Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Grade 3, Ascot 15:45
£100,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 7f 180y, Class 1    
Saturday 1st November 2025

1 Henry''s Friend 17/2
2 The Changing Man 7/2J
3 Blow Your Wad 7/2J
12 ran NR: Marble Sands Distances: 1¾l, 1¼l, 2¾l
Time: 5m 57.67s (fast by 1.83s)

Henry’s Friend thrust himself into the Grand National conversation with a display of sheer determination, repelling a strong late challenge to come home a length and three-quarters in front. For a moment it looked as though The Changing Man had timed his run to perfection, but the winner — as gritty as he is dependable — dug in and found more when it mattered.

The performance has prompted connections to widen their horizons. The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury had been pencilled in as the next stop, but that now appears far from certain, with Aintree suddenly looming as a very live option for the eight-year-old.

Trainer Ben Pauling said: “He just got in such a good rhythm. He was jumping and travelling beautifully, and he wouldn’t be fit. Ben Jones was just filling him up when he could and it was a class ride. When that horse is in that form, he’s not for passing. That was an absolutely awesome performance.

“This was originally a prep race for the Coral Gold Cup, but we might have to have a rethink after that. He’s going to get a mark that would probably get him in the Grand National. He’s obviously got the right sort of profile for Aintree and we’ll have to make a decision.”

Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 180y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Henry's Friend 8 11-10 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 17/2
2 1¾ The Changing Man 8 11-9 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 7/2J
3 1¼ Blow Your Wad 7 11-9 Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard 7/2J
4 2¾ Snipe 8 10-5 Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 22/1
5 ½ Neon Moon 9 10-11 David Pipe Jack Tudor 17/2
6 9 Two For Gold 12 12-0 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Ciaran Gethings 33/1
7 65 Coastguard Station 9 10-9 Henry Oliver Bryan Carver 16/1
FELL Olivers Travels 7 11-8 Mickey Bowen Toby McCain-Mitchell 14/1
PU Bhaloo 7 11-3 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 11/2
PU Beachcomber 7 11-2 Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 12/1
PU Le Coq Hardi 6 11-8 Henry De Bromhead Mike O'Connor 15/2
UR Courtland 10 11-1 Mickey Bowen Shane Fenelon 18/1
NR Marble Sands 9 11-9 David Killahena & Graeme McPherson NON RUNNER