One of the feature handicap highlights of the season falls upon us. Formerly the Hennessey, the who will take the prestigious Coral Gold Cup? Plus two more competitive handicaps at Newbury and Newcastle and the small matter of the G1 Fighting Fifth.
Newbury
A Gold Gamble
2:25 – Gerry Feilden Intermediate H’cap Hurdle (Premier H’cap) – Queens Gamble @ 5/1 (William Hill)
Queens Gamble has been rather consistent returning to form after a break. Reading 121, she can make it four in a row over hurdles in a race she’s been trained for since returning from Summer. Although we would have liked to have seen her more last season she has form to act with Casa No Mento winning twice subsequently. The ground seems to be drying, in her favour, at Newbury too.
Nicknamed “the Ferrari” Liari was an underrated horse last season, particularly in the British juvenile division. He returned with a decent third at Chepstow, where the winner subsequently placed on his next start behind a good horse in Givemefive. But before pulling up at Cheltenham, he bossed fields at Wincanton, Aintree and Musselburgh in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle. 7/1 (BetVictor).
Another stand-out British juvenile was Salver, who makes his reappearance after finishing third in the G1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. The second-placed horse that day finished second at Aintree and won at Punchestown, so the form stacks up. He may want a bit more juice in the ground, but this represents a big drop in grade. 9/1 (William Hill).
Rank And File
3:00 – Coral Gold Cup H’cap Chase (Premier H’cap) – Colonel Harry @ 9/1 (William Hill)
This goes without saying, one of the poorest renewals of the “Hennessey” for a while. Usually, you can identify a potential Gold Cup horse in this race, but this field don’t seem to have the capability.
But it’s still a great betting race, and I’ve identified Colonel Harry as the potential winner. He’s a second season chaser and has already had a prep run, which is a big plus in this race. He runs for the same trainer jockey and owners of the great Datsalrightgino, last year’s winner, and has a very similar profile and book of form.
Despite being a shorter price than the top pick Broadway Boy looked to have the credentials of a top-level handicap chaser when he won over this distance at Cheltenham back in December last year. He returned with a decent third, twelve-and-a-half lengths behind Senior Chief who reopposes today. It’s a question of whether he will suit a galloping track and slightly better ground than soft. Has been well-aimed at this race to try and deliver. 13/2 (William Hill).
Henry’s Friend looks like a decent each-way bet, if you consider his Grade Two win at Ascot denying Kilbeg King in a thriller. He made a seasonal reappearance over hurdles, but suits fences much better. Runs for the Ben Pauling team who picked up a Grade Two winner yesterday. 12/1 (General).
Newcastle
Gold Gino
2:10 – Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade One) – Sir Gino @ 11/10 (William Hill, Boylesports)
Super-sub Sir Gino replaces Constitution Hill. But he isn’t just some run of the mill second-season hurdler. This horse bolted up the hill and Cheltenham and went clear up the run-in at Aintree against the Triumph Hurdle second. Despite a well-bred Grade One winner in Mystical Power coming over to plunder a big prize for Willie Mullins, Sir Gino has shown more class.
Bow To Redknapp
3:20 – Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Premier H’cap) – Bowtogreatness @ 15/2 (William Hill)
Bowtogreatness showed great class in handicap company last time out, beating a decent Kim Bailey horse who won Chepstow beforehand. He also ran against two subsequent winners in a Cheltenham novice chase who have backed the form up for him to go well here, under a lenient four-pound rise for the in-form Pauling team.
Neon Moon has been pretty consistent this season and put up an admirable performance against Chianti Classico at Ascot at the start of the month. He won first time out at Chepstow and looks to be riding the crest of a wave in the handicap. His window seems narrow, so this may the last chance to see the best of him before the spring. 8/1 (General).
