Olly Murphy Eyeing A First Coral Gold Cup Victory

Warwickshire-based trainer, Olly Murphy, is seeking a first win in the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup. He is set to be represented in this year’s 3m2f Premier Handicap by second-season chaser, Resplendent Grey, who signed off last season by landing the Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup over 3m4½f at Sandown under Sean Bowen.

Currently 6/1 favourite with sponsors Coral, Resplendent Grey got his season off to a promising start when beating Grade 1 winner Handstands in a Listed Chase at Carlisle earlier this month. Murphy commented: “He’s really well, his preparations have gone well. He had a prep run at Carlisle, where he won, which was a bonus; he’s in really good form and we’re really looking forward to next Saturday.

“Obviously the Gold Cup is his main target. Whether he’s going to be a Grand National horse come April, I’m not quite sure, but I think two weeks’ time will tell us a lot more. He’s in really good form. I feel like he’s improving and if he carries on improving, hopefully he’ll run very well.”

Strong Leader, last year’s Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle winner, will once again take his chance in the feature on the first day of the meeting. Speaking on his work at the Coral Gold Cup Gallops Morning, Murphy said: “I was chuffed to bits with him. Sean said he felt great. So yeah, he’ll come back here a week Friday to defend his crown. He’s in really good form and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Reflecting on Strong Leader’s win at Wetherby on seasonal reappearance, Murphy commented: “Dan (Skelton) nearly caught me on the hop. His mare (Take No Chances) had a run and had a fitness edge on me. So, I think now we’ve had a run under our belt, we’ll just sharpen up. And I think Newbury will suit him a little bit better than Wetherby too.”

Nicky Henderson brought six horses to the annual Coral Gold Cup Gallops morning on Tuesday. Henderson confirmed that Hyland will head for the Coral Gold Cup: “I was really pleased with him today. The Coral Gold Cup has been the plan all season. I mean, he did run in the Grand National, which was probably a year too soon for him, but I wouldn’t say he won’t be going back sometime, but Newbury was always going to be our autumn target.

“I know George (Clerk of the Course) has tried very hard to get some juice into the ground over the last few months, but I’d be grateful if he could just switch the taps off a little bit now. That was too much rain for Hyland over the weekend, he does love good ground.

“James Bowen rode Hyland today because Nico will hopefully be going to Newcastle a week on Saturday, so James will ride Highland in the Coral Gold Cup.”

Trainer Paul Nicholls was in attendance to watch five of his horses have a racecourse gallop at the Coral Gold Cup Gallops Morning. Amongst these was Inthewaterside, who could feature in the Coral Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap on the second day of the Coral Gold Cup meeting. Nicholls commented on his gallop on Tuesday morning: “Nico [de Boinville] was pleased with him. Couldn’t pull him up – he tanked all the way around there, so that’s perfect.”

Nicholls is due to be represented by Inch House in this year’s Coral Gold Cup. He added: “Very pleased with them all – Inch House in particular, you know, running in the Coral Gold Cup. It’s been part of his build up and his preparation. They all showed their wellbeing and they were happy. The boys were all happy to ride them. So that’s just the job.

“He ran very well at Cheltenham on his debut this year; he got a bit tired late on but Cobbie [Harry Cobden] said, it’s like sitting on two different horses from a year ago. So, we’re thrilled with that. And you know I think he’s a lively outsider and we’re not thinking any more than that.”

The two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting returns to Newbury Racecourse on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November. Discounted tickets are available until 11:59pm on Friday 21st November with U18s going free. For more information on the raceday please visit the button below.

CORAL GOLD CUP WEEKEND