'It's a race of huge significance' - Sam Thomas chasing more Newbury glory

Sam Thomas will bid to join a select group who have won the Coral Gold Cup (3.05) as both a jockey and a trainer when Our Power lines up in the historic handicap chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Winner of the race aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained Denman in 2007 when it was known as the Hennessy, Thomas has shown himself to be a force in big Saturday races since taking out his training licence, but he is not underestimating the task at hand.

Only Nicholls and Andy Turnell have both ridden and trained the winner and Thomas, said: "It was an incredible period of my career to be riding those incredible horses. At that stage we didn't know just how good he [Denman] was. To be part of history when he was demolishing those big fields was very special and I have very fond memories of it all."

Reflecting on Saturday's contest, he said: "We're treating this as just another race, but it does come with a bit more pressure I suppose and it's a race of huge significance. The Coral Gold Cup has a lot of history and it's just great to have an each-way chance."

Our Power: 10-1 shot with the sponsors Coral for Saturday's big raceCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Our Power, who is priced at 10-1 with the sponsors, is 5lb higher than for his win in last month's London Gold Cup at Ascot. A field of 16 was declared on Thursday, with the weights headed by Fanion D'Estruval. Sam Brown, Chantry House and Chambard were the three runners who were not declared, with Bangor winner Le Milos taking over as 6-1 favourite.

Thomas added: "At this stage his preparation is done, it's just a question of keeping him in one piece and happy. He showed he's able to handle a decent-size field and a competitive race last time at Ascot. It's a bit of a cavalry charge down the hill there and I was a bit nervous, but it was a great test.

"He's pretty unflappable. He's not going to be too keen, he looks after himself and always travels within himself. If we can just survive the first back straight and get into a great position, I'll be really happy.

"There is no question about him staying – I've no doubt at all he'll stay further than three and a quarter miles."

Newbury's clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said the 3m2f handicap chase is set to be run on good ground.

"We’ve got good ground. We’ll finish off a bit of watering today and we're expecting some rain later," he said on Thursday.

"It will start to dry a bit more, but I expect it to still be good ground tomorrow [Friday] and we'll take it from there. We have got a plan that if we need to, we will put some water down the home straight after racing on Friday."

Coral: 6 Le Milos, 7 Corach Rambler, Threeunderthrufive, 15-2 Remastered, 8 Busselton, Gericault Roque, Oscar Elite, 10 Fiddlerontheroof, Our Power, 12 Lord Accord, 16 Annsam, 25 Lostintranslation, 33 Diablo De Rouhet, Fanion D'Estruval, Potterman, 100 Red Happy

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