2023 Coral Gold Cup: ante-post tips at 8-1 and 33-1

Fresh from tipping Iberico Lord (7-1) in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, Racing TV's Harry Allwood takes aim at the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and shares his two ante-post selections.

This column was first published on Tuesday, November 21

There were positive vibes from John McConnell when discussing MAHLER MISSION's Coral Gold Cup credentials on Tuesday, and his talented chaser ticks plenty of boxes ahead of the Newbury showpiece.

"He physically looks as good as ever," McConnell said when speaking via a zoom call in front of Newbury members at the Coral Gold Cup Gallops Morning. The Irish handler also advised Mahler Mission "is starting to fill out his frame now" and more improvement can be expected.

The seven-year-old has always been held in high regard by his Irish handler and was a Grade Two winner over hurdles plus also finished seventh in last year's Albert Bartlett.

He gradually improved over fences last season and I think he would have won the National Hunt Chase had he not fallen at the second last. He'd jumped with aplomb up until that point and had some useful horses on the backfoot a long way from home.

He finished a close second in Grade Two company prior to that and returned this season with a perfectly satisfactory effort behind Thunder Rock in the Colin Parker over an inadequate trip.

McConnell advised the outing would be needed ahead of that run and Mahler Mission travelled well before the lack of race fitness took its toll. He also appears better suited going left-handed (he jumped out to his left at Carlisle) and this strong stayer should relish the Coral Gold Cup test.

The McConnell yard is going through a lean patch (102 successive losers on the Flat and over Jumps at the time of writing) but he has had several recent runners go close (most recently Innatendue at Cheltenham), and of course Mahler Mission himself ran well at Carlisle during that sequence, so it isn't the biggest of concerns. A lot of his runners have been sent off at large odds, too.

Racing handily in this race tends to be an advantage, so I expect the selection to race up with the pace again and if he can into a good rhythm, just like he did in the National Hunt Chase before his mishap, then he should be capable of going close off a rating of 151.

Alan King tasted Coral Gold Cup glory (OK, "Hennessy Gold Cup glory") in 2015 and looks to hold decent claims this year with MAJOR DUNDEE, who is a best-priced 33-1 with Bet365 and Unibet.

This eight-year-old looked a useful staying chaser in the making when finishing third in last year's Scottish Grand National as a novice having been sent off a leading fancy, and his performance there can be upgraded given his lack of experience over the larger obstacles.

King advised his charge had returned a "stronger horse" last season and although he disappointed on his return to action at Ascot last year (which was being used as a prep for the 2022 Coral Gold Cup), he was "badly jarred" following his exertions there, and was given a break.

It was no surprise he needed the run on his next outing at Kempton, and he took a big step forward plus built on his initial promise to land the Midlands Grand National in March off a rating of 129.

King has earmarked the Grand National as a long-term target this season, and while he's now rated 137, he will need to go up in the ratings to get into the Aintree showpiece, especially now the field size has been reduced.

Connections will be hoping conditions are soft and this contest becomes a real test of stamina, which will suit the selection who endured a prep run when third at Warwick last time out where he shaped as though the outing was needed.

That should have put him spot on for the Coral Gold Cup, and he ran well at this track over a shorter trip last year. He also appears best suited to left-handed tracks.

One negative is that he's currently number 37 on the Coral Cold Cup list (maximum field is 24), so he'll need a few to drop out to sneak in at the bottom of the weights. That is factored into his price, though, and I don't think we have seen the best of Major Dundee yet, so he's worth chancing at chunky odds.

It would also be brilliant to see him carry the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings to victory.

If I had a spare score, here's how I'd invest it ante-post on the Coral Gold Cup:

£15 win on MAHLER MISSION at a general 8-1.

£5 win on MAJOR DUNDEE at 33-1 (with Unibet or Bet365).