The stylish victory of Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday capped another tremendous week for our hard working team.

A month ago everyone was trying to write us off because our horses were a bit slower than usual to hit form in October. Just look at them go now as we close rapidly on prize money of £1 million for our owners. Last month we had our best ever November earning £679,000. Whether we quite have the firepower to win the trainers’ championship this season I don’t know but we are not going to be far away.
It’s brilliant when a long term plan comes off and the Coral Gold Cup had been firmly in my sights for Kandoo Kid from the day he came back into training in July. He had plenty in his favour as he jumps beautifully, is a clean-winded, lean type of horse who goes well fresh, and I thought he had definitely improved for a decent summer’s holiday. So it was a case of getting him to Newbury fit to run for his life on the day. I was thrilled with the way he worked round the course in a gallops morning twelve days ago. Nico de Boinville, who partnered him that day, said he felt awesome.
Kandoo Kid was given a fine ride on Saturday by Harry Cobden who always had him in the right place before letting him ease ahead two out on their way to a comfortable success. Afterwards I was thinking of my great friend the late Paul Barber who loved the Coral, formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup, won it twice with Denman, and would have been cheering Kandoo Kid on from above. I can hear him saying “That’s my boy”. So, I’d like to dedicate the victory to Paul’s memory.
It’s a race close to my heart too, as I’ve now won it four times as a trainer to go with my wins on Broadheath and Playschool as a jockey.
Kandoo Kid looks a natural for the Grand National and that is where he will be going in April with the option of a prep race in the spring.
The week had begun on a bright with a cosy triumph by Kabral du Mathan at Kempton before tidy wins by Just Lucky Sivola and Jackpot Des Bordes at Hereford and Taunton in midweek.
A double by Regent’s Stroll and Kalif du Berlais in the first two races at Newbury on Friday then set the tone for a memorable weekend. Regent’s Stroll is as good a young horse as we have had in a long time and we saw what he could do in bumpers past season.
He has a lot of pace, won as he liked and could run next in the Challow at Newbury although we are keeping our options open at this stage.
It was good to see Kalif du Berlais jumping with confidence after his heavy fall at Carlisle on his debut over fences. It amazed me how he got over it so quickly. I’m sure he will stay two and a half miles but as he is only four there is no point in stepping him up in trip at this stage.
I was really pleased with the run of Monmiral in the long distance hurdle. He was the only one to service it up to Strong Leader. He is going to run in this type of race all season and might even sidestep Aintree in the spring and head instead to Paris for the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil.
The bad news on Friday was that Captain Teague finished lame in the novice Chase and is out for the season.
On Saturday Jubilee Alpha and Inthewaterside both ran with great promise on their seasonal debuts. Jubilee Alpha would have won but for missing the second last and Inthewaterside will go chasing now.
A day later Caldwell Potter capped a memorable week with a decisive winning debut over fences at Carlisle. He jumped nicely, won well, gained valuable experience and has a big future.
Next weekend we will be busy with runners at Exeter , Sandown, Aintree and Chepstow. Quebecois is an intended starter in the Betfair Winter Hurdle on Friday at Sandown where Rubaud could make his debut over fences a day later in the Henry VIII Chase if the going is no worse than good to soft.
For all the latest news on all my runners on Saturday please do turn to my Betfair column which goes live early on Friday morning.