Andrew Newton takes a look at the trends for the hedgehoppers finale at Sandown

As we move into April, we see the end of another jumps season with the bet365 Gold Cup meeting at Sandown (Saturday April 29), a fixture that always brings down the curtain for the hedgehoppers.
The handicap chase is run over a distance of 3m5f, it’s so another contest this month for the stayers. While the older readers out there might still refer to the race as The Whitbread Gold Cup, sponsored by the hospitality firm from 1957 until 2001.
Since then, the race has had various backers, but the reins have been fi...