*Subject to an inspection at 7:30am on Saturday
Paul Nicholls will be hoping Complete Unknown can become his first winner of the Coral Gold Cup since the legendary Denman in 2009.
The seven-year-old can be found towards the top of Paddy Power’s betting for Saturday’s 14:50 at Newbury and it looks a competitive renewal as the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Monbeg Genius and Irish raider Mahler Mission are also vying for favouritism.
The 2021 winner Cloudy Glen and last year’s second Remastered feature in the field of 20 runners, while the weights are topped by the hugely talented-but-quirky Ahoy Senor, whose presence means all bar two others carry less than 11st.
Midnight River, saddled by last year’s winning trainer Dan Skelton, and Native River hero Stolen Silver are the duo in question but they both boast plenty of smashing form in big-field handicaps.
Kitty’s Light, meanwhile, will be seeking another famous handicap victory after landing the Scottish Grand National and bet365 Gold Cup in the spring.
The latest Coral Gold Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Coral Gold Cup verdict
Timeform: Highly progressive in his novice season over fences, MONBEG GENIUS was undone by a mistake on his return at Ascot 4 weeks ago. The pick of his form last term, not least his third behind subsequent National hero Corach Rambler at Cheltenham in March, indicates he remains one to be interested in from this mark. Mahler Mission produced a solid comeback run at Carlisle and he’s feared, along with Datsalrightgino. Complete Unknown and Midnight River complete the shortlist.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Coral Gold Cup runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Coral Gold Cup 2023.
Ahoy Senor
Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Derek Fox Age: 8 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Top-class chaser who landed the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January. Fell in Gold Cup next time but he enhanced his fine Aintree record when runner-up in Grade 1 Bowl a month later. Jumping again let him down on return in Charlie Hall but possibilities if putting it all together.
***
Stolen Silver
Trainer: Sam Thomas Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 8 Weight: 11st 2lbs
Largely campaigned at around 2½m as a chaser but he had no problem with step up in trip when making winning return at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) in October, storming clear and eased close home. 7 lb higher now but that may not prove his limit now upped further in trip.
***
Midnight River
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 8 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Very smart handicap chaser who enjoyed a fine 2022/23, improving for the step up in trip when registering third success of the campaign at Aintree (25f) in April. Feasible to think he’ll be sharper for his Charlie Hall reappearance third 4 weeks ago and he’s of real interest.
***
Dusart
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: James Bowen Age: 8 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Quickly made up into a very smart performer during first half of 2022, winning 3 of his 4 starts at up to 3m. Things didn’t go to plan confined to just 3 starts last term, brought down in Scottish National when last seen in April. This a tough enough assignment back from 7 months off.
***
Eldorado Allen
Trainer: Joe Tizzard Jockey: Brendan Powell Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Very smart sort who ran creditably on the back of 6 months off when third of 11 in handicap at Ascot (23.8f) 28 days ago, Still, he was granted the run of the race then and this rates more demanding back up in trip.
***
Zanza
Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Jockey: Micheal Nolan Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Enhanced his very good course record when landing Grade 2 Denman Chase in February before a good fourth in Greatwood Gold Cup. Entitled to be sharper for his reappearance run over hurdles 23 days ago but this mark demands that bit more now.
***
Ga Law
Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Landed last season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup and still firmly in the mix when coming to grief at the last in Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. Highly tried in 2 starts thereafter but he’ll need to step up plenty on his Wetherby hurdles return 28 days ago. Cheekpieces go on. 1st preference 3.05 Newcastle.
***
Complete Unknown
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Useful hurdler and even better following switch to chasing, impressive when landing 10-runner Kempton handicap (20.5f) in March. Second in Aintree Grade 1 final start and likely his reappearance success in 3-runner Newton Abbot chase will have brought him on. Respected for leading yard.
****
Mahler Mission
Trainer: John McConnell Jockey: B. W. Harvey Age: 7 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Improved model over fences, second in Grade 2 company prior to falling 2 out in NH Chase at Cheltenham (29.9f) in March, 5 lengths up and responding well to pressure at the time. Respectable second over inadequate trip on return at Carlisle (20f) 4 weeks ago. One to consider on handicap chase debut.
****
Remastered
Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 10 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Made a winning return over hurdles prior to a big effort when second behind Le Milos in this race 12 months ago. Pulled up next 2 starts though and below best on return (following another wind op) over hurdles at Aintree 21 days ago.
***
Datsalrightgino
Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Tom Cannon Age: 7 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Ended novice season with success in Grade 2 company at Ayr (20.5f) in April, staying on well. Not seen to best effect when eighth in Old Roan Chase on return and suspicion there’s more to come from him now stamina is tested further.
****
Monbeg Genius
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr. Age: 7 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Highly progressive chaser who won 3 handicaps last winter before ending his campaign with an excellent third to Corach Rambler in the Ultima at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft). Undone by a bad mistake when pulled up on return at Ascot (23.8f) 4 weeks ago and he remains one to be positive about.
*****
Kitty’s Light
Trainer: Christian Williams Jockey: Nick Scholfield Age: 7 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Most likeable staying chaser who signed off last season by landing an exceptional hat-trick, winning the Eider Chase, Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup. Low-key efforts in 2 hurdle spins this term and he may have his sights on targets later in the campaign. Headgear back on.
***
Our Power
Trainer: Sam Thomas Jockey: Adam Wedge Age: 8 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Hit the ground running last term, winning valuable handicaps at Ascot/Kempton (at around 3m). Best not judged too harshly on his run in the National at Aintree but entitled to come forward from his hurdles return 23 days ago. Cheekpieces back on returned to chasing.
***
Twig
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Beau Morgan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
8-y-o who boasts a good strike, adding to his chase tally in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter (26f) in July. Well backed, matched that level when second of 13 in handicap at Cheltenham in October. Remains low-mileage as a chaser.
***
Stumptown
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 6 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Successful in handicaps at Thurles/Sandown prior to a fine second in the Kim Muir at the Festival in March. May have found Irish National coming too soon the following month but hasn’t threatened in a couple of starts during the summer. Comes here with yard in good form.
***
Cloudy Glen
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 10 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Hard to predict but he brought his A game to the table when landing this race on return 2 years ago. Seen only 3 times last season and whilst he proved he retains most of ability when second on return at Cheltenham (27.3f) 13 days ago, he’s not sure to be in same form here.
**
Bill Baxter
Trainer: Warren Greatrex Jockey: Paul O’Brien Age: 7 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Had a fine first season over fences, gaining fourth success when gamely landing the Topham over the National fences at Aintree (21f) in April. Satisfactory reappearance run on unfavourable terms when third at Carlisle (20f) 4 weeks ago. Up significantly in trip back from a wind op now.
***
Max Flamingo
Trainer: Francis Casey Jockey: S. D. Torrens Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Landed a couple of maiden/novice chase contests during early 2022 but largely struggled over fences/hurdles thereafter last term. More encouraging signs in 2 starts over hurdles this campaign and whilst step back up in trip will suit this rates a difficult ask.
**
Shakem Up’Arry
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 9 Weight: 10st 2lbs
Made a winning return at Exeter (19.2f) last winter prior to posting creditable in-the-frame efforts in handicaps thereafter, albeit possibly stretched by extended 3m at Aintree final start. Low-key return at Stratford 30 days ago though, and others rate stronger back up in class.
**
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