Coral Gold Cup: 37 Entered In The Feature Race Of Newbury’s National Hunt Season

The premier handicap over 3m2f, last year won by the Jamie Snowden trained Datsalrightgino, takes place on the second day of the flagship Coral Gold Cup meeting on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th November.

Featured amongst the initial entries include last year’s runner up, Mahler Mission, trained by John McConnell. Last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, the eight-year-old could seek to go one place better having finished three and three-quarter lengths second to Datsalrightgino, despite having lost both front shoes in last year’s renewal. Mahler Mission is one of five Irish trained horses to feature amongst the entries. The recent winner of the Grade 3 BetVictor Chase, French Dynamite, holds an entry for Mouse Morris, whilst British and Irish Champion trainer, Willie Mullins, could be represented by Grade 3 Munster National runner up, Horantzau d’Airy. Having produced a shock result when winning at odds of 22/1 at Galway, Grandero Bello may have a tilt at the Coral Gold Cup for trainers Eddie and Patrick Harty with owners based locally to the Berkshire track. Senior Chief led home a one-two for Henry de Bromhead at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting and holds an entry in Newbury’s showpiece.

Having not trained the winner of the race since Denman’s second victory in 2009, Paul Nicholls is responsible for six of the current 37 entries. Amongst his entries include Bravemansgame, Stay Away Fay, 2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, Stage Star, and runner up in both the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase and Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase last season, Ginny’s Destiny who will step into open company this season. Completing the Nicholls lineup is the duo owned by Mr Michael Geoghegan: third in the 2023 Topham Chase, Kandoo Kid, and the newly acquired Inch House following a recent move from the yard of Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill.

The winning trainer of the 2022 Coral Gold Cup with Le Milos, Dan Skelton trains five of those with entries in this year’s renewal. The winner of eight of his thirteen career starts and a Grade 1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Grey Dawning is another stepping into open company. A 10/1 chance in last year’s renewal, Midnight River was prominent when falling at the 14th fence, he holds an entry along with stablemates, Galia des Liteaux, Shan Blue and Heltenham.

Cheltenham Festival winner Chianti Classico is one of two entered for trainer Kim Bailey along with Trelawne. Another Cheltenham Festival winner and sixth in the race last year, Shakem Up’arry, trained by Ben Pauling, holds an entry along with stablemate Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase winner, Henry’s Friend. The winner of the Coral Gold Cup in 2021 and fifth last year, Cloudy Glen is entered along with the fellow Venetia Williams trained Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille and Victtorino. Third placed in 2023, Monbeg Genius may return to Newbury for the new training partnership of Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill who also have Iron Bridge entered. A sole potential French raider comes from the yard of Noel George & Amanada Zetterholm with the recent Grade 3 Prix de la Gascogne winner, General En Chef who could have his first start on British soil. Last year’s local winning trainer, Jamie Snowden, has just the one entered with Grade 2 winner Colonel Harry. Coral Welsh Grand National winner, Nassalam (G & J Moore), dual Cheltenham winner, Broadway Boy (N.Twiston-Davies), twelve year old veteran Sam Brown (A.Honeyball) and 2023 Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle winner, Apple Away (L.Russell), all feature amongst the list of entries revealed today.

Clerk of the Course at Newbury Racecourse, George Hill, commented on the entries: “The Coral Gold Cup is the feature race of our flagship National Hunt meeting and a prestigious handicap in the jumps calendar. I am pleased to see strong initial entries including previous winners and placed horses as well as five potential Irish raiders and a French entry. We saw a progressive previous season novice win last year in Datsalrightgino and there looks to be some exciting prospects entered, notably Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning who struck up a close rivalry last season in Novice chases. Both their trainers, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton respectively, have entered very strong teams in the race.”

Coral’s David Stevens commented: “It’s a typically strong set of entries for the Coral Gold Cup, including several eye-catching Irish runners, although it’s Kim Bailey who holds the early aces, with his duo of Chianti Classico and Trelawne first and second favourites in our opening betting.”

Tickets for both days of the Coral Gold Cup meeting are currently available at the discounted Early Bird rate, but only until 11:59pm on Friday 1st November with U18s going free.
For tickets, hospitality and full event information please visit 2024 Coral Gold Cup Weekend | Newbury Racecourse