The two-day Winter Carnival at Newbury races is one of the classic fixtures during the core jumps season in the UK. Kicking off with the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on Friday, 29 November, the meeting concludes in Berkshire on Saturday, 30 November with one of the big betting races of the season.
That is the Coral Gold Cup, formerly and better known as the Hennessy Gold Cup. Punters can expect high-profile runners taking part over these two days. There is plenty for those wagering on horse racing betting sites to get their teeth into.
Supporting races at the Winter Carnival include the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase and the Gerry Feilden Intermediate Hurdle, a Premier Handicap. Our horse racing experts always have this meeting at Newbury races marked on their calendars.
Their analysis of the 14 races across both days and cards is worth paying close attention to. Finding winners on Premier Racedays is what it’s all about for them, so let’s look at the horses to follow in Berkshire.
Winter Carnival at Newbury Races Friday Preview – Long Distance Hurdle Day
12:15 – 2m 69y Class 3 National Hunt Maiden Hurdle
Heading opposition to Regent’s Stroll is Aintree Grade 2 Bumper third Good And Clever. Warren Greatrex’s charge got in amongst plenty of subsequent hurdle winners, so the form looks good. Everything else that finished in the first six on Merseyside has come out and scored.
On a form marker through Wellington Arch, Good And Clever is probably a value alternative to Regent’s Stroll, but connections stumped up £660,000 to buy him. That money may talk with Nicholls expecting him to take high rank among his novice hurdlers this term.
As for the rest, granted a clear round by the first two, they’re playing for places really. Nicky Henderson gives Ferando, one of two four-year-olds in the line-up, his racecourse debut in an event he’s farmed in recent times. Don’t Wind Me Up for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White could improve on his Ffos Las third first time out in this sphere.
12:45 – 2m 92y Class 3 Fulke Walwyn Trophy Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Four six-year-olds have won this event at Newbury races during the Winter Carnival since 2016. Idy Wood is up 6lb for his success, but the yard is in form. Dan Skelton has two victories in this during that timeframe, so Asta La Pasta is interesting. The problem here, however, is only two finished when he scored at Carlisle the last day.
Kelso Grade 2 Premier Hurdle winner Personal Ambition, meanwhile, could come on for his reappearance and chase bow in a Uttoxeter match behind Lookaway. The winner went on to finish third in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham. Ben Pauling’s yard needs a change of luck. Kalif Du Berlais gets 8lb weight for age all-round, meaning Personal Ambition has joint-topweight.
1:20 – Listed 2m 62y Coral Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle
A typical Flat convert for the same connections as Burdett Road, East India Dock and Liam Swagger, she was pretty useful on the level. Ambiente Amigo brings a 95 rating from that sphere to the table and can only improve in the jumping department from her successful National Hunt bow at Newcastle.
Both last year and when the race was run at Aintree, it often went for export. If that’s the case this time around, then Hereford scorer Midnight Exit looks the only credible overseas runner. Noel George’s charge beat re-opposing runner-up Matawana in the Welsh Marches last time and now meets her off better terms,
Owen also saddles dual hurdles winner Opec, but she lacks the lofty Flat rating of her owner-stable companion. The market suggests this event at Newbury races concerns these five three-year-old fillies with the others needing significant improvement to hit the frame.
1:55 – 2m 3f 187y Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase (Formerly the Berkshire)
Far enough ahead of the field to land his hurdling bow in the Persian War prior to that, Captain Teague comes from an Irish Point background. The trip might be on the sharp side for Pauling’s The Jukebox Man, given his exploits in staying novice hurdles in the spring.
Johnnywho should confirm Carlisle form with Bugise Seagull here really after a cosy success. Masaccio may have more to offer as a chaser, meanwhile, following course and distance success. Boombawn concedes 5lb all-round to the field at Newbury races after his Rising Stars success around Wincanton.
2:30 – 2m 3f 187y Class 2 Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap Chase (0-150)
Venetia Williams has won the old Open Handicap Chase twice since 2018 with eight-year-olds landing four of the six most recent editions. Therefore, GALOP DE CHASSE fits the profile like a glove. A course and distance winner last November, he beat the horse who went on to land this in Kandoo Kid by a neck.
Galop De Chasse should also take a step forward fitness wise from his Wetherby Premier Handicap second on reappearance. If not him, then Scarface should appreciate stepping back up in trip for Team Tizzard. A mark 0f 130 looks workable, given the ratings he won off in the spring.
Recent renewals favour race-fit runners, but Greatwood Gold Cup hero Heltenham loves this course and distance. Skelton’s runner is worse off at the weights with Sir Pyscho, however. Gary & Josh Moore control the weights with Editeur Du Gite, but Le Patron has more scope for improvement if fully tuned up for this.
3:05 – 3m 52y Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle
Top on ratings is dual Coral Cup hero Langer Dan, but he’s not really showed much form away from Cheltenham and Aintree. Pertemps Final victor Monmiral may find this small field easier than lugging topweight in handicaps, but he’s only got that one win in three-and-a-half years.
Flight Deck has a rating of just 132, yet ran third in this 12 months ago. Deborah Cole’s likeable veteran rising 11 should finish last, but that’s still respectable and he’ll pick up prize money for doing so. The absence of credible staying hurdlers from the race means Strong Leader must lay a marker down ahead of sterner future tests.
3:40 – 3m 52y Class 3 Pipped-At-The-Post And Win Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
A revival from Henderson and JP McManus veteran Chantry House at his local track is a possibility, but most recent winners of this have been in the low-to-mid 120s. That brings the race-fit WOODIE FLASH into calculations. Another Murphy staying hurdler with obvious claims, he could well bring about an end of the card double for Sean Bowen.
Woodie Flash has wins on all types of going and a 7lb rise for a comprehensive victory at Ffos Las looks fair. Largy Poet for Nicholls and Madaket representing the Hobbs yard, who goes well fresh, lack recent runs. The former has a 5lb claimer booked, suggesting he may be handicapped up to his best.
At bigger odds, Chantry House is slipping down the weights and could have one last hurrah in him. Astronomic View and Hardy Boy both fit the ratings band, meanwhile, with the latter capable of better than his recent Cheltenham seventh. Pauling’s runner has dropped 1lb and goes down in class now. The others return from long layoffs or are just back from them.
Winter Carnival at Newbury Races Saturday Preview – Coral Gold Cup Day
12:07 – Listed 2m 69y Mares’ Novice Hurdle
Leading British contenders all have bumper form that ties in together. Recent race history shows the value of coming here off the back of a run. While Jubilee Alpha might be the best of these in time, LISTENTOYOURHEART has hurdles experience and should be fully tuned up after minor victories around Market Rasen and over course and distance.
The Skelton runner was behind Jubilee Alpha in the Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares’ Bumper in the spring and concedes 3lb to her. Both on pedigree should be even better over further, yet Listentoyourheart is the one with race fitness. Rula Bula was behind the selection at Doncaster, but has improved since then for the Jonjo O’Neill stable and has claims.
Irish raider Sansrisk sets the standard for those with a rating after landing a Down Royal Grade 3 last time out. She too has a penalty, but also some good back form from this time last year. Philip Dempsey books Darragh O’Keeffe for the ride now.
12:40 – 2m 6f 93y Class 2 Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase
Placed efforts over the banks at Punchestown when trained in Ireland suggest this trip could be ideal for the McManus and O’Neill runner. Genois is up 7lb for landing a small field Wetherby Premier Handicap last time out when produced at the last and going away from his nearest pursuer on the run-in.
Denmaat is a danger for the in-form Williams stable. There is a stamina question mark over whether this full-brother to Sceau Royal gets the trip, but he won in style after a 961-day layoff on his bow for the yard. Denmaat is only 5lb higher now. Sodexo Gold Cup second Highstakesplayer should strip fitter for that excellent reappearance effort, meanwhile.
Tom Lacey’s charge now drops in class and distance. Le Milos is down to a mark 2lb below that which he won the Coral Gold Cup off two years ago. Obviously well-treated on that form, it is a matter of if this shorter trip is one that a horse rising 10 can be effective over.
1:15 – 2m 4f 118y Class 3 Novice Hurdle
The New Lion probably has the Challow Hurdle on his agenda after Christmas if he lays another marker down here. Califet En Vol is a big threat after winning in a canter around Kempton on his hurdles bow. French Ship is the other horse in the frame for Hobbs. He beat a subsequent winner nicely at Chepstow when stepped up in trip.
1:50 – 2m 4f 118y Class 2 Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap Hurdle (0-145)
Nicholls has two in the line-up with Inthewaterside also surprisingly remaining in this sphere for now. He is a threat if sharpening up his hurdling technique. Skelton has two wins in the last four editions of this handicap at Newbury races, so Lac De Constance is also worth a look. He needs to get over a final hurdle fall around Uttoxeter when last in action.
Lower in the weights, meanwhile, is Guard The Moon for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies. This father-son duo combined to land this in 2021 and their runner this year is race-fit. Last term’s second Anyharminasking tries to go one better for the O’Neill family off 1lb lower after a reappearance third at Cheltenham.
2:25 – 2m 69y Gerry Feilden Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Hard to definitively rule many out. Dual course and distance winner Jeriko Du Reponet is an obvious place start for yet another Henderson and McManus combination. He hasn’t completed either of his last two starts, though, and the market has him a nominal favourite.
QUEENS GAMBLE is a classy and lightly-raced mare, meanwhile, whose Listed Taunton success reads well. Harry Derham has her feasibly handicapped on a mark of 130 after beating one that day now with a 138 rating. The fourth to Queens Gamble won at Wincanton earlier this month too.
There are four four-year-olds in this line-up at Newbury races with Triumph Hurdle third Salver framing the weights. It’s a big ask for such a young horse to carry the welter burden against his elders. In strict handicapping terms, bottom weight Castlefort should reverse past form with the Moore family’s horse.
Liari likes flatter tracks, meanwhile, and should take a step forward from his Chepstow reappearance for Harry Cobden and Nicholls. Fellow race-fit duo Ooh Betty and Aston Martini aren’t out of this either. A mark of 120 wouldn’t normally be anywhere near good enough to win this, but Excelero and The Famous Five could hit the frame.
3:00 – 3m 1f 214y Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
A 10lb swing in the weights makes a huge difference for Henry De Bromhead’s Irish raider in his hopes of following-up. Colonel Harry represents last year’s winning connections of the Coral Gold Cup. The Snowden runner now goes markedly up in trip as the yard did with Datsalrightgino 12 months ago after shaping well enough on his return to action.
Course winner Kandoo Kid bids to end a 15-year drought since Nicholls last won this race. Unlike most other market principals, he arrives at Newbury races without a recent run. Similar comments apply to Williams’ Victtorino, who has done well at Ascot since coming over from France.
Skelton runs two with the stable jockey on Galia Des Liteaux, rather than last year’s fancy Midnight River, who fell 12 months ago and now has first-time cheekpieces fitted. The mare’s reappearance at Carlisle was over too sharp a trip, so she certainly has more to offer in staying chases.
Willie Mullins brings Kerry and Munster National second Horantzau D’Airy over from Ireland seeking to go one better. At an even bigger price, the last of the Irish raiders Grandero Bello beat subsequent Troytown scorer Stuzzikini around Galway the last day.
3:35 – 2m 92y Class 2 Jim Joel Memorial Trophy Handicap Chase (0-145)
Dual course and distance winner ISSAR D’AIRY appeals to further enhance his record as Newbury races as the Winter Carnival draw to a close. He chased home subsequent Hurst Park hero Martator, an old rival, in a Premier Handicap Chase at Ascot on reappearance. This is easier and the third home, a stable companion of Issar D’Airy, improved a place.
The in-form Imperial Saint is a danger after winning his last three including back-to-back chase successes around Aintree. Topweight Etalon has been highly-tried by Skelton in recent assignments, meanwhile, and could benefit from a marked ease in grade. At bigger odds, Wincanton winner Beau Balko seeks to give Nicholls a third win since 2019.
Dropping back in trip is no problem for him, based on a previous success over this distance around Musselburgh. Prince Quali returns to action for Robert Walford here with his Chepstow form franked plenty in the meantime. He could go well if ready to rock on reappearance. General Medrano faces just a seven-day turnaround from his Haydock second.
