This coming Saturday sees Newbury stage a race which, in the eyes of many, is the classiest staying handicap of the season. First run in 1957 and known as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup for much of its lifetime, the Coral Gold Cup boasts a list of previous winners to rival many a Grade 1 event.
The mighty Arkle may be best remembered for his trio of Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs but twice shouldered 12st7lb to victory in this event – a weight seven pounds above the modern-day maximum. In more modern times, the prize has fallen to Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Bobs Worth, Native River, and Denman, who made light of 11st12lb in 2007 and 2009.
It is a big ask for the 2024 winner to live up to the stellar names mentioned above. However, there are a whole host of exciting contenders amongst the sixteen remaining runners.
Colonel to Call the Shots?
Lambourn-based trainer Jamie Snowden claimed a first Coral Gold Cup success in 2023 thanks to the tough, talented, but tragically ill-fated Datsalrightgino. A return to the scene of that horse’s greatest triumph may bring back bittersweet memories for the yard, particularly as this year’s challenger, Colonel Harry, sports the same silks of the GD Partnership.
Datsalrightgino and Colonel Harry have other things in common besides the racing colours. Both runners scored in Grade 2 company during their Novice Chase campaign; neither had raced beyond 2m4½f, and both raced off a mark of 148 in this 3m2f affair. For Datsalrightgino, the step up in trip unlocked around 11lbs in improvement: could lightning strike twice in the space of two years? The market believes so, with Colonel Harry trading as the general 5/1 favourite for this cracking contest.
Dangers Lurk Throughout the Field
With £250,000 in prize money up for grabs, Colonel Harry won’t have things all his own way. Even if he benefits from the additional distance, he must see off a cast of talented rivals. If the mount of Gavin Sheehan fails to get his head in front, the market suggests the winner is most likely to come from one of the following five:
- Broadway Bob – Nigel Twiston-Davies has enjoyed considerable success with staying chasers over the years but has landed this prize only once. 24 long years have passed since King’s Road stayed on determinedly to claim the 2000 edition. However, in Broadway Bob, the Naunton handler may have the horse to re-enter the winner’s enclosure. Whilst his form tailed off last season, he has finished in the frame in six of seven chase outings and is only two pounds higher than when coming out on top over this trip at Cheltenham in December 2023
- Senior Chief – This Henry De Bromhead runner looks like the pick of the three Irish challengers. Barring a pulled-up effort in the Irish Grand National, Senior Chief enjoyed a solid debut season over fences – finishing second in a hot event at Navan and coming home in front in a Beginners Chase at Punchestown. On his return to the track in October, he overcame a mark of 142 to see off stablemate The Short Go in a valuable event at Cheltenham. He gets a nine-pound hike in the handicap for that, but there may well be more to come
- Victtorino – This six-year-old represents last year’s winning sire, It’s Gino, and two-time Coral Gold Cup winner, Venetia Williams. The mount of Charlie Deutsch failed to complete in the Ultima Handicap Chase but, encouragingly, was at the top of his game at around this time last year. Kicking off the season with a win in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup, he followed up to claim the Howden Silver Cup off top weight. That latter success came off a mark of 142, and he’s only a pound higher here
- Kandoo Kid – It wouldn’t be a major Saturday handicap without a solid challenge from the Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls. Last successful with the mighty Denman in 2009, the 14-time Champion Trainer relies on this son of Kapgarde in 2024. Boasting form figures of 212 at Newbury, we know he handles the track. However, the trip is a question mark. Whilst pulled up on his only previous outing over three miles, he did all of his best work late when third over 2m5f last time out at Aintree
- Midnight River – Having landed the 2022 edition of this with Le Milos, Dan Skelton knows what it takes to succeed. Flying the flag for the current leader in the Trainers Championship race is this consistent son of Midnight Legend. With big race wins at Cheltenham and Aintree, he’s a force to reckon with in events such as this and has now slipped to a mark five pounds below his career high
Fellow Skelton runner Galia Des Liteaux, intriguing French raider General En Chef, and the promising Henry’s Friend are others to note in an enthralling lineup. Or perhaps Willie Mullins will conquer them all with the relatively unheralded Horantzau d’Airy. Newbury, 3 pm on Saturday is the time and place to discover the latest name on the roll of honour.