Hi all,
Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup (3.05), still known as the ‘Hennessy’ by many is one of the highlights of the autumn phase of the winter jumps campaign. The supporting races on the Newbury card include the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase (12:45) and four competitive handicaps.
This year’s renewal seems likely to share the sports headlines with Newcastle. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t either. Especially as it plays host to the only Grade 1 race this weekend in the Betfair ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle (2.10). The Fighting Fifth will garner the headline because a certain Constitution Hill will make his reappearance in the race after missing his intended assignment at Ascot last Saturday due to the ground.
ITV3 are covering eight races from Newbury and Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. As ever today’s selections and betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Newbury
Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3:05)
Corach Rambler and Remastered have been vying for favouritism in the ante post market. However, there has been support in recent days for the Paul Nicholls trained Threeunderthrufive, Le Milos and Irish challenger Busselton.
The David Pipe pair of Remastered & Gericault Roque have strong form claims. The former was going as well as anything when falling in last year’s race. Gericault Roque has yet to win over fences but surely will land one before too long and remains open to improvement.
There is a good pot in Corach Rambler I’m sure of that. I wonder if he might find himself too far back before staying on at the finish. Le Milos is going the right way and there should be more to come from the improving 7-year-old. If there was more ease in the ground, I would really like his claims.
Good ground will suit both Lord Accord and Our Power and we likely haven’t seen the best of Annsam over fences.
Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (1:20)
Kapcorse seems to like this race. He won it in 2018 and followed up again last year. This will have been his target again
Demachine was in winning form when last seen in action at Uttoxeter in May. The handicapper has only raised the 8-year-old 4lb and he won’t be far away.
Java Point made it 3-6 over fences when winning here over 1f further in April. Might be better over further but he’s a contender and trainer Tom George saddled the winner of this in 2016.
Killer Kane ran like the race was needed when a 9 ½ length 6th of 11 at Exeter 22-days ago. Looks on a competitive mark although others are preferred.
Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (1:55)
One of the most competitive races on the card. Petit Tonnerre was back to form when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 11 to Peking Rose at Aintree on his seasonal return. A stronger gallop would have suited the 4-year-old that day, which he might not get here. That said he’s capable of more progress and gets a handy 3lb from Peking Rose. The latter showed a good attitude to prevail at Aintree, and he can’t be ruled out.
Current Mood made a pleasing return to action when 8 ¼ length 3rd of 12 at Ffos Las last month. Off the same mark here and he can win races over hurdles, but this is a better race than last time
Walking On Air & West Balboa are unexposed over hurdles and are of interest on handicap debut. Both are in the could be anything category but looking at their odds the bookies are taking no chances on the pair.
Malakahna made it 4-7 over hurdles when winning a valuable mares’ only handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in April from 5lb lower. Returns to hurdles after two improved wins on the flat this autumn. The latest of them came at Newmarket last month. She’s not the biggest but should be suited by the step up to 2m 4f.
Washington showed he was on a fair handicap mark when a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 16 in a valuable handicap hurdle at Aintree in April. The 6-year-old ran like the run was needed when 5th of 10 at Ascot last month. First run beyond 2m 1f but he shapes like he’ll stay.
Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2:30)
It’s hard to look beyond First Street if he reproduces his 1 ¼ length 2nd of 26 to State Man in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Trainer Nicky Henderson has saddled the winner of the race four times since 2012.
Pikar was highly tried in three starts in novice company last season and the 5-year-old looked progressive when running out a five length winner of a Chepstow novice hurdle last month. Must be respected on handicap debut.
Teddy Blue was another to be highly tried last season. Runner-up on his seasonal reappearance in a Listed race at Kempton. The 4-year-old took advantage of a drop in class, to make all for a very in a Fontwell maiden hurdle 22-days ago and looks on workable mark for his handicap hurdle.
Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase (3:40)
Amarillo Sky a previous C&D winner made a winning return to action at Cheltenham 15-days ago. He’s up 4lb but he jumps well and has a favourites chance of following up. Eclair D’Ainay won the Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby last Christmas but might need the run and could do with softer ground. Monsieur Lecoq isn’t the most consistent of handicap chasers but was on a going day when winning over C&D in March. Capable of going close, for an inform yard, but his best performances have softer ground than he’s likely to get here.
Newcastle
ITV are covering three races from Newcastle.
It’s kind of ironic but if Constitution Hill wasn’t running in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, then I think the race would have been more interesting. Suffice to say it’s a race I will be happy to watch rather than bet in.
Betfair Daily Rewards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1:35)
Lord Roco, a 2m 4f winner over hurdles last season, was a promising 1 ½ length 2nd of 7 at Ayr on chasing debut 17-days ago and might well have prevailed but for a mistake at the last. The 6-year-old is capable of more improvement over the larger obstacles. Malinello, 1-3 over hurdles two seasons back, returns from wind surgery and 686-day layoff on chase debut. It’s trainer Ben Pauling’s only runner on the card and if the 7-year-old is ready to roll first time then he won’t be far away.
Betfair Exchange Rehearsal Handicap Chase (3:25)
L’Homme Presse who missed Ascot last Saturday on account of the ground runs here under top weight of 12-0. The Cheltenham Festival novice chase winner is one of the leading fancies for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and should have the class to win if fully wound up. Trainer Venetia Williams 1-4, 3 placed with her runners in the race since 2015.
Happygolucky hasn’t been since winning the valuable 3m 1f handicap chase on Grand National Day last year. He’s returning from a 595-day absence but is only 2lb higher than when winning at Aintree and is 2-2 when returning from a 121-day break. Soft ground is ideal for him and he’s a horse I like.
Improving handicap chaser Into Overdrive is bidding for a five timer and although he’s 6lb higher than when winning at Wetherby last month. There’s likely more to come from the 7-year-old returned to an extended 2m 7f.
Last year’s winner Aye Right is 6lb higher this time around but made a solid return to action when a 4 ½ length 2nd of 10 to the progressive Sounds Russian at Kelso last month. His sound jumping means he can’t be ruled out over a C&D that suits.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
1:20 – Demachine – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
1:55 – Malakahna – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Coral and Current Mood – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Bet365
2:30 – Teddy Blue – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
3:05 – Our Power – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Bet365 and Annsam – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Newcastle
3:25 – Happygolucky – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John