2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting Review

Two days of enthralling racing at Newbury Racecourse took place over the weekend, and we review all of the action here.

The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury is one of the standout race meetings on the jump racing calendar. The 2023 renewal of this iconic event took place from Friday, 1st December to Saturday, 2nd December 2023, with 14 races being run in total.

This event has seen several iconic horses, jockeys and trainers compete for glory, with the coveted Gold Cup being the headline race on day two.

The most successful jockey is tied between Willie Robinson and Tom Scudamore, who have three wins each. Robinson’s wins came in the 1960s with Mandarin (1961), Mill House (1963) and Man of the West (1968). As for Scudamore, his wins have come in the 21st Century with Madison du Berlais (2008), Sizing Tennessee (2018) and Cloth Cap (2020).

Three horses share the honour of winning the Coral Gold Cup the most times, and they are Mandarin (1957, 1961), Arkle (1964, 1965) and Denman (2007, 2009). As for jockeys, only one holds the current record for the most Gold Cup wins at Newbury, Fulke Walwyn, who won it 7 times in his career.

Walwyn’s wins came with Mandarin (1957, 1961), Taxidermist (1958), Mill House (1963), Man of the West (1968), Charlie Potheen (1972) and Diamond Edge (1981).

The Coral Gold Meeting took place at the iconic and historic Newbury Racecourse in 2023, and here, we will review all 14 races from the two days of action.

The action on day one was dominated by the pre-race favourites, with only one race on Friday seeing the favourite fail to emerge victorious.

Coral Get Closer To The Action ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (12:10)

The opening race of the 2023 Gold Cup meeting was the Coral Get Closer To The Action ‘National Hunt Maiden Hurdle. Jeriko Du Reponet, ridden by Nico de Boinville, was seen as the leading contender to win the race, and de Boinville managed to live up to the pressure, winning the race quite comfortably in the end.

Rex Dingle’s King William Rufus and Freddie Gordon’s Sea Invasion had to settle for second and third place, respectively.

Coral Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (12:40)

The race that followed was the Coral Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, where the winner would win the Fulke Walwyn trophy. The favourite was the winner again on this occasion, with jockey Charlie Deutsch leading Djelo to victory after leading by two lengths in the dying embers of the race.

Nico de Boinville’s Persian Time and Harry Skelton’s Richhill were the next closest competitors in the field, finishing in second and third place, respectively.

‘Bet In Race’ With Coral Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (13:15)

The third race on day one of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting was the ‘Bet In Race’ With Coral Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle. Wodhooh, favourite for the race and ridden by Jack Kennedy, won it comfortably.

In a nine horse field, Max Of Stars (ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies) and Saisissante (ridden by James Davies) were Wodhooh’s closes competition. However, they could not win the race, and they filled the last two places in the race’s bottom three in the end.

Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase (13:50)

The race after John Francome came next on Friday. Hermes Allen, ridden by Harry Cobden and trained by Paul Nicholls, emerged victorious in the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase after withstanding the pressure of being pre-race favourites.

James Best’s Nickle Back and Tom Bellamy’s Tightenourbelts came in second and third place, respectively.

Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (14:25)

Friday’s third to last race was the 2023 Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase. Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls were again victorious after being pre-race favourites, guiding Kandoo Kid to glory in this race.

The final two places in the top three for the Handicap Chase were Charlie Deutsch’s Frero Banbou and Jack Hogan’s Karl Philippe.

Coral Long Distance Hurdle (15:00)

The penultimate race of the opening day, the Coral Long Distance Hurdle, was the only race on Friday not won by the pre-race favourite. Rex Dingle, riding Dashel Drasher, emerged victorious ahead of Tom Bellamy’s Paisley Park and Chris Ward’s Flight Deck.

Meanwhile, Marie’s Rock, the favourite, finished just outside the top three in fourth place.

Play Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ For Free Handicap Hurdle (15:35)

The final race at Newbury on Friday was the Play Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ For Free Handicap Hurdle. After a competitive and enthralling closing race, the winner was favourite Ed Keeper. Jockey Sam Twiston- Davies led Ed Keeper to victory for his second win of the day.

Harry Skelton’s Hoe Joly Smoke and Nico de Boinville’s Hyland had to settle for second and third place, respectively, in the end.

Now that we have reviewed the results from Day One, we will look back at the action on Day Two (Saturday, 2nd December), starting with the Play Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Play Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (11:55)

The opening race of the second and final day of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury Racecourse is the Play Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, pre-race favourite Manimole was victorious.

James Bowen’s Brave Jen came second, whilst our very own Mary – trained by Ian Williams and ridden by Charlie Todd – rounded off the top three in third.

Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (12:30)

The second race on Saturday was the 2023 renewal of the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase. This year, it was pre-race favourite Inch House, ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr. Rex Dingle’s Lord Baddesley and Brendan Powell’s Killer Kane, finished in the top three after ending the race in second and third place, respectively.

The other horses that took part in this race were Java Point (Jonathan Burke), Jay Jay Reilly (Harry Skelton), Cap Du Nord (Jack Tudor), Way Out (Micheal Nolan) and Kapga De Lily (Charlie Deutsch).

Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Hurdle (13:05)

The Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Hurdle was the third race on Saturday afternoon. After an enthralling race, Jingko Blue, ridden by Nico de Boinville, emerged victorious.

Tom Cannon’s Masaccio and Harry Cobden’s Emailandy finished in second and third place, respectively.

Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (13:40)

Jockey Harry Skelton got his first win of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting in the fourth race of the day, which was the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle. He rode Get A Tonic to victory ahead of stern competition from Jonjo O’Neill Jr’s Anyharminasking and Tom Cannon’s North Lodge, who came second and third, respectively.

The other horses in the field were Brendan Powell’s Off To A Flyer, Sam Twiston-Davies’ Uncle Bert, Freddie Gingell’s Rock My Way, Harry Cobden’s Irish Hill, Cameron Iles’ Sebastopol, Jack Quinlan’s Cobblers Dream and Nico de Boinville’s Jet Powered.

Bet In Race With Coral Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (14:15)

The next race was the 2023 Bet In Race With Coral Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. After a competitive and exciting race, it was to be Hansard, ridden by Niall Houlihan and trained by Gary Moore, who won this Handicap Hurdle in the end.

Ben Jones’ Bad and Paul O’Brien’s Brentford Hope did provide Hansard’s closest competition, but they had to settle for second and third place.

Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (14:50)

The highlight of day two, and the race meeting as a whole, was the Coral Gold Cup, which took place on Saturday afternoon. The winner of this coveted and prestigious race in 2023 was Datsalrightgino, ridden by Gavin Sheehan, and trained by Jamie Snowden.

Narrowly missing out on winning the meeting’s most famous race was Ben Harvey’s Mahler Mission and Jonjo O’Neill Jr’s Monbeg Genius.

Coral Get Close To The Action Handicap Chase (15:25)

The final race of day two and the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury was the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase. Riding Elixir De Nutz, Freddie Gingell won the race after fending off stern competition from pre-race favourite Master Chew (Sam Twiston-Davies).

Paul O’Brien’s Xcitations came third. The rest of the field was occupied by Rex Dingle’s The Russian Doyen, Derek Fox’s Bollingerandkrug and Ben Ffrench Davis’ Calgary Tiger.

Whilst this prestigious horse racing event is now over, there are a plethora of other enthralling race meetings to come in 2024! Book now to avoid disappointment.