Coral Gold Cup Scratchings – 41 Remain In Contention

Despite pulling up before the third last on his seasonal re-appearance in Saturday’s Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, Monbeg Genius remains at the head of the betting for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. The team at Jackdaws Castle confirmed that the Coral Gold Cup remains the plan for the proven stayer with appearance dependent upon him bouncing back from his disappointing return to the track and ground conditions at Newbury.

Monbeg Genius is 7-1 (from 10-1) favourite with sponsor’s Coral for next month’s Coral Gold Cup, following the latest entry stage for the Newbury showpiece. Complete Unknown, Mahler Mission and Midnight River are the 10-1 co-second favourites.

Coral’s David Stevens said:

“Following his defeat at Ascot on Saturday, we eased Monbeg Genius to 10-1, from 6-1, for the Coral Gold Cup, but punters seem willing to overlook that run, and the Cheltenham Festival third has reclaimed his place at the head of the Newbury betting.” 

Last year’s runner up, Remastered, a current 14-1 chance with Coral, remains on course to try to go one better in this year’s renewal of the race. Trainer David Pipe has one prep run planned before a second tilt at Newbury’s premier handicap. Pipe commented,

“The plan is to run him this weekend at Aintree over hurdles, a race that he ran in last year, as a prep to the Coral Gold Cup. The plan remains to head back to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup with hopes that the ground is a bit softer than last year. He is in good form and all being well he will run on Saturday at Aintree.”

Following the latest acceptance stage, the weights are now headed by Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor who would be carrying a top weight of 12 stone. Her Grand National victor, Corach Rambler, was also left in despite failing to fire on his seasonal re-appearance run at Kelso.

**Coral Gold Cup – sponsor’s betting 

7 Monbeg Genius, 10 Complete Unknown, Mahler Mission, Midnight River, 14 City Chief, Our Power, Remastered, Stolen Silver, Stumptown, 16 Datsalrightgino, Galia Des Liteaux, Latitude, 20 Ahoy Senor, Bill Baxter, Cloudy Glen, Cooper’s Cross, Eldorado Allen, Ga Law, Kitty’s Light, Major Dundee, Sail Away, Shakem Up’arry, Twig, Zanza, 25 Bar 

The 2023 Coral Gold Cup meeting takes place at Newbury Racecourse from Friday 1st December to Saturday 2nd December. Tickets can be purchased at a reduced rate if bought before 11:59pm on Friday 3rd November.