'It seems to get bigger and more popular every year' - Newbury ready to host Constitution Hill and co at gallops morning

Constitution Hill is set to be the star name on show at Newbury's Coral Gold Cup gallops morning on Tuesday, an annual event which always attracts plenty of interest.

It is perhaps the most talked about gallops morning of the entire year and a whole host of star names are set to be in attendance, with trainers putting the final touches to several of their horses expected to be running over the next few weeks.

With that in mind, we look ahead to what promises to be another exciting morning at Newbury, and we will have all the reaction you need before the two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting begins on Friday, November 28.

What happened last year?

It was a dramatic one. Constitution Hill warmed up for last year's Fighting Fifth with a gallop, but he was usurped at the head of the Champion Hurdle market in the aftermath after failing to go past Sir Gino and his motionless rider.

Then there were the rumours on X that he was going to be retired, which were quickly quashed by Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. 

Constitution Hill (Nico de Boinville, left) finishes behind Sir Gino (James Bowen) in a racecourse gallop at Newbury last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The morning also influenced Coral Gold Cup plans, with Ben Pauling ruling out Shakem Up'Arry after a below-par gallop.

Who is going to be galloping?

Newbury is set to welcome almost 30 horses for its annual Coral gallops morning, with leading trainers Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Olly Murphy keen supporters of the event over the years.

Henderson, who is located a short drive away from the course in Lambourn, will bring a team of six, including Constitution Hill.

Nicholls, last year's winning Coral Gold Cup trainer with Kandoo Kid, will be represented by five horses, including big-race contender Inch House, while Resplendent Grey is the big hope for Murphy.

Nicky Henderson
Constitution Hill
Therapist
Act Of Innocence
Hyland
Galashiels
Manlaga

Olly Murphy
Resplendent Grey
Booster Bob
Kingston Pride
Dominic's Fault
Strong Leader
Doctor Ken

Resplendent Grey: Olly Murphy's Coral Gold Cup entry will be galloping at Newbury on Tuesday morningCredit: John Grossick Racing

Paul Nicholls
Inch House
Inthewaterside
Tahmuras
Captain Bellamy
Brave Kingdom

Chris Gordon 
Annual Invictus
Cheap Sandwiches

Harry Derham
Just Ennemi
Kiwi Rush
Mossy Fen Road
Dargiannini
Viyanni
Clondaw Park

Faye Bramley
Paggane
Amancio

Tom Lacey
Cruz Control
Montremares

Emma Lavelle will be bringing a team of four to Newbury, but her squad has yet to be confirmed.

'Every year it seems to get bigger and more popular'

Newbury clerk of the course George Hill is looking forward to another exciting morning at the track and has been pleased with the high level of interest the event gains each year.

Datsalrightgino and Kandoo Kid, the last two winners of the Coral Gold Cup, have used this gallops morning for their final preparations for the race, and Hill is hoping that trend can continue, with six of the horses working expected to feature in the big race.

Hill said on Monday: "I think out of the 14 races across the two days, seven of the winners had galloped here last year, including Kandoo Kid, who won the Coral Gold Cup, while 2023 winner Datsalrightgino also galloped here before he won that year. We're looking for the hat-trick now, so hopefully we might see a winner on show tomorrow morning.

"It's the third one I've been involved with at Newbury, and every year it seems to get bigger and more popular. I'm looking forward to it and we have some nice horses who are in the Coral Gold Cup, and we have a good, wide range of trainers supporting the morning as usual."

Read more . . .

On his way out or set for a Tiger Woods resurrection? The Racing Post's top tipsters have their say on Constitution Hill 

It'll be great to see Constitution Hill back - but it's time to be realistic about his chances of returning to the top 

'I know people will say they've heard it all before - but when I see Constitution Hill now, he's suddenly developed quality' 

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