THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE COULD BE PAUL NICHOLLS’ ACE IN CORAL GOLD CUP 

Champion trainer could also consider Frodon for £250.000 Newbury feature

Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has nominated Threeunderthrufive as his prime candidate for the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup after the weights for the historic chase were published.

One of four Nicholls-trained horses engaged in the Saturday November 26 contest, the highlight of the two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury, Threeunderthrufive made his seasonal reappearance over hurdles when he finished third in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last Saturday.

The seven-year-old, who won four novice chases on the bounce last season, has been allotted 11st 1lb in the handicap which is jointly headed by stablemate Bravemansgame and the Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat on 12st.

Bravemansgame made a winning start to his campaign when he captured the Charlie Hall Chase and is now being aimed at the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The stable’s other entries are Frodon (11st 8lb), who won the King George in 2020, and Enrilo (10st 7lb).

“Threeunderthrufive goes for the Coral Gold Cup,” said Nicholls. “Bravemansgame won’t run. He will be taken out of the race.

“Frodon is going to run at Wincanton on Saturday instead of going to Down Royal because of the ground and one thing and another. He’s been dropped 6lb from his last handicap mark which is a bit more acceptable.

“You would never rule him out because there aren’t many options for him now. He will run in the Badger Bear Chase and that has always been a prep race for the Coral Gold Cup so he could go. Enrilo is in the Badger Bear too.

“But with Threeunderthrufive the plan has always been to go for this race and after his run at Wetherby on Saturday, the Coral Gold Cup will be his next start.”

Coral’s David Stevens said: “Threeunderthrufive is on target for the Coral Gold Cup following his recent Wetherby run, and he goes to Newbury with a major chance as far as we’re concerned, with only Corach Rambler and Dusart currently shorter in our betting.”

Coral Gold Cup betting (Coral): 8 Corach Rambler, Dusart, 10 Threeunderthrufive, 12 Ashtown Lad, Busselton, Capodanno, Gericault Roque, Our Power, 14 Fiddlerontheroof, Oscar Elite, 16 Ahoy Senor, Chantry House, Fantastikas, French Dynamite, Le Milos, Protektorat, Velvet Elvis, Win My Wings, 20 Bar