Looking Ahead: Coral Gold Cup Meeting

Just a few weeks remain until the Coral Gold Cup Meeting finally returns to the historic Newbury Racecourse.

The Coral Gold Cup meeting is one of horse racing’s most anticipated events, and it is set to return to Newbury Racecourse for a day of enthralling racing on Saturday, 2nd December 2023. This winter carnival is one of the highlights of the National Hunt Racing season, and it brings with it a lot of history.

The first Gold Cup was run in 1957 when it was initially known as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and was first hosted at Cheltenham Racecourse. The first-ever winner was a horse called Mandarin, owned by Peggy Hennessey. It was in 1961 that the Gold Cup was moved to Newbury, where it remains to this day.

Fast forward to 2023, and there will once again be a total of seven races that will be taking place throughout the Coral Gold Cup Meeting. Proceedings will get underway with the Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 12:05 before the meeting comes to a close for another year with the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase at 15:35.

Here, we will look at all of the races that are set to take place at this year’s Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury.

Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (12:05)

The race to kick off the 2023 Coral Cup Meeting will be the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. The most recent running of this race took place in 2022, with 7 horses taking part. That year, it was won by Jockey James Bowen, who rode Luccia to victory ahead of competition from She’s A Saint and Poetic Music. They had to settle for second and third place, respectively.

Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (12:40)

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase will follow the Novices’ Hurdle as the second race on the day. Zanza, ridden by Tom O’Brien, was the most recent winner of this race, beating runner-up Demachine and third-place Java Point to the finish line in 2022. 10 horses took part in this race last year.

Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Hurdle (13:15)

The next race to take to the track at Newbury will be the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Hurdle. Rewind to 2022, there were 3 runners, with the winner being McFabulous, who jockey Harry Cobden rode. Thyme Hill came in second place, whilst Mortlach ended up finishing in third place.

Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (13:50)

The fourth race of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup at Newbury will be the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle. Nine horses participated in this race last year, and it was Red Risk, ridden by Harry Cobden, who fended off competition from Petit Tonnerre (2nd place) and Dorking Boy (3rd place) to win the race in 2022.

Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (14:25)

The third to last race to be run at this race meeting will be the Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. On board First Street, James Bowen led a field of 7 horses across the finish line to win the most recent running of this race back in 2022. Grivetana and Teddy Blue had to settle for second and third place, respectively.

Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (15:00)

The highlight of the afternoon’s racing will, of course, be the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase, which is the penultimate race of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting. There were 15 runners in 2022, and pre-race favourite Le Milos took victory in the end, with Remastered and Gericault Roque filling the final two spots in the race’s top three.

Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase (15:35)

The final race of the 2023 Coral Gold Cup Meeting will be the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase. There was a field of six runners in this race last year. After an enthralling race, it was another pre-race favourite, Amarillo Sky, who tasted victory after fending off Only Money, who finished in second, and Monsieur Lecoq, who finished in third place.

Anticipation and excitement are building ahead of the Meeting, which is getting underway at the famous Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, 2nd December 2023.

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