Following the final confirmation stage, twenty-three remain in Saturday’s Coral Gold Cup with Complete Unknown and Mahler Mission joint favourites at 7-1 with race sponsor Coral.

Complete Unknown, trained by Paul Nicholls would be looking to give the Ditcheat team a fourth win in Newbury’s £250,000 handicap. Nicholls last won the race in 2009 with Denman who also scored in 2007, his first win came in 2003 with Strong Flow. After finishing 2nd behind eventual Down Royal Champion Chase winner, Gerri Colombe, in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, the seven-year-old made a winning reappearance following wind surgery at Newton Abbot in October.

Complete Unknown heads the betting with the Irish trained Mahler Mission. John McConnell’s progressive seven-year-old finished 2nd behind Thunder Rock on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle over an inadequate trip after falling when four lengths clear at the Cheltenham Festival. Mahler Mission is one of three Irish runners; Gavin Cromwell has the Kim Muir runner up Stumptown in the race along with Max Flamingo trained by Francis Casey.

Newbury’s feature race of the National Hunt season was won last year by the Skelton team with Le Milos. They have just one remaining in the 3m2f contest this year to bid for back to back wins with The Freebooter Handicap Chase winner, Midnight River.

Despite pulling up in his last run at Ascot, Monbeg Genius remains in the field for Jonjo O’Neill. Third in the Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham behind eventual Grand National winner Corach Rambler and dual Grade 1 winner Fastorslow, connections of Monbeg Genius are hopeful of a bounce back to that form.

Trainer Sam Thomas rode Denman to victory in the race in 2007, he attempts to win the race as a trainer with his two representatives, Stolen Silver, impressive winner over 3m at Chepstow in the Native River Handicap Chase and Our Power.

The in-form Venetia Williams has 2021 winner, Cloudy Glen, in the race who bids to add to the list of only three horses who have won the race twice. Remastered (David Pipe), 2nd in the race last year looks set to attempt to go one better in 2023. Lambourn could be represented by Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), Topham Chase winner Bill Baxter (Warren Greatrex) and the Nicky Henderson trained Dusart. Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup winner Kitty’s Light remains on course to line up for the Christian Williams team. Top weight is due to be carried by Lucinda Russell’s Aintree Bowl runner up, Ahoy Senor.

Coral’s David Stevens commented on the entries: “All the market principals remain in contention for Saturday’s Coral Gold Cup, and in what promises to be a classy and competitive renewal, we can’t split Complete Unknown for the champion trainer Paul Nicholls, and the Irish raider Mahler Mission, at the head of our betting.”

The 2023 Coral Gold Cup meeting takes place at Newbury Racecourse from Friday 1st December to Saturday 2nd December. Tickets can be purchased on the Newbury Racecourse website here.

**Coral Gold Cup
7 Complete Unknown, Mahler Mission, 8 Midnight River, Monbeg Genius, 9 Stumptown, 12 Our Power, Remastered, 14 Sail Away, Stolen Silver, 16 Ahoy Senor, Bill Baxter, Kitty’s Light, 20 Cloudy Glen, Datsalrightgino, Dusart, Eldorado Allen, Ga Law, Shakem Up’arry, Zanza, 25 Beauport, Twig, 40 Max Flamingo, 50 Lord Accord

Full List of entries and weights in 2023 Coral Gold Cup following confirmation stage: