

Williams, who confirmed crack amateur Rob James would be on board Win My Wings again, said: "Her plan this season was the Eider Chase and Kitty's Light's plan was the Scottish National, but she was in such good form so we let her take her chance at Ayr and no-one could have predicted what she did – I thought I was seeing things.

"You could pick her out as the winner with a circuit to go and you don't win that race in the manner she did.

"She's gone up 14lb and I think it's sporting of the owners to run her. The handicapper might laugh at what I'm saying, but to go up 14lb for winning a four-mile chase seems a lot – she's only a small mare to be carrying 11st 12lb at Sandown."

Cap Du Nord: a big winner for the yard at Kempton in FebruaryCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Cap Du Nord, a 16-1 chance and fifth in the race last year, is no forlorn hope himself despite a tame effort at Aintree last time.

Williams, 39, has booked Ellis Collier for the nine-year-old, and said: "He wasn't beaten far in the bet365 last year and maybe he was disappointing when being pulled up at Aintree, but he did the same at Kelso last year before running well in the bet365. He got a terrible run round at Aintree where it never happened for him."

Quick ground will suit all three confirmed Williams runners, whose fine campaign has led him to making enquiries about a new home as his bargain-basement buys (Win My Wings cost just £9,250) have turned into money-spinners.

He added: "We enjoy winning the big races and we'd like better horses, and to find better horses you need to have more coming through your yard.

"It would be tough to turn the bigger owners away, so ideally we'd like to grow. I'm a good age and we've got a good team of young staff so we'd like to train more winners if possible and get better horses.

"We're always on the lookout for horses every day and for a new place as well. We'll find something. We've got 24 stables and I don't think you know what you want in terms of numbers until you go through it really.

"I have plenty of confidence in what I do and I have good staff, so moving is not something I'm worried about. The phones have been ringing since Ayr and we can't do more than what we're doing."

bet365 Gold Cup entries and betting

Read more here

Corach Rambler given Punchestown option as Sandown ground remains quick

Brian Hughes becomes fourth jump jockey to ride 200 winners in a season

'Chacun Pour Soi has a new star to contend with' - five key Punchestown clashes

Sign up now. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £10 and win or lose you will receive £30 in Tote Credit, redeemable against racing bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged or substituted and expires after seven days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the betslip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org.