Mullins and Skelton Rivalry Heats Up at Newbury
This weekend marks a significant moment in the National Hunt season as Irish training powerhouse Willie Mullins turns his attention to some of Britain's most valuable races. His burgeoning battle with British trainer Dan Skelton for the Trainers' Championship is set to add a compelling narrative to the entire campaign. While both are expected to have runners in Saturday's feature, the Coral Gold Cup (2.55pm) at Newbury, the spotlight may well be stolen by other shrewdly-handicapped contenders.
The Coral Gold Cup: A Deep and Competitive Field
The prestigious three-mile-two-furlong handicap chase has attracted a host of fascinating runners, but none more compelling than The Changing Man. Trained by Joe Tizzard, this eight-year-old gelding arrives in excellent form following a promising second-place finish on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot earlier this month. That run is expected to have sharpened his fitness, and he lines up at Newbury off a handicap mark of 143.
This is just three pounds higher than the rating he carried when finishing second to Myretown in the Ultima at Cheltenham last spring. Crucially, he now meets that same rival on 12 pounds better terms. Although his consistency is not always matched by a winning habit, he remains a reliable performer and the Tizzard yard is in red-hot form. At odds of 9/1, he represents a rock-solid each-way prospect.
Another horse catching the eye at a bigger price is Victtorino. Trained by Venetia Williams, he finished a staying-on third in this very race last year, despite not jumping with total fluency. He now races off a mark just four pounds higher and remains only a pound above his last winning rating. His form from last season, which includes a victory over The Changing Man at Ascot, proves his capability in this company. Given he often performs well when fresh, his price of 16/1 offers significant each-way value.
Other Notable Runners and an Early Tip
The race is not short of other dangers. Nicky Henderson's Hyland is respected at a similar price to The Changing Man, while Gordon Elliott's Three Card Brag arrives in superb form. However, the latter must shoulder a hefty weight of 11st 10lbs, a burden only the great Denman has managed to carry to victory in this contest in recent times.
In the day's earlier two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (1.40pm), the market is headed by two rapidly improving types. However, with significant weight rises for their latest wins, the value may lie elsewhere. Personal Ambition for trainer Ben Pauling makes considerable appeal at around 10/1. The six-year-old showed high-class form over hurdles before a less productive season over fences. His recent comeback run at Carlisle was promising, and with a handy five-pound claim from jockey Callum Pritchard, he looks dangerously well-handicapped.
Saturday Pointers:
- Personal Ambition (Each-Way) - 1.40pm Newbury
- The Changing Man (Each-Way) - 2.55pm Newbury
- Victtorino (Each-Way) - 2.55pm Newbury
