Confirmed Runners & Riders For The 2024 Renewal Of The Coral Gold Cup

Jamie Snowden remains on course to bid for successive victories in the Coral Gold Cup with Colonel Harry being one of fourteen declared in this year’s renewal of the £250,000 showpiece. The feature race of the National Hunt season at Newbury takes place on Saturday with ground conditions currently described as good to soft, soft (in places).

The 3m2f premier handicap was won last year by the Snowden trained Datsalrightgino for The GD Partnership when partnered by jockey Gavin Sheehan. Snowden is set to saddle Colonel Harry on Saturday for the same winning connections, bidding to join the elite list of Nicky Henderson, David Barons, Tom Dreaper and Fulke Walwyn, all of whom trained back-to-back winners of the race. Colonel Harry, having followed a similar career path to Datsalrightgino, comes into the race off a mark of 148, having won a Grade 2 as a novice last season and Grade 1 placed over hurdles. The seven-year-old will be stepping up in first for the first time having had a prep run over 2m4f at Carlisle earlier this month as is currently 13/2 with sponsors Coral.

Heading the betting is the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Broadway Boy. A smart novice last season, the race has been a long-term target for the six-year-old. He made his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting when finishing third behind Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief who will line up on Saturday under Darragh O’Keeffe. Senior Chief is one of three Irish raiders in Saturday’s renewal as Eddie & Patrick Harty send over Grandero Bello and Willie Mullins has declared the Mrs S Ricci owned Horantzau d’Airy.

Venetia Williams and jockey Charlie Deutsch had a weekend to remember last weekend when landing a double at Haydock Park, including the Grade 1 Betfair Chase. They join forces again on Saturday with the six-year-old Victtorino who will be having his first run of the season having been last seen when pulling up in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.

A three-time winning trainer in the race, Paul Nicholls saddles the eight-year-old Kandoo Kid who will be returning after a wind op under stable jockey Harry Cobden. Pulled up on his only previous career start over 3m, Kandoo Kid returns to the track after a third-place finish in the Topham back in April.

Dan Skelton trained Le Milos to win the Coral Gold Cup in 2022, he has two representatives in this year’s renewal in Midnight River and Galia Des Liteaux. Stable jockey, Harry Skelton, has opted to ride the mare who finished second on her first run back this season in a Mares’ Chase at Carlisle following a wind op. James Bowen picks up the ride on Midnight River, a faller in the race 12 months ago.

Ben Jones had a memorable day in the saddle in this race in 2019 when partnering the Emma Lavelle trained De Rasher Counter to victory. Jones will partner the Ben Pauling trained Grade 2 winner, Henry’s Friend on Saturday. The seven-year-old is a current 12-1 chance with sponsors Coral.

Top weight in the field will be carried by the twelve-year-old veteran, Sam Brown. Conditional jockey Freddie Gingell, a rising star in the saddle, will take the ride on the Anthony Honeyball trained stable stalwart. Iron Bridge is at the opposite end of the weights for the O’Neill team carrying bottom wright of 10st10. Second in the race in 2022, Remastered pulled up in last year’s renewal. The David Pipe trained eleven-year-old returns to Newbury on Saturday for owners Brocade Racing who won the race with Native River back in 2016. The field is completed by the only French runner, General En Chef trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm. The eight-year-old will be having his first run on British soil and is due to be partnered by French jockey Benjamin Gelhay.

After the completion of racing on Saturday, the Goffs Coral Gold Cup sale will take place in the pre-parade ring. Two graduates from last year’s inaugural sale, The Bluesman and First Confession, recorded hurdles victories last week. The eighteen strong catalogue this year features a number of winners and placed point-to-pointers and can be viewed by clicking below.

GOFFS CATALOGUE

Coral’s John Hill commented: “Broadway Boy heads the betting for the Coral Gold Cup in what looks set to be a competitive renewal of the race at Newbury. He is fancied to step up from his third-place finish at Cheltenham last time out.

“The biggest mover in the betting over the last 24 hours is Midnight River. Dan Skelton has made an excellent start to the season and many punters believe he can extend his lead at the top of the Trainers’ Championship with the first prize in this race.”