Greatwood Gold Cup Tips: Consistent Outsider Can Finish in the Frame

Saturday's feature race is the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury. Here we preview the race and pick out an outsider to back each-way with Midnite.

With the Cheltenham Festival looming, it's a relatively quiet Saturday for racing but Newbury's feature - the Greatwood Gold Cup - looks a really nice handicap for punters to get stuck into with a view to growing their betting bank for Cheltenham. 

The Main Contenders

BILLYTHEREALBIGRED looks the likely favourite for the race given his main competitor in the market IROKO has Kelso's Premier Chase as his first preference. Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Gurriero, the 5-year-old has made a really encouraging start to life over fences - winning at Bangor and Exeter before finishing second in a Novices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last time. He will surely go well but no 5 year old has won this race before.

Paul Nicholls is set to saddle two in the race with KANDOO KID the most fancied. He won the Coral Gold Cup in November after having wind surgery so has a clear liking for the course but will need to contend with a 7lb hike in the weights here as well as drop in trip.

VINCENZO has finished 1st, 2nd and 1st in his three runs over fences so far so clearly needs respecting whilst LE MILOS is another Coral Gold Cup winner at Newbury having won that race in 2022. SAINT SEGAL is a C&D winner having beaten BEAU BALKO in a Handicap Chase here in December so is another for the shortlist.

Best Bet

Whilst BEAU BALKO was well beaten by Saint Segal in that C&D Handicap, he was well clear of the third and the Paul Nicholls trained gelding has now finished in the first three in his last ten outings. The handicapper has done him no favours (leaving him on a career high mark of 129) which tempers enthusiasm for backing him 'win only' but at around 16/1 and four each-way places (1/4 odds) being paid, he could be a good option to finish in the frame.

Nicholls has a good record in this race having won it nine times since 2006 and 5lb claimer Ben Bromley was on the horse when it won at Wincanton in November. He can guide the horse to another prominent finish in this Class 1 Premier Handicap.