The Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury - everything you need to know for the next major fixture of the jumps season
Brighterdaysahead downing Champion Hurdle winner State Man, Royale Pagaille breaking Grey Dawning's heart in a Betfair Chase thriller and Fact To File roaring into the big time in a John Durkan Chase which will be talked about for generations. We are so, so back.
It took a while for the blue touch paper to be lit in the 2024-25 jumps season but now the flame is burning brightly. There are so many interesting angles, big decisions to be made and potentially epic races to be run. And next up, we head to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup meeting.
On Friday, we have the chance to see some of the game's most exciting novice chasers in the John Francome – with the exciting Caldwell Potter potentially making his eagerly awaited return. Some more familiar faces are set to line up in the Long Distance Hurdle before Saturday's main event, the Coral Gold Cup – one of the season's biggest handicap chases.
It's another weekend to savour, and here we take an in-depth look at the meeting to help you find some winners . . .
Meeting details
Where? Newbury
When? Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30
The big race
3.00 Saturday: Coral Gold Cup, 3m2f
The artist formerly known as the Hennessy. This is one of the biggest handicaps going and its roll of honour includes some illustrious names including Arkle, Bobs Worth, Native River and Denman – a two-time winner whose 2007 success goes down as one of the all-time great performances.
Nine winners of the Coral Gold Cup have also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Native River the most recent, following up his 2016 Newbury win with a famous victory over Might Bite in the big one in 2018.
But while more recent renewals haven't attracted horses of quite the same calibre it remains a fiercely competitive race and this year Colonel Harry, Victtorino, Broadway Boy and Senior Chief are locked together at the top of the betting.
Colonel Harry would be a poignant winner for trainer Jamie Snowden and owners The GD Partnership after the death of Datsalrightgino, last year's Coral Gold Cup hero.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Senior Chief, who won at Cheltenham last month, is favourite with some firms but carries top weight, while Willie Mullins could bolster the Irish challenge with Horantzau D'Airy.
Verdict
It usually pays to look for a chaser on the up who isn't overly burdened with weight. Victtorino, trained by the in-form Venetia Williams, has been well backed and fits that profile, but he has yet to run over the 3m2f trip, something that also applies to Paul Nicholls' Kandoo Kid and Colonel Harry. Irish raider Senior Chief was impressive at Cheltenham last time (Broadway Boy back in third) but has plenty of weight and the one who appeals at his current odds of around 12-1 is Henry's Friend. The Ben Pauling-trained seven-year-old progressed well in novice chases last season, showing gritty determination to land the Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot. The National Hunt Chase at the festival probably came too soon after that run, so ignore his pulled-up effort, and a pipe-opener over hurdles at Newbury earlier in the month will ensure he'll be spot on for this.
By Dan Hill
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Other key races
1.55 Friday: Coral John Francome Novices' Chase (Grade 2), 2m4f
This has the potential to be a cracker. A lot has happened to Caldwell Potter over the past year. He was bought for a record €740,000 at a dispersal sale before being switched to a new stable. Now owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and trained by Paul Nicholls, he is set for his first run since December 27 last year and his first over fences. Caldwell Potter is favourite for this but it is a deep field, with agonising Cheltenham second The Jukebox Man and stablemate Captain Teague, fresh from a farcical walkover at Exeter, adding to a stellar novice line-up.
3.05 Friday: Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) , 3m
This is another race where the list of past winners reads like a list of old friends. Big Buck's won it four times, with Thistlecrack, Unowhatimeanharry, Paisley Park and Champ also on the roll of honour. Last year's winner Dashel Dasher is set to defend his crown, with back-to-back Coral Cup hero Langer Dan potentially making his reappearane.
2.25 Saturday: Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Gerry Feilden) (Grade 2), 2m½f
All eyes will be on how the Nicky Henderson-trained Sir Gino gets on in Constitution Hill's absence in the the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle but at Newbury there could be redemption on the cards over hurdles for stablemate Jeriko Du Reponet, after he was pulled up on his chasing debut at Sandown. Tellherthename, Our Champ, Queens Gamble and Givemefive are other intriguing potential runners.
Trainers to follow
Nicky Henderson is a trainer to watch at the meeting, and Jeriko Du Reponet could give him his fifth win in the last 11 runnings of the Gerry Feilden. Dan Skelton meanwhile has been profitable to follow and Midnight River looks his best chance to land a big pot in the Coral Gold Cup.
Jockeys to follow
Harry Cobden heads to Newbury with an exciting book of rides and will fancy his chances of extending his excellent record at the meeting.
How can I watch it?
On Friday ITV4 will be showing the last four races from Newbury, while the last four races will be screened on their main channel on Saturday. Sky are also broadcasting the meeting, while you can also watch via the Racing Post app by logging in through your bookmaker of choice.
Can I go?
Yes! Tickets are available, starting at £33 for Friday and £41 for Saturday. You can buy yours here.
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Read these next:
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- John Francome set to receive Sir Peter O'Sullevan Award for lifetime achievements in racing
- 'There will be plenty crabbing the form and everything else, but they're wrong' - defiant Dan Skelton sounds Grey Dawning rallying cry
- Coral Gold Cup hope Kandoo Kid heads powerful Paul Nicholls squad for Newbury as Caldwell Potter prepares for stable debut
- 'He's a Grade 1 chaser so I'd be surprised if he doesn't come there swinging' - Noel George eyeing big Coral Gold Cup run from French ace
- First-phase plans for long-term development of Chester to be submitted this week