CORAL GOLD CUP
Saturday 30th November, 3:00pm
Senior Chief @ 6/1
Broadway Boy @ 6/1
Kandoo Kid @ 7/1
Victtorino @ 7/1
Colonel Harry @ 15/2
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
Somebody writing on social media this week appealed to Hennessy Cognac to return to the £250,000 Newbury feature (3:00) that it sponsored for sixty years until 2016 because, said the post, “it is dying a slow death”. That’s a bit unkind, but only a bit. It’s true that the line-up doesn’t compare to the glory days of Arkle, Borough Hill Lad, Denman, Many Clouds or Native River, but amongst those that are there it does look ultra-competitive.
THE MARKET
Senior Chief and Broadway Boy finished first and third – an emphatic twelve and a quarter lengths apart – on good ground at Cheltenham in late-October, over a near-similar distance and with Broadway Boy conceding seven pounds. Here it’s Senior Chief, with retained cheekpieces,which shoulders most weight (three pounds more). Both are progressive, with Senior Chief the more unexposed, and their stables remain red-hot.
Colonel Harry, representing last year’s winners, has some good quality form in the book and made an encouraging return; although never having raced over this far before under Rules, the seven-year-old was a winner, and luckless loser, in three-mile point-to-points.
Kandoo Kid, successful on today’s programme twelve months ago, has undergone a breathing procedure since finishing third in the Topham,and is another trying the distance for the first time.
Victtorino, for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch, has done his best British work to date going the other way around at Ascot, but he’s just the kind of ex-French type with which the stable excels.
It wouldn’t necessarily have been that easy a choice for Harry Skelton between his brother’s pair Midnight River, a faller in the race last year, and Grand National eighth Galia Des Liteaux. He’s on GDL, a mare which made a decent return and will enjoy the distance and ground, but Midnight River, now wearing cheekpieces, offered much encouragement at Wetherby.
Henry’s Friend, a Grade Two-levelchasing winner, warmed up over hurdles; Willie Mullins’ Horantzau D’airy has performed with great credit in all of his chases and should relish the challenge; General En Chef‘s credentials stand up to close inspection but his weight level reflects that; and Sam Brown is a good old stick, as is Remastered, runner-up in 2022 having fallen late-on when going well the year before.
THE WINNER
A case can be made for everyone, especially the Willie Mullins runner, but I’ll stick with Senior Chief. You?
CORN’S QUARTET
Staying at Newbury, Salver (2:25) was best of the Brits in the Triumph Hurdle, goes well fresh and will relish conditions, en route to better still perhaps
Imperial Saint has nap–selection written all over him (3-35); being raised ten pounds for trotting up last time looks more than manageable from a stable powering along.
In Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth (2:10), supporters are anticipating proper fireworks from the unbeaten Sir Gino against a big talent in Mystical Power.
What a terrific Rehearsal (3:20) in which Wincanton eyecatcher Gustavian is well-handicapped and has the invaluable assistance of Sean Bowen.
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