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Onto more important matters. The Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase, that’s the Hennessy Gold Cup in “old money”, is a race to savour every season.
I often look for a second-season chaser, an improving stayer who is well handicapped. But this year I am keen on a more experienced chaser who I am convinced could go on to big things this season.
Regular readers will know that I am very sweet on both Evan Williams as a jumps trainer and, in particular, one of his horses ANNSAM.
This seven-year-old gelding won a handicap chase and a handicap hurdle last season but slightly blotted his copybook when pulled up – with my/our money down – in the Grade 3 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton in February.
His jumping let him down badly that day but he is usually swift and neat attacking his fences so I am going to forgive him that blip.
The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on November 26 has been his target since the end of last season. The 50-1 offered by bet365 is very generous. I would be surprised if that price lasted long, in fact, so get on now each way. He is 40-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair fixed odds.
There are dangers aplenty, however, so I am going to go in double-handed with another horse I got increasingly fond of last season: Lucinda Russell’s CORACH RAMBLER.
This eight-year-old gelding came from a long way back to land the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Once again, the Coral Gold Cup has been his likely target ever since.
Take the 16-1 each way on him too with Paddy Power and Betfair fixed odds. Like Annsam, Corach Rambler handles most ground conditions which is a huge bonus backing ante post.
This horse has long been the apple of Peter Scudamore’s eye and he rides the horse out each day in his dual role as Russell’s deputy and partner.
There is plenty of good jumps racing at Ascot, Wetherby and Ayr on Saturday. But at this time of the season it is difficult to know which horses are fit and which aren’t. So I will leave it at just those two bets in the Coral Gold Cup.
One for the horse tracker
Trainer Fergal O’Brien has started the season brightly and is set for another good year. There was a lot to like about the seasonal reappearance of his seven-year-old gelding Onagatheringstorm in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. This was the horse’s first run back after a wind operation and the handler’s horses usually come on for the run. O’Brien loves winners at his local track, so expect the horse to line-up at Cheltenham in another handicap hurdle off the same mark of 129 sooner rather than later.
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Pending:
1 point each way Spiritofthegames at 25-1 for the Grand Sefton Chase, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Annsam at 50-1 for the Coral Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Corach Rambler at 16-1 for the Coral Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
2022-3 jumps season: no settled bets as yet.
2022 Flat season running total: + 9.01 points
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 13 of the past 14 seasons. To a 1 point level stake over this period, I have made a profit of just over 469 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a "point" is your chosen regular stake).