One of Britain's most treasured races takes place on Saturday afternoon as Newbury hosts the Coral Gold Cup.
The main event is part of a seven-race offering from Newbury on Saturday afternoon, with action from 12:07 until 15:35. We've previewed the big race, due off at 15:00, alongside some of the supporting events at the Berkshire venue.
15:00 - Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase
A field of 14 is mildly disappointing for this great handicap contest but it certainly doesn't threaten to make it any less competitive, with the market reflecting 6/1 the field following declarations.
The duo jostling atop the market initially were Senior Chief for Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead and Colonel Harry for the Jamie Snowden operation.
Senior Chief went off as short as 10/1 for the Irish Grand National last season but was pulled up. He returned in October to win at Cheltenham in a valuable handicap chase over a similar trip.
He had the re-opposing Broadway Boy more than 12 lengths behind in third that day and they clash again, with Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge 11lb better off.
Broadway Boy and Colonel Harry are both likely to be up on the pace from the get-go and that has not been a bad place to be in recent times in this event.
Colonel Harry had some decent Grade 1 novice form over fences last season and ran well in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle over 2m4f when second on his comeback.
The Snowden and Gavin Sheehan partnership teamed up to win this with Datsalrightgino last time and they have decent claims again on this occasion.
Willie Mullins, Britain's champion trainer, sends a lone gun in Horantzau D'airy but his backers will be wary of the fact he fell at Killarney in August. He has finished second in both runs since but the UK assessor has got him on a career-high mark of 149.
The returning Kandoo Kid has undergone a wind operation since last spotted and Paul Nicholls' charge may have something to offer fresh if his stamina holds up.
A rare French raider is General En Chef, once trained by David Cottin but now with Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm. His form on the continent is decent and going back up in trip should suit.
We've seen GRANDERO BELLO only twice this year but he could be worth considering for Eddie & Patrick Harty. He contested a hot Listed handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and never really got into it carrying top weight.
His next outing came at Galway (2m6½, soft) in late October and he stayed on strongly again when giving weight to the field to score in determined fashion. He is rated 10lb higher now but could have more to give at this sort of trip for only the second time in his career.
Second choice is Dan Skelton's mare Galia Des Liteaux, runner-up in the Listed Houghton Mares' Chase over 2m4f at Carlisle at the start of November on her first appearance since a crack at the Grand National at Aintree in the spring.
She ran well for a long way on Merseyside before weakening to finish eighth and she finds herself contesting this race from 2lb lower in the ratings on her second start back after undergoing a wind operation.
The trip at Carlisle was certainly on the sharp side and this longer trip offers hope that she can build on it, despite a good first-time-out record.
SELECTION: GRANDERO BELLO
NEXT BEST: GALIA DES LITEAUX
12:07 - Mares' Novices' Hurdle
The opening contest features no fewer than five last-time-out winners in a field of nine mares.
They include Sansrisk for Philip Dempsey and Listentoyourheart for Dan Skelton. The former won a Fairyhouse maiden in October and followed up in Grade 3 novice company at Down Royal on the first day of November. She did that well but carries a penalty.
The Skelton contender is unbeaten over timber after wins in a Market Rasen maiden and then at Newbury over Saturday’s course and distance a month ago. Her main market rival stopped quickly in that race but she was much too good and could have more to offer.
Jubilee Alpha for Paul Nicholls has useful form in bumpers and plenty of promise going jumping, but this is a big test given that she lacks experience over timber.
RULA BULA is another with some solid bumper form and she was a good winner on her debut over timber at Market Rasen recently for Jonjo O'Neill and company. The Jackdaws Castle team hold her in high regard and she might be good enough to improve and make it 2-2 in this sphere despite the rise in class.
SELECTION: RULA BULA
NEXT BEST: LISTENTOYOURHEART
13:15 - Novices' Hurdle
This could be quite an informative novices' hurdle with six runners contesting it, each of them winners already over timber.
French Ship won at Chepstow in early November and saw that form boosted when runner-up Let It Rain won decisively at Wetherby this week.
Nicky Henderson's Califet En Vol was a wide-margin Kempton winner over 2m5f on good ground 19 days ago and can offer more.
The pick, though, is THE NEW LION for the Skelton brothers. A Market Rasen bumper winner on his debut in April, he returned for a smooth maiden hurdle score at Chepstow (2m3½f, soft) in October. That form also looks solid.
Dan Skelton immediately pinpointed one more run and then a crack at the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle and it is little surprise that he is turning out on Saturday for a dry run with that big Newbury race in his handler’s plans.
SELECTION: THE NEW LION
NEXT BEST: FRENCH SHIP
