'It's been difficult' - Newbury pleased with Friday fields despite weather worry

Newbury is hopeful field sizes for Friday's opening day of its Coral Gold Cup meeting will not be reduced by drying conditions on raceday after the card attracted more declared horses than last year's corresponding fixture.

Recent rain, on top of an unseasonably dry summer and early autumn, has blighted meetings in Britain this month, with Newbury's opening jumps fixture on November 3 among those affected.

Friday's card, however, which features two Grade 2s including the Long Distance Hurdle, has attracted 63 possible runners across seven races, compared with 56 declared at the same stage in 2021.

The ground remains good ahead of the track's flagship jumps meeting and despite rain forecast on Thursday and continued watering, clerk of the course Keith Ottesen has warned dry conditions will be in store from Friday.

Newbury clerk Keith Ottesen: 'There's more rain tomorrow afternoon and evening but that's it. We'll declare on good ground, but it'll be drying on Friday morning'Credit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "We had 8mm on Wednesday morning, but it's now bright and breezy. We're calling it good ground and will continue to water to maintain that.

"There's more rain tomorrow afternoon and evening, but that's it. We'll declare on good ground, but it'll be drying on Friday morning."

Ascot's card last Saturday was depleted to just 30 runners, with a walkover in the novice handicap chase, and saw star names Constitution Hill, Edwardstone and L'Homme Presse miss their intended comebacks after connections deemed conditions to be too quick.

Ottesen said: "We'll have to wait for proof on the day. It's been a very difficult period to manage the ground and we're doing our best to keep it the way it currently is.

"We've maintained the same line all week that it's likely to be good ground.

"We hope the fields can maintain the same numbers they are at the moment and take their chances on good ground, and hopefully the right horses are running in the right races for the ground."

Thomas Darby (second right) and Paisley Park (second left): in opposition again on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

A field of six has been declared for the feature Coral Long Distance Hurdle (3.05), including star stayer Paisley Park, who won the race in 2019 and finished third last year.

The ten-year-old will come up against last year's winner Thomas Darby again as well as Long Walk Hurdle hero Champ, who will also be making his comeback.

Proschema, an easy winner of the West Yorkshire Hurdle last time, bids for more Grade 2 glory, with top-level-winning chaser Dashel Drasher and Tea Clipper completing the field.

Also on the card, impressive Warwick winner Stage Star runs in the Grade 2 Coral Racing Club Novices' Chase (1.55) and already has strong form at Newbury, having won the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle last December.

Long Distance Hurdle final field

ChampJonjo O'Neill Jr
Paisley ParkAidan Coleman
ProschemaHarry Skelton
Thomas DarbySean Bowen
Dashel DrasherRex Dingle
Tea ClipperStan Sheppard

Coral: 15-8 Proschema, 5-2 Champ, 5 Paisley Park, 11-2 Dashel Drasher, 7 Thomas Darby, 20 Tea Clipper

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