Colin Parker Memorial Chase
Listed, Carlisle 13:48
£30,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 4f, Class 1   
Sunday 2nd November 2025

FormRatings

1 Resplendent Grey 9/2
2 Handstands 4/5F
3 Hollygrove Cha Cha 4/1
4 ran NR: Hombre De Guerra
Distances: ¾l, 2l, 1½l Time: 5m 16.32s (slow by 17.82s)

Resplendent Grey marked himself down as a serious Coral Gold Cup contender with a resolute return to action at Carlisle.

Last seen landing the bet365 Gold Cup on Sandown’s season finale, Olly Murphy’s striking grey was sent off at 9-2 for his reappearance over a trip that looked on the sharp side at two and a half miles. What followed was a display that blended class with grit, confirming that stamina is far from his only asset.

Ben Pauling’s odds-on favourite Handstands attempted to dictate throughout but never looked entirely fluent at his fences, finding a better rhythm only as the race unfolded. Resplendent Grey, meanwhile, was content to stalk in behind under Sean Bowen, the champion jockey sitting quietly until producing his mount after the last. Handstands battled back bravely, but the Murphy-trained chaser found more in the closing strides, edging ahead to win by three-quarters of a length with a powerful drive to the line.

Murphy, who watched from home rather than making the long trek north, was understandably satisfied.

“I thought it was a good performance as we left the headgear off, he was running over an inadequate trip and they didn’t go very quick.

“The favourite looked like he didn’t really enjoy being in front, he wasn’t at his best first time out last year and he probably wasn’t today, but my lad is a very, very good horse.”

The sponsors were quick to react, trimming Resplendent Grey into 7-1 joint-favourite (from 10-1) for the Coral Gold Cup alongside Myretown, and Murphy confirmed that Newbury on November 29 remains firmly in his sights.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it, but he’ll probably go straight to Newbury,” he added.

“His work has improved massively, he’s definitely sharpened up, but to be honest I’m a bit surprised I hadn’t really trained him for today and he will improve tonnes.

“Whether we put the headgear back on we’ll see. I’ll speak to Sean and see what he thinks, but he looked to travel a better than he ever has today.”

It was the kind of assured comeback that spoke volumes about both horse and trainer — a performance that hinted there may be plenty more to come when the distances lengthen and the stakes rise.

Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase
£30,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Resplendent Grey 7 11-8 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 9/2
2 ¾ Handstands 6 11-10 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 4/5F
3 2 Hollygrove Cha Cha 5 10-5 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 4/1
4 1½ The Kalooki Kid 7 11-4 Nicky Richards Danny McMenamin 11/2
NR Hombre De Guerra 7 11-4 N W Alexander NON RUNNER