Newbury Is an Unknown but the Stars Are on Show at Newcastle

by Roy Brindley, 1 December 2023

Newcastle Racecourse has hit the jackpot with two of jump racing’s brightest stars appearing on its Saturday card. The imperious Constitution Hill is 1/5 to land his eighth consecutive start in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at 1.55 pm.

Later in the afternoon, multiple Grade-1 winning chaser Shishkin makes his first appearance in a handicap. Stubbornly refusing to race at Ascot last weekend, Nicky Henderson’s charge must now shoulder the top weight and give 21 pounds or more to all of his rivals.

Trainer Nicky Henderson pictured with Jonbon and the biggest draw in National Hunt racing, Constitution Hill. ©GettyImages

If you plan on backing the nine-year-old in Newcastle’s 3.05 pm contest, be sure to choose the right horse racing betting site. Many bookies offer ‘justice payments’ for bets on horses that refuse to race. If Shishkin does not consent to start for a second time in a week, it is vital your bet is not settled as a loser.

A Complete Unknown Can Land the New Coral Cup

Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup – known for six decades as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup – appears to be a wide-open contest. The race has thrown up some great champions, such as Gold Cup winners Denman, Native River, Bobs Worth, and Burrough Hill Lad. Other greats that landed this contest include Champion Chase winner One Man and Grand National winner Many Clouds.

Is there a potential champion amongst this year’s 20-runners in a race where firms bet 7/1 the field? In more ways than one, it is a complete unknown! That is because Paul Nicholls saddles a horse by the same name who appears to have the potential to hit dizzy heights courtesy of his age and limited experience.

Complete Unknown boasts three wins and two seconds from his five chase starts. He beat just two rivals on his seasonal debut but is better judged on his second-placed effort in an April Grade-1 contest at Aintree.

His weight (ten-stone 11-pounds) and age – he is seven – frames him nicely in the context of this three-mile two-furlong contest. Paul Nicholls may not have won this race since 2009, but the stable had four winners from five runners last Saturday.

Big Hopes for Two Novice Hurdlers

Personal Ambition looks the best bet of the day. This four-year-old goes in Doncaster’s 12.21 pm, a novice’s hurdle. The Ben Pauling-trained horse carries a seven-pound penalty for winning on his rules debut at Warwick. And it was an impressive victory where he overcame inexperience to beat a Nicky Henderson-trained ‘hot-pot’ by three lengths.

While Personal Ambition has little to beat, ‘The French Furze Novices Hurdle’ at Newcastle (12.45 pm) is an altogether stronger affair. All six runners are previous winners; four were last-time-out winners.

Though Shalt Not Pass! ✊

Big City Roller – a P2P winner in January – repels all-comers on his Rules debut in the first division of the @BetRhino Novices’ Hurdle @CarlisleRaces 🏇@pinch1234 | @CharlieLongsdon pic.twitter.com/xcVK5r2YOe

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 26, 2023

Big City Roller could prove best and will almost certainly be over-priced, with punters likely to choose a horse ridden by a professional jockey instead of a conditional rider. However, Big City Roller’s pilot, Lilly Pinchin, is very capable. She has earned praise from the legendary Ruby Walsh, and she rode a winner on Thursday.

Pinchin partnered Big City Roller to victory at Cartmel a month ago when horses representing some powerful stables were beaten off. The horse gave the impression that Saturday’s step up to two miles and six furlongs would suit. And so, this son of a Sheikh Mohammed-owned and bred mare will surely give a bold showing.

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