15:00 Newbury

Saturday 30 November 2024

All12:0712:4013:1513:5414:2515:0015:35

Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 40.40s

Sam Brown^t,v²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 154| C

16/1

Smart veteran chaser who won 3m handicaps at Warwick and Ascot last season. Returned with a fine third in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby 4 weeks ago. Visor refitted now. Plenty to admire about his enthusiasm but some performance will be needed to defy top weight as he approaches his 13th birthday.

Form: 45126-3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Midnight River^p1,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: D Skelton| OR: 151

28/1

Signed off a fine 2022/23 season by landing 25f Grade 3 handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Off for 11 months after a fall in this race last year but shaped as if retaining his ability when third of 4 in 19f Wetherby handicap 4 weeks ago. Has first-time cheekpieces added to tongue strap.

Form: 101/3F-3

Senior Chief^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 151

9/2

Useful hurdler and quickly made up into a better chaser, bouncing back from a flop in the Irish Grand National when making a winning reappearance in 25f Cheltenham handicap 5 weeks ago. That was only his fifth start over fences so surprise if there isn't more to come. A must for the shortlist.

Form: 3/321P-1

Horantzau D'airy^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF

14/1

Won twice over fences in the spring and has shown better form in defeat this season, finishing runner-up in Kerry and Munster Nationals (both 3m) on his last 2 outings. Merits plenty of respect for his top Irish stable.

Form: 1-23F22

Colonel Harry^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 148| BF

10/1

Likeable type who took the Grade 2 Towton novice at Wetherby (2½m) last winter. Sound reappearance run in a Carlisle Listed event 4 weeks ago, shaping as if a return to a left-handed track will suit (jumped left). His stamina is an unknown but his trainer knows what it takes to win this.

Form: 21364-2

General En Chef²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Gelhay| T: N George & A Zetterholm| OR: 148| BF

9/1

Smart French chaser who was back to his best when third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil in May. Two good runs at Compiegne this autumn, including a Group 3 win. Looks on a feasible mark for his first run in Britain.

Form: 711-313

Broadway Boy³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| BF| D

4/1

Three wins in a productive novice chase campaign, including a valuable staying handicap at Cheltenham. Reappeared with a respectable 12¼ lengths third of 14 to Senior Chief there (25f, good) 35 days ago.

Form: 21135-3

Grandero Bello³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ricky Doyle| T: E & P Harty| OR: 147

33/1

Doubled his tally over fences when making light of an 8-month absence in 22.5f Galway handicap 5 weeks ago. The form has been boosted by the third winning since.

Form: 2124/8-1

Kandoo Kid^t²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| CWS

8/1

Won a 2½m course handicap last December. Ended his season with fine placed efforts in Greatwood here (2½m again) and Topham at Aintree (21f). Ran poorly on previous attempt at 3m but the way he stuck on in the Topham suggests longer trips should be within range this season. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 212P23-

Remastered^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 145

33/1

Runner-up in this race in 2022. Last season was a write-off (including pulled up in this) but he bounced back to form to take advantage of his reduced mark on his Wincanton reappearance in October. Still going okay when fell 4 out in Badger Beer back there since.

Form: P/7PP-1F

Galia Des Liteaux^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| BF

14/1

Listed/Graded winner who showed she can also mix it in competitive handicaps when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick (19f) in January. Shaped well when second in 2½m Carlisle mares' listed chase on reappearance and the step back up in trip is sure to suit. Considered.

Form: 12248-2

Victtorino²⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143

5/1

French import who won back to back over 3m at Ascot for Venetia Williams at this time last year, latterly the valuable Silver Cup. Ended his campaign with a disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival but no surprise were he to resume his progression back from a break with the yard going well.

Form: 4/1174P-

Henry's Friend^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| C

14/1

Recorded a hat-trick in novice chases last season, including a Grade 2 at Ascot. Pulled up in National Hunt Chase on final outing and last of 4 in 3m course handicap on reappearance 23 days ago. The return to fences should suit but others have less to prove.

Form: 5111P-4

Non-Runners

Iron Bridge²⁷

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Broadway Boy (4/1), Senior Chief (9/2), Victtorino (5/1), Kandoo Kid (8/1), General En Chef (9/1), Colonel Harry (10/1), Henry's Friend (14/1), Galia Des Liteaux (14/1), Horantzau D'airy (14/1), Sam Brown (16/1), Iron Bridge (25/1), Midnight River (28/1), Grandero Bello (33/1), Remastered (33/1)

Venetia Williams has her team in form so perhaps the reappearing VICTTORINO, who has gone well fresh before, can take advantage of a mark which has dipped to only 1 lb higher than when landing another valuable handicap last December. Senior Chief should have more to offer on the back of last month's Cheltenham success and is second choice ahead of Galia des Liteaux.