Irish runners in Britain this weekend: 'Monty's Star is a cracking bet at that price' Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup meeting gets underway on Friday and there are a couple of Grade 2 races on the card. There’s also some thoroughly competitive handicap action on offer, which has attracted some Irish trainers. Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle takes place on Saturday and Willie Mullins is sending over a fascinating runner with an unbeaten record and Newbury’s big race on that day also has some intriguing Irish raiders amongst the entries. With that in mind, we’re going to take a closer look at some of Ireland’s key raiders over the weekend and how big their chances are of taking home some prize money. Newbury on Friday Gordon Elliott has a couple of intriguing entries at Newbury on Friday and the once-raced Highland Crystal is near the top of the list. She made her debut in an academy hurdle at Punchestown and made a very good impression, scooting clear to score by 14 lengths. Improvement seems likely here and if that performance was anything to go by, she’s unlikely to be far away. King Of Kingsfield runs in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase and he won a lesser Grade 3 on his penultimate start. Struggling at Cheltenham when last seen, he probably has a bit to prove at this level but he’s a talented individual and his best form gives him every chance. Hewick won the King George a couple of years ago and he’s set to run in the Long Distance Hurdle. Ground conditions might not be to his liking, which could put his participation in doubt, but obviously he has some excellent form in the book and is entitled to be competitive. Coral Gold Cup There’s £250,000 on offer for this massive handicap chase so it’s no surprise that Willie Mullins has sent four runners over. Spanish Harlem has been progressive and he was an easy winner of the Kerry National when last seen, so he’s clearly one to watch. Blizzard Of Oz battled his way to victory in order to win a Listed race at Wexford when last seen and has only had five starts over fences. There should be plenty more to come from him, while O’Moore Park and A Penny Hundred are less likely to feature. Gavin Cromwell’s Perceval Legallois is a smart handicap chaser on his day and he won a couple of good races last season. He’s pretty exposed at this point however and connections are maybe preparing for another Grand National bid. Henry de Bromhead runs Gorgeous Tom and Monty’s Star, with Darragh O’Keeffe riding the former. That could prove to be a mistake however as Monty’s Star is a cracking bet at that price. Second to Fact To File in the 2024 Brown Advisory, he could be up to winning this. Mullins goes for Gold at Newcastle Britain’s leading Champion Hurdle contenders The New Lion and Constitution Hill go head- to-head in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle up at Newbury, but Willie Mullins isn’t going to let them have it all their own way and he sends over the unbeaten Anzadam. Connections decided to take things slowly with the French import last season and he was an impressive winner of a Grade 3 at Naas in January. Mullins is confident that he’s a Grade 1 horse in the making and the genius trainer is rarely wrong.
