Colonel Harry will need to beat 13 rivals if he’s to secure a second-successive victory in the Coral Gold Cup for trainer Jamie Snowden.
The in-form handler saddled the late Datsalrightgino to success in last year’s renewal and his latest charge warmed up for Newbury’s Premier Handicap with a decent second in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle earlier this month.
Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief comfortable beat Broadway Boy at Cheltenham last month and the pair renew rivalries with the latter potentially boosted by a 10lbs swing in the weights.
There are two more Irish-trained runners in the line-up for Saturday’s 15:00 courtesy of Horantzau d’Airy, who finished second in the Kerry National and Munster National on his last two starts, and Grandero Bello.
Venetia Williams, meanwhile, is hoping Victtorino can continue her stable’s red-hot form after Royale Pagaille scooted to Betfair Chase glory last weekend.
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 2024 verdict
Timeform: Venetia Williams has her team in form so perhaps the reappearing VICTTORINO, who has gone well fresh before, can take advantage of a mark which has dipped to only 1 lb higher than when landing another valuable handicap last December. Senior Chief should have more to offer on the back of last month’s Cheltenham success and is second choice ahead of Galia des Liteaux.
*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 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Coral Gold Cup 2024.
Sam Brown
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball Jockey: Freddie Gingell Age: 12 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Smart veteran chaser who won 3m handicaps at Warwick and Ascot last season. Returned with a fine third in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby 4 weeks ago. Visor refitted now. Plenty to admire about his enthusiasm but some performance will be needed to defy top weight as he approaches his 13th birthday.
**
Midnight River
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: James Bowen Age: 9 Weight: 11st 11lbs
Signed off a fine 2022/23 season by landing 25f Grade 3 handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Off for 11 months after a fall in this race last year but shaped as if retaining his ability when third of 4 in 19f Wetherby handicap 4 weeks ago. Has first-time cheekpieces added to tongue strap.
***
Senior Chief
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 11st 11lbs
Useful hurdler and quickly made up into a better chaser, bouncing back from a flop in the Irish Grand National when making a winning reappearance in 25f Cheltenham handicap 5 weeks ago. That was only his fifth start over fences so surprise if there isn’t more to come. A must for the shortlist.
****
Horantzau d’Airy
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Danny Mullins Age: 7 Weight: 11st 9lbs
Won twice over fences in the spring and has shown better form in defeat this season, finishing runner-up in Kerry and Munster Nationals (both 3m) on his last 2 outings. Merits plenty of respect for his top Irish stable.
****
Colonel Harry
Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Gavin Sheehan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Likeable type who took the Grade 2 Towton novice at Wetherby (2½m) last winter. Sound reappearance run in a Carlisle Listed event 4 weeks ago, shaping as if a return to a left-handed track will suit (jumped left). His stamina is an unknown but his trainer knows what it takes to win this.
***
General En Chef
Trainer: N. George & A. Zetterholm Jockey: Benjamin Gelhay Age: 8 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Smart French chaser who was back to his best when third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil in May. Two good runs at Compiegne this autumn, including a Group 3 win. Looks on a feasible mark for his first run in Britain.
***
Broadway Boy
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 6 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Three wins in a productive novice chase campaign, including a valuable staying handicap at Cheltenham. Reappeared with a respectable 12¼ lengths third of 14 to Senior Chief there (25f, good) 35 days ago.
***
Grandero Bello
Trainer: Eddie & Patrick Harty Jockey: R. A. Doyle Age: 8 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Doubled his tally over fences when making light of an 8-month absence in 22.5f Galway handicap 5 weeks ago. The form has been boosted by the third winning since.
***
Kandoo Kid
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 8 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Won a 2½m course handicap last December. Ended his season with fine placed efforts in Greatwood here (2½m again) and Topham at Aintree (21f). Ran poorly on previous attempt at 3m but the way he stuck on in the Topham suggests longer trips should be within range this season. Has had wind surgery.
***
Remastered
Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 11 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Runner-up in this race in 2022. Last season was a write-off (including pulled up in this) but he bounced back to form to take advantage of his reduced mark on his Wincanton reappearance in October. Still going okay when fell 4 out in Badger Beer back there since.
***
Galia Des Liteaux
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 8 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Listed/Graded winner who showed she can also mix it in competitive handicaps when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick (19f) in January. Shaped well when second in 2½m Carlisle mares’ listed chase on reappearance and the step back up in trip is sure to suit. Considered.
****
Victtorino
Trainer: Venetia Williams Jockey: Charlie Deutsch Age: 6 Weight: 11st 3lbs
French import who won back to back over 3m at Ascot for Venetia Williams at this time last year, latterly the valuable Silver Cup. Ended his campaign with a disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival but no surprise were he to resume his progression back from a break with the yard going well.
*****
Henry’s Friend
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 7 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Recorded a hat-trick in novice chases last season, including a Grade 2 at Ascot. Pulled up in National Hunt Chase on final outing and last of 4 in 3m course handicap on reappearance 23 days ago. The return to fences should suit but others have less to prove.
**
Iron Bridge
Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr. Age: 8 Weight: 10st 10lb
Useful handicapper who was placed in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and Grand National Trial at Haydock last winter. Made an encouraging return to action at Carlisle 4 weeks ago but this might not place quite enough emphasis on stamina for him.
**
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