Thomas Brown weighted to shine in Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot

Thomas Brown each-way ticks boxes among 2016 Sodexo Gold Cup tips

Backing Thomas Brown each-way looks cracking value at the current 10/1 on offer with Coral for the 2016 renewal of the 2m 7f Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday (15:35).

The Harry Fry trained gelding was a useful hurdler who did well over fences last season, winning two of his six starts. In the first of those, Thomas Brown registered a facile nine-length success over 2m 1f at this venue.

This seven-year-old backed that up with a solid second to Le Mercurey in a Grade 2 contest over half-a-mile more at the track.

Thomas Brown then got back to winning ways over 3m at Doncaster, when forging clear to beat Vintage Vinnie by 10 lengths off an official rating of 138.

Solid efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree

Vintage Vinnie, who was rated 141 going into the latter, has won twice this season and the pair pulled 45 lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look.

Thomas Brown then unseated next time out at Kempton, before running a solid race to finish seventh of 20 to Ballyalton in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 140.

This son of Sir Harry Lewis was also far from disgraced on his final start of the campaign when fourth of 14 to Maggio at Aintree off 139. Thomas Brown wasn’t helped by making some costly errors and now returns to action off a reduced rating of 137.