It may lack a proven star, but the 2024 Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase is a hugely competitive renewal and all 14 runners will line up believing they can land the coveted Newbury contest at 3:00pm. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews Saturday’s showpiece race and picks out his 1-2-3.
SENIOR CHIEF
(Darragh O’Keeffe/Henry De Bromhead)
Henry De Bromhead’s Senior Chief was a gutsy winner at Cheltenham 3m 1f last month and the Irish raider is looking to claim more success on British soil on Saturday and is a prominent figure in the betting. He saw the trip out well at Prestbury Park that day, but this is an entirely different test and a whopping 9lbs rise means he takes his chance off 151 here. Although he lines up in the form of his life this is a much tougher ask off a significantly higher mark.
COLONEL HARRY
(Gavin Sheehan/Jamie Snowden)
A Grade 2 novice chase winner last season, Colonel Harry is looking to hand Jamie Snowden a second win in the race in as many months and comes here full of potential. Outclassed in Grade 1 races at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring he made a pleasing return when second in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle. That run should’ve blown the cobwebs away and he’s one open to improvement this season over fences and is a huge player.
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Thu 28 Nov 2024BROADWAY BOY
(Sam Twiston-Davies/Nigel Twiston-Davies)
Well beaten by Senior Chief in that abovementioned Cheltenham contest last month, Broadway Boy is set to have another crack at the De Bromhead raider on Saturday. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained contender was a decent third in that contest and there’s a 10lbs difference in the Coral Gold Cup with Broadway Boy much more attractively handicapped. The gap between the pair should be a lot smaller at Newbury and it would be no surprise to see the Naunton raider reverse the form and go close.
THE FIELD
Fresh from Betfair Chase glory last weekend, Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch team up with Victtorino, who was last seen pulling up in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, but having been dropped to only 1lb higher than his last winning mark then he has to be considered. Third in the Topham Chase over the National fences at Aintree in April, Kandoo Kid returns to the normal chase obstacles and is of interest for Paul Nicholls, while French raider General En Chef has warmed up for this with a few solid runs at Compiegne, so has fitness on his side.
Dan Skelton will unleash a dual pronged attack of Midnight River and Galia Des Liteaux and the former was running a big race in this contest last year before falling in the closing stages. Now 5lbs lower he looks one that could be capable of carrying a hefty weight on his back and makes more appeal than Galia Des Liteaux who has struggled to get head in front in recent times.
VERDICT
There’s plenty in with chances in this year’s contest, but the standout runner is MIDNIGHT RIVER, who can bounce back from last year’s fall in this race and off a mark of 151 looks to have a great chance. A spin at Wetherby should get him fit for this event and he can get the better of Broadway Boy, who can turn the Cheltenham form around with Senior Chief, who can complete the 1-2-3 on Saturday afternoon.
2024 Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase Predicted 1-2-3
- Midnight River
- Broadway Boy
- Senior Chief
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