The Saturday Preview - November 26th

This weekend’s action is nothing short of action packed, headlined by both the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, as well as the exciting return of Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, taking on Grade 1 winning stablemate Epatante in what looks to be a fantastic proposition. Newbury is also set to host the return of Thyme Hill in his second start over fences, but not before we see an exciting opener to racing in the form of the Mares Listed Novice’ Hurdle including hot prospect Luccia.

Here are a few of the races I am most looking forward to this Saturday

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3.05 - Newbury - Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase

The Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase was first run in 1957 at Cheltenham under the name ‘The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup’. In 1960, the race was relocated to Newbury and has since then seen its fair share of historical performances. Past winners consist of two-time winners Arkle and Denman, as well as Grand National winning Many Clouds, becoming the only horse to win both prestigous races.

This year’s renewal sees Le Milos as the 6/1 favourite. The Dan Skelton trained seven-year-olds last outing saw him win impressively by 4 and ¾ lengths at Bangor on his first start with Dan Skelton, making his short price unsurprising to see.

The second favourite in the race is the 7/1 priced Corach Rambler. The Lucinda Russel trained gelding ran a distant fifth of seven last time out at Carlisle in a competitive listed race won by Beauport. However, he was a winner on three of his six starts last season, with his final win coming in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival, making his form that of high class.

At 10/1 in the field is former grade one winning Fiddlerontheroof. The Joe Tizzard trained 8-year-old has run in his fair share of high-class races, finishing second behind graded winning horses such as Monkfish, Edwardstone, Thyme Hill and Next Destination within his 20 starts under rules.

He concluded last season by finishing an impressive fifth in the Aintree Grand National won by Noble Yeats, whilst he began this season by finishing a far from disgraced third behind Call Me Lord at Kempton, back over hurdles. He is most definitely not to be cast aside, for he brings some of the highest level of form into the race, and rarely fails to run a respectable race, even despite the fa ct he will be carrying 11 stone 9, the second highest weight amongst the field.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

12:15 – Newbury - ‘Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" For Free Mares' Novices' Hurdle

The 2/1 favourite Luccia heads the market in the listed opener to Newbury’s card this Saturday. The unbeaten and exciting Luccia for Nicky Henderson, was last seen winning by 17 lengths at Sandown in a Listed National Hunt flat race, which she did in tremendous style. However, she is making her hurdling debut against a quality field with winning hurdling form, making it a tough proposition, but one she looks more than capable of achieving.

Poetic Music is the second favourite in the race, priced currently at 5/2. Following her 232-day break after finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper won by Facile Vega, she returned to winning ways on hurdling debut in a comfortable 5 length win at Ludlow. She has only faced defeat once in her life, and has the ability to overturn the favourite on Saturday.

Carole’s Pass is also a fancy for this race, and is one of the most experienced in the field. She was last seen winning by 3 lengths at Newbury, beating the Dan Skelton trained ‘She’s a Saint’, who is also entered in this race. She spent the summer in France, recording both a win and a third in three starts, before taking a 136-day break prior to making her UK reappearance last time out.

Despite there being a total of 7 runners currently scheduled to feature in this race, the three selected above look to be a class above the rest as the market suggests, with the Dan Skelton trained She’s A Saint the next shortest price in the market at 7/1.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

12.45 - Newbury - Coral John Francome Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

The even money favourite for this race years renewal of the John Francome Novice’s Chase is Thyme Hill, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Tom O’Brien. The former winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and Aintree Ryanair’s Stayers Hurdle made his chasing debut at Exeter earlier this month, where he went and won comfortably by 17 lengths.

Thyme Hill is scheduled to face three rivals on his second start over the bigger obstacles, with the Paul Nicholls trained McFabulous being the shortest priced, whilst the third runner in the field is the Fergal O’Brein trained Mortlach.

Since making the switch to fences, McFabulous is 1 for 2, with his Chasing debut resulting in him being pulled up before the seventh, a race which saw Mortlach finish second. McFabulous returned to winning ways last time out, winning by 9 lengths at Exeter in a drama fuelled race as a result of the unseated Camprond at the first fence.

Mortlach, was formerly trained by the Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls however, he was sent to Fergal O’Brien’s near the end of last season. Since then, he has had an eventful summer jumping campaign and more, winning 6 times from his 12 outings this season, last seen finishing second behind Hang In There in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novice’s Chase at Wincanton.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2:10 - Newcastle - Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Constitution Hill – One of the most exciting horses for the season ahead is Constitution Hill, with the excitement of his reappearance growing week by week. The Nicky Henderson trained potential superstar was last seen recording an impressive 22 length win in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, however, he has not been seen running since, most notably due to ground concerns last weekend at Ascot.

Constitution Hill however, should have far too much class for this field if he is anywhere near up to his standard of last year, and looks likely to justify his current 5/4 price for the Champion Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Epatante - The 6-time grade one winning Epatante has a more than impressive resume, including the 2020 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth Hurdle on two occasions. She was last seen finishing third at the Punchestown Festival, shortly after winning the Betway Aintree Hurdle, showing she still maintains the class we have seen from her before.

Not So Sleepy - Last year’s joint winner of the race Not So Sleepy is priced at 12/1 for this year’s renewal having had an exciting flat season campaign, most notably through his third place finish in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, which was the last time he ran. The Hughie Morrison trained 10-year-old has run 59 times under rules, with fourteen coming over hurdles, of which he has won 5, including the 2021 renewal of this race as well as two Grade 3’s.

Tommy’s Oscar is returning to the smaller obstacles after having a two-race spell over fences. Following his two runner win at Carlisle, he ran in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial at Cheltenham earlier this month, where he finished a respectable second, six lengths adrift of the winner. He is currently priced at 28/1 to win the race however, he is a consistent horse, having finished outside the first three only twice in 17 runs since moving to trainer Ann Hamilton, always making him a contender.

The final runner in the field is the 125/1 shot Voix Du Reve. The Iain Jardine trained 10-year-old was last seen finishing an impressive second behind Dashel Drasher at Aintree earlier this month, outperforming the third placed and high-class horse Langer Dan. Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, Voix Du Reve has only managed to win once since arriving at Iain Jardine’s, and has not shown a performance in recent times to suggest he is at the level of the others in the field making his large odds justifiable.