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51 Entered In The Feature Race Of Newbury’s National Hunt Season
A total of 51 early entries have been received for the Coral Gold Cup, which takes place on the second day of the flagship meeting on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November at Newbury Racecourse. The 3m2f Premier Handicap, won last year by the Paul Nicholls trained Kandoo Kid, is worth a total prize fund of £250,000.
Featured among the initial entries, Cheltenham Festival winner Caldwell Potter is one of three entered for Paul Nicholls, along with Threeunderthrufive and Inch House. Another Cheltenham Festival winner and Grade 3 Irish Grand National Chase victor, Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis, also holds an entry. While the new training partnership of Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore may saddle Myretown, the very impressive winner of the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase in March.
The trainer of the 2022 Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos, Dan Skelton, has six entries in this year’s renewal. Included in those is Grey Dawning, who looked destined for big things when finishing second in the 2024 Grade 1 Betfair Chase after a sparkling novice campaign. The now 166-rated eight-year-old got back on track towards the end of last season after pulling up in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase and could be poised for a big comeback on seasonal debut. Protektorat, a contender in the 2022 and 2023 Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase and winner of the 2024 Ryanair Chase, was last seen when finishing runner up to Jonbon at the Aintree Festival in April and could look to get his season underway here. Another interesting contender is Newbury specialist Heltenham, who won the Grade 3 BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase but is yet to be seen over the extended trip.
Other notable British contenders include Nicky Henderson’s Hyland, Jingko Blue, a winner of four of his seven starts, and the newly acquired Ginny’s Destiny following a recent move from the yard of Paul Nicholls. Venetia Williams’ Victtorino, who beat The Changing Man and Threeunderthrufive to secure a back-to-back win in the Grade 3 Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase, may take his chance again after finishing third in last year’s race. Ben Pauling could have a promising hand this year with Handstands, who steps into open company this season, Pic Roc, and The Jukebox Man, winner of the Grade 2 Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at last year’s meeting. Johnny Who, trained by Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill, finished third to The Jukebox Man on that occasion, also holds an entry along with his nine-year-old stablemate Monbeg Genius, who finished third in the 2023 renewal.
Representing the Jamie Snowden yard, who will be aiming for a second success in the race following the success of Datsalrightgino in 2023, is Ga Law and Git Maker. Le Patron, winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, and the experienced Nassalam could each turn up for Gary and Josh Moore. Joe Tizzard has put forward The Changing Man, winner of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, while Sara Bradstock might take the opportunity to run her marathon trip performer Mr Vango.
The Irish challenge is characteristically strong, led by British and Irish Champion trainer, Willie Mullins, who has entered five horses including Monday’s Listed chase winner Blizzard Of Oz and Spanish Harlem, winner of the Grade 3 Kerry National Handicap Chase, followed home by Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag, who could reoppose here. Other high-profile entries from Ireland include Monty’s Star, who took home fourth in the 2025 Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, and Gorgeous Tom for the Henry de Bromhead team. Gavin Cromwell has two entries, the strongest of these being Now Is The Hour, winner of the Grade 2 Prestige Novices’ Hurdle, and Affordale Fury could show up for Noel Meade. Alongside several of the horses currently entered, Intense Raffles ran in the Grade 3 Grand National Handicap Chase last season and might line up here for Thomas Gibney.
A sole potential French raider may come in the form of It’s In The Rain, from the yard of Noël George and Amanda Zetterholm, who took fourth place in last year’s race with General En Chef.
The scratching stage is on Tuesday 11 November.
