Midnight River can return to winning ways on the biggest of stages in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Skelton’s charge landed a couple of good prizes last term, winning at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day before adding a further success at Aintree on Grand National day.
Those two efforts were punctuated by a disappointing showing at the Cheltenham Festival, when he was caught wide throughout in the Plate.
Midnight River was raised 5lb for Aintree success – putting him a total of 11lb above his New Year’s Day mark – so Skelton opted to tackle the Charlie Hall Chase for his debut run, starting the outsider of four runners with the conditions of the race putting him at a distinct disadvantage.
Beaten 23 lengths in third, the eight-year-old looked in need of the outing but the spin should have put him right for this assignment, with the presence of Ahoy Senor ensuring Midnight River’s burden is not too heavy as he tackles a full three-and-a- quarter miles for the first time.
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The Skelton team also have a likely type in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle with Get A Tonic.
She was a winner off a perch of 130 back in April 2022, but has been out of luck in six subsequent starts, most recently failing to sparkle when tried over fences at Warwick in early November.
Back over hurdles and dropped to a mark of 130, Get A Tonic could return to form.
Under Control can pick up where she left off last term by winning the Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.
The French recruit won three of her four outings for Nicky Henderson, with her only disappointment coming when upped to Grade Two level for the mares’ novices’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Given that was just her second career start, it was not surprising Under Control found it tough going but dropped back to handicap company, she rounded off her British campaign with wins back at Prestbury Park and then in a highly-competitive novices’ hurdle final at Sandown.
Henderson has won three of the last four renewals of this race and Under Control can further enhance those statistics.
William Of York tackles Doncaster’s At The Races App Form Study Novices’ Handicap Chase on his first start for Rebecca Menzies.
A £38,000 recruit after winning three over hurdles on the bounce for Skelton, William Of York could not make his mark over the bigger obstacles.
Act Of Authority was found out in Grade Two company last time, but the Paul & Janet Mizen Wedding Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle at Bangor looks within his compass, even with a winner’s penalty.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Midnight River (2.50 Newbury)
DOUBLE Get A Tonic (1.40 Newbury)
TREBLE Under Control (2.15 Newbury)
YANKEE William of York (2.06 Doncaster)
