Can the Skeltons strike again? Le Milos now strong favourite for Coral Gold Cup

Your one-stop shop for the day's big-race action at Newbury and Newcastle.

Le Milos is now outright favourite for the Coral Gold Cup (3.05) as he is no bigger than 5-1 for Newbury's feature having been available at 7-1 last night.

Punters believe Dan and Harry Skelton can scoop another major prize after Protektorat's Betfair Chase success last weekend, with the David Pipe-trained duo Gericault Roque and Remastered easy to back.

Le Milos will carry a 4lb penalty for a cosy success on his reappearance at Bangor, which was his first start for his current stable having previously been trained by Tim Vaughan.

That performance came on heavy ground but he has winning form on good to soft too, which will stand him in good stead on these quickening conditions.

Horses aged five do not boast a particularly encouraging record in the Coral Gold Cup but plenty think Busselton can become the first Irish winner since Total Recall in 2017.

The young chaser has a strong stat to overcome in that no five-year-old has ever won the race, with seven trying and failing, but he was a decisive winner of the Kerry National last time and seemingly has more to give.

Busselton: can he beat the trends in the Newbury feature?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He has been trimmed to 7-1 from 9-1 last night and will be bidding to give his dual-purpose trainer Joseph O'Brien another landmark success.

The last time Busselton ran in Britain he finished 40 lengths behind Bob Olinger in a dramatic running of the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Another runner to attract support is Pricewise pick Oscar Elite, who made a sound seasonal reappearance in the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby.

That race is often a good guide to this – Threeunderthrufive was ahead of him in third – and the flashy type is now no bigger than 8-1 having been 10-1 yesterday.

He has yet to win over fences but boasts valuable experience in big-field handicaps as he finished third behind the reopposing pair Corach Rambler and Gericault Roque in the Ultima back in March.

Joe Tizzard played a key part in his father's success in this race with Native River (2016) and Sizing Tennessee (2018) and will be bidding to add his name to the race's roll of honour.

A day to savour

It's time for take two. Last weekend's racing fell apart, with a host of big names who had been set to make their returns withdrawn due to concerns over the ground.

But we go again. Today, Constitution Hill is primed to make his eagerly awaited seasonal debut in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle (2.10). Among his opposition will be stablemate and 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante.

Another heavyweight we were hoping to see last weekend was L'Homme Presse, the shortest-priced home contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He appears in handicap company at Newcastle (3.25) as he looks to emphasise his credentials for the big one next March.

At Newbury fifteen remain in the Coral Gold Cup (3.05), with Our Power ruled out this morning.

The quickening conditions have prompted several defections in other races on the card, however, including two from the yard of Nicky Henderson and three from Dan Skelton.

The Henderson-trained Walking On Air is the most high-profile of the lot having been pulled out of the 2m4½f handicap hurdle (1.55) on account of the drying ground.

Going update: Newbury

The going is good on both the chase course and hurdles track with clerk of the course Keith Ottesen unsurprised by the non-runners.

He said: "It's still good ground. Plenty of people here yesterday were hoping it would be softer than good but they've realised the horses in those races today aren't really suitable for the good ground conditions, so it's better they've come out before we start racing."

Ottesen does not see the ground drying up significantly throughout the meeting, with rain forecast before the end of the card.

He added: "We watered yesterday, putting 8mm on the home straight, and it's quite noticeable. We'll leave it good for now. It's quite breezy but there's plenty of moisture in the ground.

"It could rain before we finish, but because the moisture is there it will take the rain well."

Good (GoingStick 5.7 on the chase course and 5.6 on the hurdles track at 6.30am)

8mm of water was applied to the home straight after racing on Friday

Posted at 7.45am

Non-runners: Newbury

12.45 Gelino Bello (going)
1.20 Mister Coffey (going), Lieutenant Rocco (bruised foot), Champagne Court (going)
1.55 Walking On Air (going), West Balboa (going), Imphal (off colour)
2.30 Pikar (going)
3.05 Our Power (self cert, other)
3.40 Casa Tall (going), Eclair D'Ainay (going)

Updated at 9.15am

Market movers

Rockinastorm (2.38 Bangor)
4-1 (from 7)

Le Milos (3.05 Newbury)
5-1 (from 7)

Updated at 12.15pm

Saturday's race previews:

1.20 Newbury: 'He's the ideal horse for it' - can Kapcorse strike again for Paul Nicholls?

1.55 Newbury: can West Balboa keep Walking On Air grounded in this competitive handicap?

2.10 Newcastle: 'I hope it's not a tactical affair' - Constitution Hill ready for Fighting Fifth

2.30 Newbury: is First Street the one? Nicky Henderson bids to enhance Gerry Feilden record

3.05 Newbury: 'He's come on a treat for the run' - key trainer quotes for 2022 Coral Gold Cup

3.25 Newcastle: L'Homme Presse the star turn in Rehearsal - analysis and key quotes

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