Jockeys to the fore on the biggest day of Newbury’s National Hunt season

Coral Gold Cup Day at Newbury Racecourse will become the most jockey-centric National Hunt meeting ever hosted.

‘Under Jockeys’ Orders’, a collaboration between Newbury Racecourse, the Professional Jockeys Association and Great British Racing, aims to celebrate our leading British jump jockeys on Saturday, November 30.

The Coral Gold Cup, one of the most prestigious handicap chases of the jumps season, will attract a host of the most successful British National Hunt jockeys.

Newbury’s racegoers will be able to engage directly with the human athletes of the sport on the day, while viewers at home can follow all the activity on social media and on television.

Jockeys riding in every race will be wearing their surnames on the back of their breeches to make them easily identifiable.

With jockeys riding in multiple races throughout the day in different silks, these posterior surname stickers will make jockeys easy for racegoers to follow.

For those in attendance on the day, there will be an autograph signing session, taking place outside the weighing room steps before racing begins.

In the build-up to the meeting, former winning riders of the Coral Gold Cup will take to the mic in a commentary challenge and call home their own race, ably assisted by leading broadcaster Richard Hoiles.

The line up for jockeys featuring in the commentary challenge will include Richard Johnson on the ever-popular Native River, Matty Batchelor on his memorable win on Carruthers, Ben Jones on his 2019 win riding De Rasher Counter and Harry Skelton on the 2022 winner trained by his brother Dan, Le Milos.

What’s more, children from local schools will take the lead and interview some of the sport’s leading names in a question-and-answer session. Keep an eye out for this exclusive content in the build-up to this year’s Coral Gold Cup.

Shaun Hinds, chief executive of Newbury Racecourse, said: “Following the success of this initiative at York Racecourse on Coolmore Nunthorpe Day in August, we are very excited to bring ‘Under Jockeys’ Orders’ to our flagship National Hunt meeting on Coral Gold Cup Day.

“Jockeys are the human athletes of our wonderful sport, and I am delighted that Newbury can help to further promote engagement with the participants and raise their profiles.

“We hope that we can further connect our racegoers, both in attendance and joining us from afar, with the jockeys and give an insight into the hard work, dedication and skill required to perform at the highest level in the sport.”

Dale Gibson, Professional Jockeys Association racing director, said: ''We're delighted to be partnering Newbury with 'Under Jockeys' Orders', a PJA initiative to bring racing fans closer to the sport and our heroes in the saddle.

“Racegoers will get the chance to meet the leading jump jockeys as part of an amazing day of racing and other activities at Newbury on 30th November.''

Harry Cobden, reigning National Hunt Champion Jockey, said: “I am looking forward to being involved in the event and believe that all jockeys have a part to play in promoting ourselves to a wider audience, both at the races and across all media platforms.

“Access to jockeys is important and must be encouraged in future.”

Discounted tickets are available for both days of the Coral Gold Cup meeting until 11.59pm on Friday, November 22, while U18s go free.

Two day passes – for those not wanting to miss a moment of the action – are also available offering significant savings.