Coral Gold Cup and Arkle Bets
Coral Gold Cup – Saturday 30th November
As is always the case, the Coral Gold Cup will be an early season highlight. If Bravemansgame turns up for this, that’ll definitely add some intrigue as not only will there be a classy Grade 1 performer in a handicap, but it will also keep the weights down for the others as well, which would lead to a great race. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the top 7 in the weights didn’t run.
I don’t think this is a race packed with well-handicapped horses this year. There might be one or two, but I wouldn’t say it’s vintage in that regard.
Colonel Harry is favourite, and I do like him as a horse, but he must prove he stays three miles as he’s never run over the trip before and to try it for the first time in this race is a brave move.
I’d say he’s favourite because the stable did it with Datsalrightgino last year, but they’re very different horses.
I backed Midnight River for this 12-months ago and I think it’s worth doing the same again in 2024.
He was coming into the race before falling at the 14th flight last season which was a shame as I really did fancy him. But he can have another go here off a lower rating (the same as he won off at the Aintree Festival in 2023). I don’t think there are many negatives for him.
He had a beautiful prep for this at Wetherby over a shorter trip where he jumped well before blowing up between the final couple of fences. Harry Skelton was not at all hard on him and it screamed of a race to improve his fitness. He has so much in his favour pointing towards a big effort and he’s not going to win a race bigger than this – I think this could be another Dan Skelton target job.
Recommended Bet
Back Midnight River @ 16/1
Arkle Chase – 11th March 2025
I know I know it’s only November. But I can’t help myself start the Cheltenham dabbling!
Ballyburn is the understandable market leader for the Arkle, but a general 5/2 is a shocking price and needs to be taken on. Willie Mullins has entered him in the Morgiana and Hatton’s Grace Hurdles, so he might not even be going chasing!
Bet365 are a standout 10/1 for Inthepocket with the general price available being 8/1. If you can get the bigger price then that’s great, but even the 8/1 looks fair to me.
A Grade 1-winning novice hurdler, Inthepocket ran second to Facile Vega on his chase debut last season before picking up an injury. So last season’s pain is this season’s gain.
Making his seasonal reappearance at Wexford in October, it was a bit of a wow performance for an early season novice chase. His jumping was electric – fast, accurate and efficient. Blowing away a Grade 1 winner from last season, Farren Glory, by 15 lengths and producing a career-best RPR of 154 in the process.
You couldn’t have asked for more. Inthepocket is a very exciting chaser in the making and even if Ballyburn does take this route, I’m more than happy sitting on a 10/1 docket for this lad.
Recommended Bet
Back Inthepocket @ 10/1
Alex Peperell
