Coral Gold Cup 2026 ante-post guides
Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase ante-post tips and trends
Updated 10 November 2026. Ante-post markets move a lot before March, so we refresh this guide after the key trials.
The Coral Gold Cup is Newbury's big staying handicap chase, run over 3m2f and 21 fences for £250,000. It's the race many still know as the Hennessy. Dan Skelton's mare Panic Attack won it last year at 16/1. The weights are out, with Grey Dawning top on 12st, and 37 horses stayed in at today's first scratchings. Jamie Snowden's Wendigo is a clear favourite after winning on his return at Carlisle, and the handicapper left his mark alone. Mr Hope Street, Regent's Stroll and Salver head the chasing pack. The field is capped at 24 and final declarations are a couple of days before the race, so expect the market to move. Updated 10 November 2026.
He ticks the boxes that have mattered most over the last ten years. He's seven, the age of three recent winners, carries 10st 9lb, inside the band every winner has carried, and he's had a run this season, as eight of the last ten winners had. He already has a Grade 2 win at this meeting, and his trainer won the race in 2023. The worry is the short price for a first handicap, but the handicapper's decision to leave him on 147 helps.
Key trends (2016 to 2025 (10 runnings, none abandoned))
| 7 of the last 10 winners were aged seven or eight | De Rasher Counter, Le Milos and Datsalrightgino were seven. Total Recall, Cloth Cap, Cloudy Glen and Kandoo Kid were eight. The exceptions were Native River (6), Panic Attack (9) and Sizing Tennessee (10). |
| No winner in the last 10 carried more than 11st 5lb | Kandoo Kid had the most to carry, 11st 5lb in 2024. Cloth Cap had the least, 10st in 2020. Grey Dawning (12st), Haiti Couleurs (11st 11lb) and Iroko (11st 8lb) would all need to buck this. |
| 9 of the last 10 winners were trained in Britain | Willie Mullins' Total Recall in 2017 is the only Irish-trained winner in that time. Mullins has four left in this year, Gordon Elliott has last year's runner-up Three Card Brag and Henry de Bromhead has Downmexicoway. |
| 8 of the last 10 winners had already run that season | Only Cloudy Glen (2021) and Kandoo Kid (2024) won first time out. Last year Panic Attack came here two weeks after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup. |
| 5 of the last 10 winners started at 12/1 or bigger | Sizing Tennessee and De Rasher Counter were both 12/1, Datsalrightgino and Panic Attack were 16/1, and Cloudy Glen was 33/1. Big fields and a stiff test mean shocks happen. |
| Dan Skelton has won two of the last four runnings | Le Milos won in 2022 and Panic Attack in 2025. Skelton has seven of the 37 still entered, including Panic Attack, Mr Hope Street and top weight Grey Dawning. |
| Jamie Snowden won it in 2023 | Datsalrightgino won at 16/1 as a seven-year-old carrying 10st 7lb. Snowden's Wendigo is also seven and set to carry 10st 9lb. |
| 8 of the last 10 runnings were on good to soft | The two exceptions, 2020 and 2022, were run on good ground. |
The main contenders
Won the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at this meeting last year and has won over 3m at Ayr. Returned with a Listed win at Carlisle on 1 November, giving 10lb to Potters Charm, and the handicapper left him on 147. Seven years old with 10st 9lb, which fits the profile, and Snowden says Newbury has been the plan all along.
Against: Will be having his first run in a handicap chase. Fell at the last in the Brown Advisory when held, and was beaten 18 lengths in the Mildmay at Aintree. Hasn't been tested beyond about 3m and he's a short price for a big-field handicap.
Won the Freebooter Handicap Chase over 3m1f at the Grand National meeting in April. Ran third over 2m3f at Stratford on 29 October, which looked like a prep. Off a low weight of 9st 11lb for the yard that has won two of the last four runnings.
Against: Only one win from five chase starts since last November, and he's yet to prove he stays 3m2f. Skelton has six others entered, so he may not be the stable's first choice.
Ran second in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree over 3m1f, finishing ahead of both Salver and Wendigo. Also third in a Grade 2 novices' handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Seven years old on 10st 11lb, and Nicholls won this in 2024 with Kandoo Kid, who also came here fresh.
Against: Hasn't run since April, and eight of the last ten winners had a run first. Pulled hard when third behind Wendigo at this meeting last year, so he needs to settle over the longer trip.
Won two Grade 2 novice chases last season, at Sandown and Windsor, then ran third in both the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and the Mildmay at Aintree. Was the early favourite when entries came out and is on a fair-looking 10st 12lb.
Against: Only six, and Native River is the only six-year-old winner in the last ten years. His jumping hasn't always been fluent. Finished eighth in a race on the Flat at Nottingham on 4 November, his only run this season.
Won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over nearly 3m6f in March, so stamina isn't a worry. Also won easily at Newbury in February. A lightly raced mare on 10st 6lb.
Against: Not seen since March. Only six, and she unseated her rider at Hereford last December and has jumped right at times.
Won two novice chases last season, including at Newbury in February, and ran third in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown. Warmed up with a good second in a Pertemps qualifier over hurdles at Newbury on 5 November. Carries 10st 7lb.
Against: Fell in the Mildmay at Aintree on his last run over fences. Untested beyond 3m1f.
Ran a big race to finish second in the Grand National in April, so he stays all day. Eight years old, which fits the age trend, and owned by JP McManus.
Against: His 11st 8lb is more than any winner in the last ten years carried. Hasn't run since Aintree, and was well beaten in the Ultima at Cheltenham before that.
Won this last year by six and a half lengths after landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Gets in on 10st 7lb, a pound less than she carried last year, and Newbury clearly suits her.
Against: She's ten now, and Sizing Tennessee is the only winner that old in the last ten years. Was taken out of her planned return at Carlisle on 1 November, and fell early in the Grand National.
Won last year's Welsh Grand National, the Denman Chase and then the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal on 31 October. Proven at Newbury and over long trips.
Against: 11st 11lb is a lot more than any recent winner has carried. After a Grade 1 win, connections may well have other targets, so his participation is uncertain.
Prices are a rough guide to the ante-post market when this guide was updated, not an offer.
What the tipsters say
- Oddschecker (Jake Price): Has Wendigo as an each-way ante-post selection, liking that his mark wasn't raised after Carlisle, but warns a first handicap off 147 is still a stiff task.
- Coral (David Stevens): Says Wendigo is the clear favourite, noting Jamie Snowden has been open from the start that this is the horse's target.
- Racing Post (Otis Frisby): Reported Wendigo hardening in the betting once the handicapper left him alone, with Snowden comparing him to a previous winner of the race.
- Sporting Life: Reading the entries, felt Dan Skelton once again holds a strong hand, with seven entries headed by Grey Dawning and last year's winner Panic Attack.
Key trials to watch
- Kerry National, Listowel (September 2026)
- Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase, Carlisle (1 November 2026)
- Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (qualifier), Newbury (5 November 2026)
- Paddy Power Gold Cup, Cheltenham (Mid-November 2026)
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FAQs
- What is Pat's NAPs' ante-post pick for the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase?
- Wendigo. He ticks the boxes that have mattered most over the last ten years. He's seven, the age of three recent winners, carries 10st 9lb, inside the band every winner has carried, and he's had a run this season, as eight of the last ten winners had. He already has a Grade 2 win at this meeting, and his trainer won the race in 2023. The worry is the short price for a first handicap, but the handicapper's decision to leave him on 147 helps.
- What are the key Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase trends?
- 7 of the last 10 winners were aged seven or eight. No winner in the last 10 carried more than 11st 5lb. 9 of the last 10 winners were trained in Britain.
- When is the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase?
- Saturday 28 November 2026, Newbury (3pm), over 3m2f. The Coral Gold Cup 2026 runs Saturday 28 November 2026.
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