Expert Analysis

As with the Coral Gold Cup, the only place to be in this chase was at the front end. The four horses to jump the first fence in front completed in the first four places. None of the holdup horses were able to make any impact on this contest.

RYAN’S ROCKET

He was last of the four prominent runners when the third horse Rare Edition made a mistake at the cross fence. From this point onwards the two leaders duelled all the way up the home straight thus offering a kinder trip to this eventual winner. He certainly picked up the pieces well as the front two horses tired through battling from a long way out.

JAVERT ALLEN

He held a race fitness advantage over the two horses to finish either side of him. After getting the better of his fellow pace setter jumping the last fence, he was then quickly headed by the winner who had probably enjoyed a kinder trip. His two victories over fences have both been earned in races that offered easier leads compared with this one.

DOYEN DU BAR

An excellent run from a rare Nicky Richards southern raider. He has acquired his rating via making all the running in small field northern contests. This was a tougher front end than the ones he has enjoyed in the past and he will hopefully benefit from this experience. I would also suggest that he will be better again when competing on more testing ground.

RARE EDITION

His mistake at the cross fence merely extended his losing margins. He did least best of the four prominent runners which may be worth remembering.

LUMINOUS LIGHT

This quirky character has been a bit keen in the past so it was interesting to see him out the back for the majority of the race. A quicker surface might play more to his strengths and he will find easier races than this one turned out to be.

GENERAL MEDRANO

He won the 2024 renewal of this chase on a day when the two favourites did not run a race after being taken to the inside of the course which provided the worst of the ground. This was a day when his hold up ride did him no favours whatsoever as the front end was the only place to be. He did make up ground under a considerate ride in the home straight and he lives to fight another day. The Emma Lavelle stable has been a bit quiet lately so I would not be in a hurry to mark him down for this apparently disappointing performance. We should see the best of him when competing in a race with a very strong gallop where the leaders come back to him more than they did today.

ETALON

29th November 2025 – Newbury – Whatever plans his connections have in mind for him, I doubt that it included winning this race. He is a horse that has often attracted plenty of interest in the betting markets; however, he has now failed to deliver on several occasions as he has only been successful once in his latest 12 chases.