Broadway Boy looking to take leading role at Cheltenham again

Coral Gold Cup runner-up Broadway Boy heads back to his beloved Cheltenham seeking a return to the winner’s enclosure in the Betfair Handicap Chase following his fine effort in defeat at Newbury.

Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the seven-year-old has a fine record at Prestbury Park and has excelled over this particular course and distance in the past.

He is set to carry the burden of top-weight in a race that also features recent Haydock winner Cloudy Glen representing the in-form Venetia Williams stable and Sam Thomas’ Our Power, a runner-up here last time following an absence.

However, the Broadway Boy team are confident of a bold bid as they attempt to tee-up a return to a higher grade later in the season.

“It looks a weak race and we know he loves the course and distance, so hopefully this will be a nice stepping stone towards the Cotswold Chase or something like that,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father.

“The Coral Gold Cup form has been franked with Henry’s Friend, who was behind, winning since and we’re just looking forward to running him and hoping he will go and get the job done, really.”

Jamie Snowden’s Colonel Harry was also seen in action in the Coral Gold Cup and although fancied to hit the frame at Newbury, could only finish 11th after seeing his petrol tank run empty late on.

He now drops back in distance for the valuable Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase on this competitive card, with connections hopeful he can regather the earlier momentum of his promising chasing career.

Snowden said: “He’s been a very progressive horse and we took the gamble to step him up in trip in the Coral Gold Cup but it didn’t work. He ran with the choke out and ran too free.

“He jumped great, travelled great and probably looked great through three-quarters of it, but he probably only stayed two-miles-seven and just didn’t get home over three and a quarter miles, so the drop back in trip looks an obvious thing to do.

“He’s in great order and the rain forecast should play in his favour.”

Dan Skelton’s Midnight River won this race in 2023 and is another to drop in trip after failing to figure in the Coral Gold Cup, while disputing affairs at the head of the betting for the £100,000 event is December Gold Cup hero Gemirande (Williams) and Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s novice Springwell Bay.