Horse racing fans were treated to a blockbuster Saturday as the Coral Gold Cup stormed into Newbury on November 29, 2025, bringing together one of the deepest and most competitive fields in recent memory. With 24 runners lining up for the storied handicap chase, the energy on course was palpable and the betting action reached fever pitch—especially with a raft of enticing bookmaker offers and expert tips adding spice to the occasion.
ITV Racing’s coverage made sure no fan missed a beat, with the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle providing the backbone of a thrilling afternoon. The Coral Gold Cup, run at 2:55 pm, was the undisputed highlight—a true test for both punters and horses, with a field packed full of talent from both sides of the Irish Sea.
This year’s renewal was a stark contrast to last year’s smaller turnout. The 24-strong lineup included a mix of seasoned campaigners and up-and-coming chasers, making for an open contest and a dream scenario for value-seeking bettors. Myretown, fresh off a stirring Ultima Handicap Chase victory at Cheltenham, headed the betting and carried the weight of public expectation. Resplendent Grey, The Changing Man, Hyland, and several Irish raiders, including Monty’s Star and Gorgeous Tom from Henry de Bromhead’s yard, added further intrigue and depth to the race.
Bookmakers were quick to seize the moment, rolling out a host of sign-up bonuses and free bet promotions aimed squarely at Coral Gold Cup punters. Tote, for instance, offered money back in free bets up to £10 if a horse finished second in the big race, while also dangling the carrot of a Free Placepot with a guaranteed £150,000 prize pot at Newbury. Sky Bet, BOYLE Sports, BetMGM, Midnite, and BetWright joined the fray with their own eye-catching deals, ensuring new and existing customers had plenty of incentive to get involved.
Coral themselves marked the occasion with a standout offer: new customers who bet £10 received £50 in free bets, valid across the entire Gold Cup card. The offer was simple to claim—register, deposit, and place a qualifying bet at minimum odds of 1/2 within 14 days, and the free bets would roll in, ready to be deployed on any of the day’s high-stakes action. For those keeping an eye on the small print, the free bets were valid for 7 days and could be used on selected sportsbook markets only, with a few restrictions on deposit methods and bet types.
With so many bookmakers vying for attention, punters were spoiled for choice. According to the Racing Post, “It’s a strong renewal this year, with a full field declared for one of the most competitive handicap chases of the season. Whether you fancy the favourite Myretown or a lively each-way outsider, this promotion gives you a big boost going into the weekend.”
As for the race itself, opinions among tipsters and pundits were as varied as the field. ITV Racing’s expert picked Panic Attack at 12/1 as a value play, noting that the nine-year-old mare had shown marked improvement when winning at Cheltenham’s November meeting. Carrying just a 4lb penalty for that victory, she was considered 3lb well-in on official figures—a tempting prospect for those willing to overlook her age in a race where younger legs often have the edge. The expert explained, “There’s every chance she can come on for that first run in 280 days and she only has to carry a 4lb penalty for that success, meaning she’s 3lb well-in on official figures. There’s no stopping Dan Skelton so far this season and he may be able to take another step towards his first trainers’ title with this talented mare.”
However, the Weekend Winners team took a more skeptical view of Panic Attack’s chances, with Sam Boswell remarking, “You can’t have Panic Attack because she’s a nine-year-old and you really want a seven or eight-year-old to win this.” Instead, Boswell cast his eye further down the betting, landing on Lowry’s Bar at around 25/1 as a hopeful each-way punt. “There are two negatives here—not having a run would be a bit of a concern and he did bleed last time out when he pulled up. However, they seemingly are quite happy to go here fresh and take their chance. The more rain that falls the better,” he said, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the contest.
Declan Rix, another member of the panel, was drawn to the Irish-trained Three Card Brag, who had impressed with a recent Cheltenham win on good ground. “He could have won by further but I like the way he held himself back and hopefully didn’t have too hard a race. I could easily see him running into fourth or fifth. To win this off 155 is a tough ask—only two horses have done it in the last decade—but I think he’ll run well at the prices, especially with the rain coming,” Rix observed, emphasizing the depth and competitiveness of the field.
Meanwhile, Kate Tracey made no apologies for siding with the favorite. “I’m being very, very unoriginal. Both of you have cribbed him so far but I’m with Myretown. Forget the start of last time out, he won that by rights. He’s so cool, he’s so straightforward. He jumped very well in the main in the Ultima, yes he had the run on the field but still made it count. He was the third novice in the last four years to win the Ultima but that means he’s very unexposed still. He should just be reaching his peak age and has plenty more to come. He’s a battering ram at the front end and there’s always plenty of pace on. You always want to be up with the pace—it’s a real war of attrition. It’s whoever has the early boot and who can last out and I feel Myretown, with the way that he races, will be able to last it out. He’s the standout for me with plenty of scope to come.”
Elsewhere on the card, Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle provided Grade 1 action, while the undercard at both venues was bolstered by competitive handicaps and novice events. Zanndabad at 9/4 was tipped in the 12:50 Newcastle Class 2 novice hurdle, with Tommie Beau at 14/1 fancied in the 1:25 Newcastle staying chase—both seen as having class edges over their respective fields.
For punters, the day was about more than just picking winners. With so many offers in play, from Tote’s money-back specials to Coral’s headline-grabbing free bet promotion, the Coral Gold Cup meeting was as much about making the most of the value as it was about the thrill of the chase. The atmosphere on course and among viewers at home reflected the significance of the day in the National Hunt calendar.
As the dust settled on a frenetic afternoon, one thing was clear: the Coral Gold Cup had delivered on its promise of drama, value, and top-class racing, with the betting landscape as competitive as the field itself. Whether siding with the favorite or taking a chance on a longshot, punters and fans alike were left eagerly anticipating the next big day on the jumps calendar.
