Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup meeting begins on Friday with a competitive card featuring a pair of Grade 2 contests, in each of which Matty Sutcliffe has a selection, including one at 14/1…
1:50 Newbury – Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Crest Of Fortune 14/1 0.5pt EW 2 places
Plenty will have this as a match up between the 143 rated pair of Regent’s Stroll and Wendigo, but Paul Nicholls has had some good horses beaten in this before and Wendigo will need this to be a good test of pace.
The latter applies to CREST OF FORTUNE, who stayed the three miles strong when a two lengths third in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ at Aintree last season, but he had form over shorter last season and there’s little to suggest he should be rated as an outsider in this field of novices.
The Doyen gelding has long been highly regarded by the Honeyball yard as he was sent off the 7/2 joint favourite in the ever competitive Goffs UK Spring Sale bumper, beaten six lengths by Regent’s Stroll. He had form figures of 122213 over hurdles and was sent off the favourite or second favourite in all of them bar the Grade 1.
A tendency to be keen meant he was unable to justify such support on multiple occasions, but fences appeared to settle him well on chase debut at Cheltenham’s October meeting where he made late headway under Sam Twiston-Davies to stay on for second behind the race-fit Henry De Bromhead trained Zurich.
That was a solid effort off top-weight and he was impressive in the jumping department. He’ll have to improve again, but it’s significant that the yard pitch him into this contest as opposed to another handicap off what looks to be a more than workable mark of 137. This flatter and more galloping tracks should play into his strengths given his form around the likes of Ffos Las, Ayr and Aintree, and I suspect he’ll be given a more forcing ride this time now that he appears to have settled in his races.
2:25 Newbury – “Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-150) – Western General 12/1 1pt EW 2 places
Six of the last eight winners of this handicap chase were dropping back from graded company and the sole qualifier in here is WESTERN GENERAL for the in-form Joe Tizzard. Twinjets, Telepathique and Filanderer all appear to need to lead to be seen to best effect and that will play to the strengths of Western General, who can often be keen in thus settling off a strong gallop will aid in that respect.
He didn’t shape all too badly in a G3 Premier Handicap Chase at Ascot on seasonal beaten fifteen lengths, shaping as if a step back up in trip may suit. It is a mild concern that beyond two miles his form reads 416PU05PU, but he was a much improved model last season after having wind surgery, and he looked way ahead of his mark of 127 when bolting up twenty two lengths at Hereford albeit in a weak enough 0-140.
He’s still 7lbs above that winning mark and this certainly is a trickier contest, but it should pan out for him and he’s proven around a galloping track, with the yard operating at a 21% strike rate with their handicap chasers here in the last five seasons.
3:00 Newbury – Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Impose Toi 5/2 2pt WIN
IMPOSE TOI was a comfortable well backed 8/1 winner for the column last time out and looks to emulate Paisley Park in winning that Aintree contest off top-weight before going on to win the Long Walk Hurdle, and hopefully for our Cheltenham ante-post column, the Stayers’ Hurdle.
He’s in deeper waters here stepping up into Grade 2 company, but the manner in how he won that Pertemps Qualifier on his first try at this trip suggests he’s more than worth a crack at this level after giving the field 12lbs and winning with any amount in hand.
He receives 6lbs from last year’s winner Strong Leader who’s only rated 3lbs higher, and if he can back that latest effort up then this course winner could some beating to bolster his flawless record in the month of November (111).
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