Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup meeting begins on Friday, with racing live on ITV. Matty Sutcliffe has picked out four bets through the card, including an old favourite of Nicky Henderson’s…
1:55 Newbury – Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Formerly Known As The Berkshire) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Bugise Seagull 1pt WIN 10/1
A fascinating novice chase, won by some incredibly smart types in recent seasons, not least Clan Des and Coneygree, with the latter later taking the Gold Cup that season. Paul Nicholls won it with Hermes Allen last season and Captain Teague bids to emulate that one, though I’d imagine he’ll want three miles in time and there may be some sharper novices’ in here to warrant taking him on at what looks a short enough price.
Last year’s Albert Bartlett second The Jukebox Man is similar in that respect, and along with having his first run of the season, he might be one staying on from rear against some of the fitter types. Boombawn is of interest given he brings the most experience over fences and is already a G2 winner, though that race fell apart given the two market leaders failed to fire and he capitalised off what was a strong gallop set by Soul Icon. For all he passed the jumping test and will be suited to the ground, it’s hard not to envisage that something has the potential to go one and improve past that one.
Jonnywho and BUGISE SEAGULL finished in that order in a three runner novice chase at Carlisle last month, and although there was just three runners, they all jumped impeccably well for the most part it looked quite a revealing contest going forward. Jonnywho won that with more in hand than the winning margin suggested, but Bugise Seagull may reverse that form going back left handed.
Longsdon’s son of Mount Nelson jumped well in the main throughout, but once the pace lifted four out he tended to jump/hang to his left with the trio gathering toward the far side rail, and I think it just disrupted his rhythm. Though you can argue both that pair are entitled to come on for that run, it’s also worth noting that Jonnywho won his hurdle debut over that C&D on the bridle ad subsequently went 0/4 left handed, so at the prices I’m happy to take Bugise Seagull in this rematch.
He won his first two novice hurdles going left handed, pulling ten lengths clear of the 121r second (129r after second in 51k Uttoxeter C2) in the latter, though came unstuck when beaten four lengths in the Sidney Banks when looking uncomfortable going right handed, and it’s not out of the realms of possibility to suggest he could’ve won that contest.
He posted a career best over hurdles at Aintree in the G1 Mersey Novices’ when 12L behind Brighterdaysahead who’s since come out and beat State Man and for all Bugise Seagull was 50/1, he was still able to finished ahead of Jimmy Du Seuil and Ile Atlantique, who were 2nd/3rd behind Ballyburn in the Gallagher’s at Cheltenham.
Though a rating of 138 suggests he’s something to find on the figures, his hurdling form puts him right up there particularly at this trip and the return to a left handed track over fences can put him straighter in the finish.
2:30 Newbury – Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-150) – Lord Baddesley 1pt EW 3 places 16/1 + Galop De Chasse 1pt WIN 10/3
Firstly, you’ll be glad to know I’m not playing Saint Segal here (not that any of the regular readers would be daft enough to follow me in again anyways…!). Top weight Editeur De Gite is somewhat out of love with the game at this stage, but it’s worth noting he was in the same form this time last year before taking the Desert Orchid Chase in its first inception as a handicap, so I’d imagine that will be the plan for him. Stablemate Le Patron is dropping to a good mark having shot from 113 to 150 after landing a trio of chases last season culminating in the G1 Henry VIII Novices’, though struggled in better company thereafter. He’s actually well handicapped on that form, but I just wonder whether they’ll want to continue going down in the weights for now as opposed to winning this and going back in the 150s.
Heltenham needs a deeper surface and is arguably at the hill of his mark, as is Sir Psycho who’s just 1-12 from a mark above 133+, which came over hurdles in 2020. Golden Son wants to go right handed and pulled up on his only previous course start (far from straightforward), Scarface is similar in that respect and is probably one for the other side of Christmas (Sussex Champion Chaser?). The mare La Dominiale generally tends to find form in the spring, which leaves us with LORD BADDESLEY and GALOP DE CHASSE.
It wasn’t the greatest of introductions for Lord Baddesley over three miles for his new handler for all I thought he would be suited to it, but he was still travelling ok before being badly hampered by a faller, for all I don’t think many horses in training would’ve beat Al Dancer that day. There was some promise in that run despite his 68L defeat, and the drop back to 2m4f may suit.
His form in this class or similar races doesn’t fill you with confidence, but he was sent off the 5/2F in the Greatwood Gold Cup over C&D off 5lbs higher in 2023 and he wasn’t entirely disgraced off 132 in the G3 Coral Trophy in February. He’s 2lbs above his last winning mark and Anthony Honeyball has an incredible knack for targeting these valuable pots, and with Sam Twiston-Davies jocked up to take the ride off bottom weight, perhaps reverting to prominent tactics will suit along with the forecast good/soft ground.
The other I’m happy to play is Galop De Chasse for the inform Venetia Williams. Her string burst into action last weekend when going 3/3 on Saturday, with her form reading 112371113 in the last five days at the time of writing. He’s another who isn’t exactly proven in this class, but he’s only had three races beyond C3 company with the form reading 2PU2, and he a irregular heartbeat was the excuse when pulling up (9/4F).
He’s largely been confined to shorter trips for Venetia Williams, but when going beyond two miles his form reads 412, but that was prior to breaks of 215 and 358 days off the track. He returned from the first layoff with a C&D win last season, beating Kandoo Kid by a neck (pair pulled 32L clear) who’s now rated 22lbs higher having won this race next time out prior to three places in G2/ G3 company. He was off all last season after that win, though returned with a solid second in a G3 handicap at Wetherby, beaten three lengths by a potential handicap blot in Genois (2nd in a banks chase to 160r Coko Beach in February), and he blew up late having lead two out which was understandable give the yard form at the time.
Now they’re firing, that run would’ve blown away the cobwebs and this race will likely have been the early season aim given how well handicapped he is judged on that C&D win last season, along with the fact the yards won it twice in the last five seasons (both winners raced in graded company lto, connections also had the second in it last season).
3:40 Newbury – Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” And Win Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-140) – Chantry House 1pt WIN 12/1
I’d say connections would be very disappointed if CHANTRY HOUSE can’t win this C3 0-140 off a mark of 139. The former high class chaser, who contested the 2022 Gold Cup, was somewhat reinvigorated by the drop back to hurdles last season, having ran an excellent race off top weight in a competitive C2 at Cheltenham on seasonal debut off an 8lbs higher mark. He bombed out on heavy ground next time out, but subsequently qualified for the Pertemps when again beaten a similar distance off top weight in a 0-145 In January, giving upwards of 16lbs to the three in front of him. He wasn’t entirely disgraced in the final at Cheltenham when finishing in midfield, nor was he at Punchestown on his last run of the season beaten seven lengths (5th/25).
He drops to a class three for the first time in his career and the fact they’re persevering with him despite his advancing age/lowering mark suggests they’re happy enough with him at home. This is a marked step down in grade against some largely exposed horses, and if he can replicate last season’s Cheltenham third then he’ll be bang there. His record fresh reads UR1111111UR3, he’s 113 in November, he’s 1-1 at the track, and this good ground will suit.
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