This Saturday, the ITV crew split their resources between Newbury and the Northeast track of Newcastle for a cracking afternoon of televised jumping action. The Coral Gold Cup has witnessed a string of mighty performances from the likes of Denman, Native River, and Arkle over the years and serves as the headline act at Newbury, whilst the star 2m hurdlers take centre stage in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
Elsewhere, it’s competitive handicapping action all the way on what looks like a good day for each-way punters. Here, we present our take on the six contests on offer and pick out our best value bet in each race.
1:54 Newbury – Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Handicap Hurdle, Class 2, 2m4½f
The Nicky Henderson-trained Impose Toi heads the market in the opener, following a solid 2023/24 season, which saw him hit the frame in all three starts. The most relevant of those outings in regard to this event was his third-placed effort in the Lanzarote Hurdle. That was a nice run, but he went down by over 6l and races off the same mark of 134 on his seasonal return.
The 2023 runner-up Anyharminasking is 1lb lower this year and makes some appeal for Jonjo & AJ O’Neill if the ground dries out a touch. However, with that seeming unlikely, we will look elsewhere.
Dan Skelton’s Lac Du Constance probably has the talent to take this, but he looks risky until sorting his jumping out. However, that’s a big question at present, and we prefer the claims of the Tom Symonds-trained Issam.
This one wouldn’t leap out on his recent return over 2m at Ffos Las. However, the trip was on the short side that day, and he looked a little rusty following a 188-day break. In contrast, his final outing from last season gives him an excellent chance. Running off a mark of 125, he gave 2lbs and a beating to Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey. That horse promptly won his next start by 6½l to end the season on a mark of 132. Getting in off 129 here, Issam looks great each-way value.
Recommended Bet: Issam each way @ 14/1 with bet365
2:10 Newcastle – BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Grade 1, 2m
No Constitution Hill, but the feature event from Newcastle is still set up to be a cracker. In the absence of his stable star, Nicky Henderson sends Sir Gino into battle, and the four-year-old may prove an able deputy. Unbeaten in four career outings, he rounded off 2023/24 with an impressive defeat of the highly regarded Willie Mullins mare Kargese in a Grade 1 at Aintree.
Willie Mullins has yet to land this prize but will have high hopes of putting that right with Mystical Power. By Galileo and out of the Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power, this JP McManus runner is bred in the purple and already has two Grade 1 wins to his name.
Of the others, Brentford Hope is a likeable sort with a course and distance win in the book but is rated below his younger rivals, who are open to more improvement.
Overall, we will be surprised if this isn’t fought out between the top two and just favour the Irish raider. He’s a slightly bigger price than Sir Gino despite being rated 2lb higher, and this race has always been the plan, whereas his market rival arrives as a last-minute replacement, having initially seemed likely to be sent over fences.
Recommended Bet: Mystical Power to win @ 13/8 with BetVictor
2:25 Newbury – Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle, Premier Handicap, 2m½f
The highly regarded Jeriko De Reponet is the obvious starting point in this competitive handicap affair. If he returns to the form which saw him land a Grade 2 at Doncaster last season, he will be hard to beat. However, taking single-figure odds for a horse who has been pulled up in his two most recent outings makes limited appeal.
Others to note include the Paul Nicholls-trained Liari, who was fancied to go well in the Greatwood Hurdle but heads here instead; Aston Martini, who should have won last time but for jinking at the last; and Royal Way, who disappointed last time but should be well suited by a strongly run race on soft ground.
At 33/1, Royal Way is a decent each-way option, but the one to carry out cash is the Harry Derham mare, Queens Gamble. Unbeaten in three outings over hurdles, her most recent run saw her claim a Listed event at Taunton in good style, only to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season through injury. The runner-up in that Taunton event landed a Listed event of her own on her next start, lending a solid look to the form. A mark of 130 demands more, but we fancy this daughter of Getaway may be up to the task.
Recommended Bet: Queens Gamble each way @ 7/1 with bet365
3:00 Newbury – Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase, Premier Handicap, 3m2f
Following the tragic demise of their star performer, Datsalrightgino, who won the 2023 edition of this, Colonel Harry would rate a poignant winner for The GD Partnership ownership group. Grade 1 placed as a Novice, he boasts an attractive profile for the race and should be fit and well following a recent spin at Carlisle. However, at 6/1, he hasn’t been missed by the market.
With Nassalam unlikely to get his favoured soft ground and Sam Brown approaching his thirteenth birthday, Dan Skelton’s Midnight River may emerge as the class act in the race. Back down to his last winning mark, he makes the shortlist.
Grade 2 winning Novice Henry’s Friend catches the eye for Ben Pauling, having made his return in a hurdle event at this track earlier in the month. However, he has yet to race over quite this far and may be found out in what is sure to be a fiercely run contest.
The one to be on is another of the Dan Skelton runners in the field, Galia Des Liteaux. A dual winner over 3m, she advertised her stamina when narrowly failing to shoulder 11st10lb to victory in the 3m5f Classic Chase at Warwick last season. Only 2lb higher here, she can stay on late to at least grab an each-way payout.
Recommended Bet: Galia Des Liteaux each way @ 12/1 with bet365
3:20 Newcastle – BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase, Premier Handicap, 2m7½f
This excellent staying handicap tops the undercard at Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth fixture and has attracted a typically competitive field.
Ben Pauling’s Bowtogreatness is the one the market has latched onto following his win over this trip at Newbury earlier in the month. The handicapper may have taken a chance by bumping him up only 4lb for that, and he should go well.
David Pipe’s Neon Moon finished third in a hot Grade 3 at Ascot on his most recent outing and could be dangerous running off the same mark here, whilst The Changing Man travelled well before falling in the Badger Beers Handicap Chase last time.
All of the above have claims. However, at a bigger price, we prefer an each-way punt on the Anthony Honeyball-trained Blackjack Magic. Form figures of FP on his final outings of 2023/24 contribute to his 12/1 odds, but early in the year may be the time to catch a horse who has won the first time out in two of the past three seasons. Only 4lbs higher than when easily winning the 2023 edition of the Badger Beers Handicap Chase, he is thoroughly proven at this trip and rates a solid each-way option.
Recommended Bet: Blackjack Magic each way @ 12/1 with bet365
3:35 Newbury – Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” And Win Handicap Chase, Class 2, 3m½f
The four-timer seeking Imperial Saint heads the betting in the TV finale. Making only his third start over fences, he may be open to further improvement and impressed when scoring by 8½ last time out at Aintree. He receives a 10lb rise for that, but in his current form, that may not be enough to stop him.
We can’t argue with Imperial Saints' status as favourite but prefer a punt on the horse who chased him home on his seasonal return. Despite seeming to have been around forever, Petite Tonnerre is still only six years of age and is beginning to look dangerously well-handicapped. Setting out over fences on a mark of 139, an up-and-down run of form sees him sitting on 127 for this test. He bombed out in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial last time, but that is far from unusual for him, and he may enjoy dropping back to these calmer waters. He closed all the way to the line when going down by ¾l to Imperial Saint in October and finds himself fully 12lbs better off with that rival here. That’s a big swing for a small margin, and we like his chances of turning the tables.
Recommended Bet: Petite Tonnerre to win @ 11/2 with bet365
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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