15:45 Ascot

Saturday 1 November 2025

All12:5513:3014:0514:3515:1015:4516:20

Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 57.67s

Two For Gold^p,t²¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 147| CD

33/1

Unreliable on the whole but smart form when runner-up in this race in 2023. Sound fourth in this a year ago and restricted to just 2 runs after, finishing second in veterans' event back over this C&D in March. Rising 13 now and others more persuasive.

Form: P26/4P2-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Henry's Friend^p²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 143| CD

17/2

Better than ever when resuming winning ways at Newbury (26f) over Christmas before finding revised mark beyond him in a brace of high-end spring handicaps, latterly the Scottish National. Return to this trip in his favour on reappearance.

Form: P/45188-

The Changing Man^t²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 142| CD

7/2

Race rather fell apart when finally off the mark over fences in 4-runner Grade 2 over C&D in February. Matched that form when finding only a handicap blot too good in the Ultima a month later and not judged too harshly on a heavy defeat in the Grade 1 Mildmay final start.

Form: 222123-

Blow Your Wad^t,v1¹⁹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 142WS

7/2

Winning hurdler who improved over fences in 2023/24, winning the Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton. Found to be lame when last of 5 in Aintree Grade 1 on final start that season and not at the top of his game both starts in 2025. Since undergone breathing surgery and now goes up in distance.

Form: 1615/55-

Le Coq Hardi³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mike O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141

15/2

Yet to win over fences but confirmed 23.8f was within his range when fourth in the Kerry National in September. Second and third both winners since so this Irish raider commands respect.

Form: 5-23234

Olivers Travels^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Bowen| OR: 141| D

14/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who has been in fine form over larger obstacles in recent months, resuming winning ways at Cartmel (25.5f) in August prior to emphatically following up at Uttoxeter (3m). Improved again despite coming up just short in his hat-trick bid at Kelso.

Form: 434112

Bhaloo^p¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| C

11/2

Made successful start over fences in 4-runner novices handicap at this meeting a year ago (18.8f). Added to his tally at Newbury in March and while he's posted several underwhelming effort along the way, his third-place finish at Market Rasen in cheekpieces was a sound run.

Form: PP13-63

Beachcomber^b¹⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| D

12/1

Back on the up in a change of headgear when winning at Kempton in December. Creditable third of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (24.5f, good to soft) in May and off the track since.

Form: 32P163-

Courtland²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: M Bowen| OR: 134| BF

18/1

Scored five time over fences (at up to 23f) last season and in good nick this term too, placed all 4 starts, most recently when second at Chepstow 3 weeks ago. Fit and in form so he's on the shortlist from the same mark.

Form: 10/3232

Neon Moon^b,t¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| D

17/2

Landed a gamble on second start back last season at Chepstow in October 2024. Unable to add to tally since but he is now 2 lb below that winning mark.

Form: 13624-4

Coastguard Station^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryan Carver| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 128| C| D

16/1

Upped to 21.4f for the first time in his career and he landed a few bets at Market Rasen with Sean Bowen taking over in September. 5 lb rise and a better race may find him out.

Form: 16-3441

Snipe^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

22/1

Failed to score last term but some good efforts in defeat and made an eye-catching start to the new season when fourth at Worcester, finished with running left over an inadequate trip. Bit disappointing then that he didn't show more upped to 26.2f at Kelso a week ago.

Form: 83F4-44

Non-Runners

Marble Sands²⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 9

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

The Changing Man (7/2), Blow Your Wad (7/2), Bhaloo (11/2), Le Coq Hardi (15/2), Marble Sands (8/1), Henry's Friend (17/2), Neon Moon (17/2), Beachcomber (12/1), Olivers Travels (14/1), Coastguard Station (16/1), Courtland (18/1), Snipe (22/1), Two For Gold (33/1)

Irish-raider LE COQ HARDI has yet to win a race over fences but his fourth-place finish in the Kerry National in September looks to be a strong piece of handicap form. He gets the vote in what is a wide-open contest, with The Changing Man and Henry's Friend just a couple of potential threats.