Racing: Egerton's patience to be rewarded by victory for Killusty

There are generally only three certainties in jump racing; that Tony McCoy will win the jockeys' championship and Martin Pipe the trainers' and that the former will have to agonise over which one to ride from the latter's multiple entry in the big handicap of the day. All three will be fulfilled this afternoon, the final day of the domestic season.

Of the 16 runners (Carryonharry is a doubtful starter) in the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown, five are trained by Pipe, who is nearly £400,000 clear of his nearest pursuer, Paul Nicholls. McCoy, more than 100 winners in front of Richard Johnson, has opted for Stormez, rejecting, among others, last year's winner, Bounce Back.

If prizes for gameness were handed out Stormez would be at the front of the queue. The diminutive six-year-old has won seven of his 11 races this season and finished second in three others, including being caught in the last stride in the Scottish Grand National two weeks ago. He must be on any short-list, along with Montifault, Frosty Canyon and the winner two years ago, Ad Hoc. But the one to beat may be Killusty (3.30), particularly if the forecast rain arrives to ease the ground. Although nine, he has raced only 10 times and has been first past the post in five out of six chases. The exception was on his most recent run, the Grand National, when he still held a chance when falling at Becher's second time round.

He also holds winning form at Sandown; in March, on his first run for two years (trainer Charlie Egerton showing exemplary patience and skill to get him back) he barely came off the bridle when he won over an extended three miles. He promises to stay this marathon trip and, although he has risen 12lb in the ratings, could be unexposed enough to defy that.

There was a time when today marked a seminal moment in the year, a crossroads where the two racing codes met. The feature steeplechase – the Whitbread Gold Cup as was – formed jump racing's last hurrah; the season tailed off naturally thereafter towards the summer break. Now, of course, the day has been nominated the arbitrary and rather meaningless cut-off point for the purpose of deciding titles. The main players will be back on stage on Monday and most will decamp to Punchestown on Tuesday for the start of the festival that is in spirit very much part of the current campaign.

One, though, for whom the curtain will truly come down today is a man who has been part of racing for half a century. Fifty years ago on Monday, Josh Gifford had, at the age of 11, his first race-ride, on the Flat at Newmarket. This afternoon, in the shape of Skycab in the 4.40 at Sandown, he will saddle his last runner as a trainer before handing over the reins at Findon to his son Nick. Gifford, 61, was champion jumps jockey four times between 1962 and 1967 and had one of his greatest moments when winning the 1969 Whitbread on Larbawn. Although he never rode the winners of either the Gold Cup or Grand National (the closest he came was an agonising second on remounted favourite Honey End in Foinavon's year) he achieved immortality at Aintree with his handling of Aldaniti. He was one of the few to scale the heights as both a jockey and a trainer and however Skycab fares, there is no doubt as to who will earn the most heartfelt cheers today.

With the first Classic of the season only a week away, the quality of Flat racing is stepping up markedly and some smart types contest the Group Two Sandown Mile. The career of the likely winner, Frenchmans Bay (2.50), has been compromised by injury since he ran third as a maiden in the 2,000 Guineas two years ago but he showed, albeit intermittently, last year that he retains his ability and a win on the sand at Lingfield three weeks ago should have set him up for today. Another with an all-weather run under his girth, Indian Creek (4.10) should be good enough for the Group Three Sir Gordon Richards Stakes.

The European Group One season kicks off at Longchamp tomorrow in the Prix Ganay, with the Japan Cup winner Falbrav, having his first run for Luca Cumani, spearheading the British team. He is backed up by Chancellor (Barry Hills) and Kaieteur (Brian Meehan).