Greatwood Gold Cup Entries: 21 horses entered for Newbury contest
Twenty one horses have been entered for the 2022 Greatwood Gold Cup, which takes centre stage at Newbury racecourse this weekend, and it's sure to be a hugely competitive betting heat for punters to get stuck into...
As we head towards March many a racing fan is counting down the days until the Cheltenham Festival, but there's still some excellent racing taking place ahead of the Prestbury Park extravaganza and the Greatwood Gold Cup, in particular, is one of those contests that whets the appetite.
Multiple champion trainer Paul Nicholls has a tremendous record in the race having saddled the winner on nine different occasions, and the Ditcheat handler could unleash a three-pronged attack at the 2m 4f contest. Ten-year-old Diego Du Charmil was last seen finishing second at Ascot in December, and he will be aiming to go one better, while Amour Du Nuit was last seen bounding to victory at Musselburgh on New Year's Day, and he will add more strength to the Nicholls charge, with Tamaroc Du Mathan completing the triumvirate.
Henry Oliver's The Big Bite finished an excellent third in this race last season off a 2lb higher mark, and he will be aiming to improve on that effort here off 144, so is of notable interest, while another fancied contender is the Venetia Williams-trained Espoir Du Guye, who was a fine seven length winner at Warwick last time out and shaped like there's a lot more to come over fences.
A five-length winner at Musselburgh in early February, Charlie Longsdon's Glen Forsa will be aiming to make it two wins on the spin on Saturday afternoon, and is another form contender bidding for the valuable prize at the Berkshire venue this weekend.
A faller last time out at Ludlow, Fergal O'Brien's Dublin Four had previously been victorious at Newbury, so a return to the same track should play to his strengths, while another that takes their chance and is in excellent form is Alan King's Senior Citizen, who has finished first and second in his last two runs, so is another flourishing performer adding depth to the entry list. Fourth behind Umbrigado in last year's contest, Senior Citizen will also be aiming to reverse the form with The Big Bite, who just finished in front of him in the 2021 renwal.
Of the others, Cheddleton, Amoola Gold and Kildisart add yet more depth to what is a really devilishly difficult assignment for punters to work out this weekend.