Newbury, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (30/11/2024)
Kandoo Kid 16/1 with Bet365 (each-way 4 places)
Henry's Friend 16/1 generally (each-way 4 places)
After another great weekend of National Hunt racing I have decided to look ahead to what lies in store at Newbury next week. There are still 31 entries for the big Berkshire race however, with Bravemansgame, Royal Pagaille, Grey Dawning and Chianto Classico all expected to depart we are likely to have Nassalam as top weight. Gary Moore's mudlark is officially rated 156, a far cry from the mark of 169 Ahoy Senor tried to defy 12 months ago let alone the 174 that Denman so memorably shrugged off to victory in 2009. In fact, if Nassalam does run it will be the lowest rated top-weight since Cornish Rebel was pulled up in the 2006 running off a mark of 153. Regardless, the weights are expected to rise significantly. Colonel Harry and Senior Chief have been well found in the market but both have enough questions to answer over trip and ground. In search of value at this stage I've stumbled upon Kandoo Kid and Henry's Friend who can both be backed at 16/1. Kandoo Kid's course form reads 2nd, 1st, 2nd and comes into this off the back of a career best when 3rd in the Topham at Aintree. He's been kept fresh for this since and the Nicholls stable is in much better form than when his string was somewhat struggling in October. Everything about his career so far has suggested that a step up to this sort of trip would bring about improvement and he quite clearly goes well at the course. A mark of 145 is fair enough bearing in mind he chased home Djelo over a trip way too short at Ascot last season and that horse went very close to winning the Haldon Gold Cup off a mark of 147 earlier this month. It's expected that this will be Nicholls' only runner in the race and Cobden's ride so it might be wise to take the 16/1 now. My other selection is Harry's Friend for the Ben Pauling yard who can definitely ready one for the big occasion. I was at Newbury to see his prep run over hurdles and was immediately quite disappointed as he finished a well beaten last of 4 runners. His trainer however, has since stated that he was pleased with the prep and that it achieved what was intended. I now also remember how badly Henry's Friend needed his first run last season. He finished 5th of 9 in a handicap at Doncaster but came on enough for that outing to win next time out at this meeting last year. He has showed steely resilience and stamina in his races to date and I can see why they ran him in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival although that was one race too many for this 7 year old at that stage of his career, I think a line can be put through that. This will only be his 6th run over fences and I feel there is surely more to come from him and his mark of 139 looks readily exploitable. Ben Pauling has been outspoken about how highly he rates his chances and it could be that he's a springer in the market come the day.
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