Jamie Lynch is at Newbury on Saturday for Sky Sports activities Racing and right here he shines a light-weight on probably the most prestigious handicap chases of the season – the Coral Gold Cup.
1. SAM BROWN
Jockey: F Gingell (3) | Coach: A J Honeyball
That is the realm of the youthful chaser and no horse of his superior age has ever received this well-known race, comprehensible on condition that enchancment usually unlocks it. The 12-year-old’s comeback third within the Charlie Corridor seems higher on paper than it did within the course of, onerous work and nearest on the end.
2. MIDNIGHT RIVER
J Bowen | D Skelton
He is 5 lb decrease than when despatched off 10/1 for the 2023 renewal by which he fell and sat on the sidelines for the remainder of the season. Travelled nicely sufficient for lengthy sufficient on his reappearance to assume that he’ll be spot on for this larger day, although cheekpieces is an surprising transfer, and Harry Skelton prefers Galia Des Liteaux.
3. SENIOR CHIEF
D J O’Keeffe | H De Bromhead
Novice who went into the Irish Grand Nationwide a boy – overwhelmed and pulled up – however emerged from it a person as he returned with a bang at Cheltenham to fend off stable-companion The Brief Go (with Broadway Boy adrift in third). Had one thing extra up his sleeve however, even so, a 9lb hike is harsh sufficient for what was a diluted handicap in comparison with this one.
4. HORANTZAU D’AIRY
D E Mullins | W P Mullins
Huge connections however stored it pretty low-key till unleashed on Regional Nationals (Kerry and Munster) the final twice, ending second each occasions, whereas paying for it within the handicap, up 8lb, which relatively begs the query if he could not win both of these how is he going to win this? (The reply, if he does, is clearly that he is educated by Willie Mullins).
5. COLONEL HARRY
G Sheehan | J Snowden
Prime profile for this race, minimize from corresponding material to final 12 months’s winner, apart from the very fact Datsalrightgino was crying out for this check whereas Jamie Snowden is having to do the speaking for the keen-going Colonel Harry in that regard. Squared as much as the perfect novice chasers final season, incomes his mark of 148, precisely the identical by the way as Datsalrightgino.
6. GENERAL EN CHEF
B Gelhay | N & A Zetterholm
Solely an eight-year-old however already a veteran of France’s most prestigious jumps prize having contested the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on no fewer than 4 events, doing his finest for third this Could; and he has warmed up properly for this within the autumn. Nevertheless, it is a new expertise for horse and certainly jockey.
Broadway Boy in full flight
7. BROADWAY BOY
S Twiston-Davies | N A Twiston-Davies
Got here unstuck in graded firm on the finish of his novice season however was his common centered and forceful self within the Cheltenham handicap received by Senior Chief, most likely needing the race the extra, on high of which he is 10lb higher off now with that rival. He is a should for any shortlist with the prospect of a straightforward lead and a beneficial rhythm.
8. GRANDERO BELLO
R A Doyle | E & P Harty
Not many miles on the clock and produced a lifetime finest to win at Galway on his return in October, with the third (Stuzzikini) subsequently profitable within the Troytown. Has to hold an additional 10lb right here (3lb greater than the Irish handicapper’s evaluation) however the best way he tanked to the entrance at Galway immediately redraws his boundaries, trying a distinct horse.
9. KANDOO KID
H Cobden | P F Nicholls
The chosen one for Paul Nicholls who received this twice as a jockey and 3 times as a coach. Consistency is his forex, thereabouts in a number of high-end handicaps final time period (together with third in Topham), however they have been throughout 2m 4f and he is liable to return up quick for stamina if not health, the yard’s reappearers extra needy than regular this autumn.
Remastered runs for David Pipe
10. REMASTERED
J Tudor | D Pipe
His fourth look in an occasion by which he is had little luck, cruising when falling in 2021 and overwhelmed narrowly in 2022, however pulled up final 12 months and onerous to envisage him making a lot influence this time for all he managed to win at Wincanton on his return (has fallen since in Badger Beer).
11. GALIA DES LITEAUX
H Skelton | D Skelton
Grade Two winner who has competed in solely two handicap chases: ran beautifully attempting to offer 20lb to My Silver Lining when the pair have been miles clear within the Basic Chase, and proper within the firing line leaping the second final within the Grand Nationwide. Impressions from these performances are {that a} mark of 144 is nicely inside her means, and her sighter for this at Carlisle was passable to say the least. Huge participant.
12. VICTTORINO
C Deutsch | Miss V Williams
Began final season with a bang and back-to-back wins at Ascot earlier than issues relatively unravelled for causes apart from his mark, although he is helpfully handicapped once more now, coinciding with the secure going nice weapons, and he isn’t one in every of Venetia’s who wants the mud. A great deal of upside, together with the very fact he is solely a six-year-old.
13. HENRY’S FRIEND
B Jones | B Pauling
Speedy riser in his novice season over fences and accomplished a hat-trick within the Reynoldstown, however lower than three lengths between the 4 finishers on the finish hints at a ropey renewal, and he minimize no ice afterwards within the Nationwide Hunt Chase. His reappearance over hurdles, although final, was most likely a method to an finish, nevertheless it’s questionable whether or not he is value 139.
Iron Bridge runs for the O’Neills
14. IRON BRIDGE
J O’Neill Jr | J & A J O’Neill
Principally a marathon runner lately and uncertain he has the tempo or the ability for a race like this, however it’ll hold him ticking over forward of a return for the Welsh Nationwide.
JAMIE LYNCH’S VERDICT
From the risers to the revivers and the raiders, all of the consultant teams that you just’d count on for a handicap of this standing are current, however the improvers are thinner on the bottom than regular, which opens the door for a extra established chaser like GALIA DES LITEAUX who has all the time seemed to have an enormous one in her and could have been primed to the minute by the perfect goal coach of handicaps in Britain.
