- Monbeg Genius a Top Contender
- Fighting Fifth Hurdle Cancellation
- Newbury Racing Update
The Coral Gold Cup match scheduled for Saturday at Newbury will proceed as planned following a precautionary inspection.
The track was once again covered after Friday’s racing and was observed to be free of frost during the inspection. However, authorities will continue monitoring the situation as another temperature decline is anticipated before daybreak.
Good news also came from Fairyhouse, where the initial day of the Winter Festival completed an inspection. At 9 a.m., Donca9 amfficials conducted a second inspection to ensure temperatures were rising to lift the fleece covering the course. Officials declared the conditions suitable for racing based on a forecast of 2 degrees Celsius. An inspection was also successful for Bangor’s all-hurdle card. Initially scheduled for 11.30 am to a11.30 Monday’s event, Leicester will now do so at 8 am on raced8 am
Seventh Saturday Preview
Racing Setbacks and Cancellations
Racing faced the prospect of an empty weekend due to nationwide freezing temperatures and precipitation. Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle in Newcastle was cancelled, which would have been a significant setback.
Clerk of the course at Newcastle, Eloise Quayle, stated on Friday that everyone at the track was ‘absolutely gutted’ to have lost a card that was scheduled to feature the Fighting Fifth Hurdle debut of reigning champion over hurdles Constitution Hill and a swift reappearance by Shishkin, his stable companion at the Nicky Henderson yard, following his early withdrawal from racing at Ascot last weekend.
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Following the abandonment, the British Horseracing Authority promptly arranged to reschedule the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. As a result, the event will be incorporated into the Tingle Creek Chase schedule at Sandown on the subsequent Saturday.
Coral Gold Cup Highlights
The final four races of the day at Newbury will be broadcast on ITV Racing, beginning at 2.50 pm with the 2.50 pm Gold Cup, more widely recognized as the race formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup.
If the meeting proceeds, a field of twenty is anticipated to queue for the post. After winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup last year, Ga Law entered the Newcastle Rehearsal Chase with first preference.
The lineup consists of both established handicappers and lesser-known contenders, as it should. Three second-season chasers, all seven years old, Mahler Mission, Complete Unknown, and Monbeg Genius, are among the seven-year-olds competing for favouritism overnight at approximately 7-1.
Monbeg Genius (2.50) and Racing Insights
Monbeg Genius (2.50) may emerge as the most favourable option among the three. He has demonstrated comparable promise to his market competitors and derives value from both.
Some may be deterred by the fact that he was pulled up upon his return to action at Ascot last month, but an uncharacteristic jumping error left him with little chance despite still performing well. His form at Cheltenham the previous season was complex to overlook compared to Corach Rambler, the subsequent Grand National victor, and Fastorslow, a dual Grade One winner since.
Mount Newbury 1.40 Although he finished fourth when the favourite for a race at Cheltenham’s November meeting, Uncle Bert could be a significant factor if he can replicate his performance from several runs this year.
The 2.15 at Newbury, the second season of Harry Derham operating under a license, is proceeding consistently with his first. Brentford Hope won his track and distance debut last month and can add another big win.
Masonic Newbury 3.25 Master Chewy performed for most of last month’s event at Aintree, akin to the finest horse in his weight class, and he has more room for improvement over fences than most of his competitors.
