Edmunds hoping for some Miami Magic in Coral Gold Cup at Newbury

Stuart Edmunds is excited to see Miami Magic return to Newbury for the Coral Gold Cup later this month.

The seven-year-old won twice over fences last season, with a New Year’s Day success at Cheltenham followed by an impressive 15-length victory at Newbury the following month.

Miami Magic fell when stepped up to Grade One level for the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in the spring, but having blown away few cobwebs when second to Masaccio at Newbury last week, Edmunds is planning to send him back to the Berkshire circuit for the track’s £250,00 feature on November 28.

“I was very pleased with his run and that (Coral Gold Cup) is the plan,” said Edmunds.

“I hope we get some rain, like everybody else. I was very pleased with his comeback and we could have gone there for a gallop this week, but we decided to have a run and he’s come out of it well, so it’s good.”

Miami Magic is rated 145 over fences and and Edmunds admitted only time will tell whether that mark is lenient or not.

He added: “Like I said before he ran over hurdles the other day, it was the first time he’d ever run in a handicap over hurdles and likewise it will be the same over fences, so we’ll see.”

Miami Magic is one of 37 horses still in the mix for the Coral Gold Cup following the latest entry stage, with Jamie Snowden’s recent Carlisle scorer Wendigo the 4-1 favourite with the sponsors.

Other leading contenders include Dan Skelton’s Mr Hope Street and the Paul Nicholls-trained Regent’s Stroll, both of whom are priced up at 8-1, with Miami Magic next on the list as a 10-1 shot.

“All the market principals have stood their ground for this year’s Coral Gold Cup, with Wendigo remaining the clear favourite at 4-1 now, having been cut to 5-1 immediately following a Carlisle win that his handicap mark was left unchanged for, while his trainer Jamie Snowdon has also compared him favourably to his previous winner of this race, Datsalrightgino,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

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The weights are headed by Skelton’s Grey Dawning, but he looks set to instead defend his crown in the Betfair Chase at Haydock the previous weekend.

Also in the mix are Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Kid, Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham Festival heroine Holloway Queen and the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained pair of Iroko and Jagwar.

Guerriero is planning to split his stable stars, with one likely to join Grey Dawning on Merseyside.

“Hopefully one will go to Haydock and one will go to Newbury, it just depends where the ground is softer – wherever is softer Iroko will go and wherever is better Jagwar will go,” he said.

“As is the case with everyone things are just a bit up in the air at the minute until we get some consistent rain and we know what’s what.

“We’re really happy with both horses. The only thing we’re lacking is a gallop on the grass, which usually they would have had by now, but it’s still firm everywhere around here. We’re struggling with that, but they’re in good form and nearly ready to go.”

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