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Coral Cup Hurdle
14:50 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-15
Winner: £56,270
Runners: 26
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 10
Distance: 2m5f0y
The Coral Cup is a 2m5f handicap hurdle that takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and, with a maximum field of 26, is one of the most fiercely competitive betting heats at the meeting, with only one winner in the past ten years returning a single-figure price.
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7(0)
3-1252
Call Me Lord
-
J: Daryl Jacob
T: Nicky Henderson
10
11-9
146
150
Kempton (2m5f) in November saw his only win in the last three and a bit years but he was unlucky next time (2m7f, soft); back on song when second at Sandown latest; concerns are that he pulled up in this race last year and underperformed here on penultimate start, while a big show in this race would require his best form in nearly two years.
26(0)
4-1633
Elvis Mail
-
J: Bruce Lynn
T: N W Alexander
9
10-11
134
153
Better form as a chaser, including in useful handicap at Doncaster (good; acts on heavy) when upped to 3m on penultimate start; back hurdling today (first time since last March) and his chase mark is 4lb higher, with some hurdles form also reading well, but he's comparatively exposed.
16(0)
0-0039
The Very Man
-
J: Conor Smithers
T: Mrs John Harrington
9
11-2
139
154
More miss than hit in good handicap hurdles, admittedly hampered when 66-1 in the Martin Pipe here one year ago; probably stretched by 3m on latest hurdles start but won a charity Flat race (from Scaramanga) later in February; more exposed than most and needs to be at his peak.
4(0)
311/4-
Scaramanga
-
J: Jack Foley
T: W P Mullins
8
11-10
147
153
Useful hurdler two seasons back for Paul Nicholls; still pretty useful on Flat, changing stables after Royal Ascot last year and running respectably in two good Flat handicaps in the autumn; the latter was on heavy going but he's not been seen often on testing ground and peak efforts on no worse than good to soft; second to The Very Man in a charity Flat race last month and this is his first run over hurdles for Willie Mullins.
5(0)
18-012
Red Risk
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
8
11-10
147
151
Inconsistent previously but he's run well on both starts this winter, winning at Newbury (2m4f, good) and short-headed when 25-1 under 7lb claimer in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f, soft); raised another 5lb to career-high mark but not entirely ruled out.
17(0)
-22211
Benson
-
J: Ryan Mania
T: Sandy Thomson
8
11-2
134
151
Acts on heavy; runner-up on first three starts for new yard before cheekpieces were restored for wins at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft; easily made all) and Kelso (2m, good to soft; came from well off the pace); the latter was a very warm handicap 11 days ago and, although he now has 5lb penalty for career-high mark, it looks as if he's never been better.
6(0)
-P5P43
Beacon Edge
-
J: Michael O'Sullivan
T: Noel Meade
9
11-10
147
157
Often seen in Grade 1 races, including fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle here in 2021 when he travelled well but was seemingly outstayed; won a Grade 1 novice chase in Ireland last term; more miss than hit last year but this is his first handicap and last month's third in Grade 2 hurdle at Navan (2m5f) puts him back into calculations; wears a first-time tongue-tie.
18(0)
1U4B08
Camprond
-
J: Aidan Coleman
T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
7
11-1
138
156
Fourth in two major handicaps here last term, including this race when soft ground might not have been ideal; won well in a good handicap at Punchestown (2m3f, yielding) next time; failed to shine this winter, chasing initially, but he is 2lb lower than this time last year; headed the recent betting.
2(0)
1-4P05
Sporting John
-
J: Micheal Nolan
T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
8
12-0
151
154
Won two handicap hurdles (3m/3m1f) last season, the first at this track and the second off today's mark; failed to shine this term in a Grade 2 hurdle race and three handicap chases, having a wind operation before penultimate start and trying blinkers (now discarded) on latest; no ground worries but unraced over this short for over two years and he's unreliable.
14(0)
B1-378
Langer Dan
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
7
11-4
141
158
Beat all bar Galopin Des Champs in the 2021 Martin Pipe at this meeting and brought down early when favourite last year on his second go at that race; won at Aintree last April but remains on a competitive mark and highly likely to stage a return to form; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; player.
9(0)
3-2FP7
Grand Roi
-
J: Corey McGivern
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-7
144
157
Disappointing when 6-1 favourite and 12-1 in last two renewals of this race; no ground worries but he has not shone this term (over fences initially) and his last win was in December 2020, so he's not the percentage call.
24(0)
4-246F
Nells Son
-
J: Danny McMenamin
T: Nicky Richards
8
10-12
135
154
Grade 2 novice win at Kelso (2m2f, soft) last March; wore cheekpieces on last two starts when respectable sixth of 15 here (2m1f, soft) in January and a faller three out when in serious contention at Kelso (2m5f) 11 days ago, with wind surgery in between; might be capable of better but needs to be.
3(0)
117-33
Run For Oscar
-
J: Philip Byrnes
T: C Byrnes
8
11-10
147
153
Usually held up; made a big splash on the Flat last term, notably winning the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (2m2f, good); back hurdling for good third at Haydock (3m, soft) and not discredited on soft to heavy in December, but it could be that a return to better ground would help; tried cheekpieces (return today) and visor in 2021 but no headgear last year; high-profile candidate.
19(0)
F6-021
San Salvador
-
J: Richard Deegan
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
7
11-1
138
156
Second to Riaan at Cork (2m4f, soft) in November, no threat to the winner but running on despite a blunder two out and being untidy at the last; no such errors at Punchestown (extended 2m3f, soft to heavy) in December latest, always close up, going on two out and threatening to turn 19-runner race into a procession before Captain Conby closed late on; style of that win has to put him on the shortlist.
21(0)
481-00
An Epic Song
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Martin Brassil
6
11-0
137
151
Wide-margin winner at Punchestown (2m3f, heavy) in December 2021 and that's his only foray beyond 2m1f, suiting him extremely well; 338 days off before never figuring in two hot handicaps this winter (50-1 and 80-1); tongue-tie and cheekpieces are both enlisted today; very much catches the eye with this longer trip.
20(0)
314316
Tax For Max
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
6
11-0
137
150
33-1 (Triumph) and 28-1 (County) when well held at this meeting in the last two seasons, falling at the final flight in the latter; his two wins over hurdles since were in non-handicaps and although he's also shown up in two warm handicaps over 2m, including latest start, he needs to find extra; the marked step up in trip is not sure to help.
12(0)
14-331
HMS Seahorse
-
J: Sean O'Keeffe
T: Paul Nolan
5
11-6
143
151
Fourth in the 4yo handicap at this meeting last year; major improvement when upped to 2m4f at Navan (soft) on latest start, seeing it out very well to emerge on top late on; up the weights but should have more to offer at this sort of trip and represents a trainer whose Festival runners need lots of respect.
25(0)
114-80
Off Your Rocco
-
J: Sam Ewing
T: Gordon Elliott
7
10-12
135
150
Three hurdle wins in 2021 as a novice, in 2m5f Listed race at Limerick (soft) on third occasion, and creditable fourth in Grade 2 novice over C&D that November; not seen again until well beaten in two warm handicaps in December (18-1 and 16-1) but he showed that some ability remains on first occasion and he's not written off yet.
15(0)
P-P112
Bold Endeavour
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
7
11-3
140
152
Won on soft last winter; also took his first two starts after joining Nicky Henderson, making all in good style in 2m4f handicap chases this winter; tired when 4-9 favourite in three-runner 3m Grade 2 novice chase at Ascot latest but he was niggled at some way out too, so 3m probably not solely to blame; chase mark is 5lb higher, so he's interesting on form if back on song returned to hurdling in first-time cheekpieces.
11(0)
216-16
Good Risk At All
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Sam Thomas
7
11-6
143
151
Favourite for this race last year when he failed to get in as the first reserve; clearcut win at Carlisle (2m4f, heavy) in October ensured that he's safely in this time; raced too freely and tired badly when he tried 3m off this 6lb higher mark at Haydock in November latest; tongue tied for those last two starts; this drop back in trip will help and although he needs to resume improvement, that may be possible given he's had only ten races.
10(0)
3F-232
Captain Conby
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: E Sheehy
6
11-6
143
154
Travelled best when third of 15 in 3m Pertemps qualifier at Punchestown (yielding) on penultimate outing; dropped back to an extended 2m3f there (soft to heavy) latest and did very well in second of 19, making major inroads against San Salvador who had gone well beyond recall; looks set for a big run.
13(0)
4PF515
Watch House Cross
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
6
11-5
142
152
Mixed record in light career but some of that was over fences and he made a successful return to hurdling by short head in 18-runner handicap at Naas (2m4f, yielding to soft) in November; wore cheekpieces that day and also when fair fifth at Leopardstown (2m) at Christmas, again making the running; back up in trip and needs a second look.
1(0)
221351
Fil Dor
-
J: Ben Harvey
T: Gordon Elliott
5
12-0
151
157
Runner-up to Vauban in three Grade 1s as juvenile, including the Triumph here; kept to about 2m this winter, including for wins in a beginners' chase and last month in a Grade 3 when back over hurdles; style of racing and some stamina in the family help to make this new trip an interesting move.
22(0)
-42111
Sa Fureur
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-0
137
150
Kicked off 2023 winning at Punchestown in a 2m maiden (heavy) and 2m4f novice (soft); justified 5-6 favouritism in Grade 3 novice at Thurles (extended 2m4f, good) three weeks ago, doing it very narrowly but he's promising as well as inexperienced and needs plenty of respect on this handicap debut.
8(0)
143-30
Icare Allen
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
5
11-8
145
153
Creditable fourth in 2022 Triumph Hurdle here; flopped in two of three starts since (latest was the Betfair at Newbury) but his third of 17 in good handicap at Fairyhouse (2m, soft; travelled smoothly until after two out, kept on) in December ensures he's not ruled out; upped markedly in trip.
23(0)
225101
Riaan
-
J: Jordan Gainford
T: Gordon Elliott
6
10-12
135
149
Something wrong behind San Salvador at Punchestown (soft to heavy) on New Year's Eve, which included some jumping mistakes; stacks of promise when he won handicap debut from that rival the time before (2m4f, soft) and he scored again in a novice at Thurles (made most) on latest start; not the finished article in those starts but there's plenty of ability in there.
RACING POST TIP
Langer Dan
Langer Dan looks best of the British but he will probably prove vulnerable to an Irish improver, a role for which there are many plausible candidates. The vote goes to CAPTAIN CONBY who has shaped very well in defeat on his last two starts and looks the type to be well suited by today's test. Second on the list is An Epic Song, who can shoot back to prominence on this move back up from 2m, ahead of San Salvador who was the winner on Captain Conby's latest start. Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar also needs to be taken very seriously, along with HMS Seahorse and Gordon Elliott's sizeable entry which might be headed by Fil Dor and Riaan.
Verdict
CORAL CUP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Commander Of Fleet | F1P83 | 8 | 50-1 | Gordon Elliott |
Shane Fitzgerald
|
| 2021 | Heaven Help Us | 75441 | 7 | 33-1 | Paul Hennessy |
Richard Condon
|
| 2020 | Dame De Compagnie | 521-51 | 7 | 5/1F | Nickey Henderson |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2019 | William Henry | P144-P | 9 | 28-1 | Nicky Henderson |
Nico de Boinville
|
| 2018 | Bleu Berry | 1115-0 | 7 | 20-1 | Willie Mullins | Mark Walsh |
| 2017 | Supasundae | 4-8124 | 7 | 16-1 | Jessica Harrington | Robbie Power |
| 2016 | Diamond King | 7P-421 | 8 | 12/1 | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2015 | Aux Ptits Soins | 1-31 | 5 | 9/1 | Paul Nicholls |
Sam Twiston-Davies
|
| 2014 | Whisper | 1-3312 | 6 | 14/1 | Nicky Henderson |
Nico de Boinville
|
| 2013 | Medinas | 6-2241 | 6 | 33-1 | Alan King |
Wayne Hutchinson
|
CORAL CUP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- No more than nine hurdle runs, 9/10
- Not run for at least 32 days, 8/10
- Won between 2m2f and 2m6f over hurdles, 8/10
- Carried at least 10st 12lb, 8/10
- Won a race earlier in the season, 8/10 (five won last time out)
- No more than four runs that season, 7/10
- Officially rated 138 to 149, 7/10
- Aged five to seven, 7/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CORAL CUP 2022
The Coral Cup produced arguably one of the finishes of the day as Commander Of Fleet and Fastorslow rallied until the winning post. The Jessica Harrington-trained Ashdale Bob had the advantage of this competitive handicap for large parts, but his lead was relinquished after the final flight as Commander Of Fleet and Fastorslow powered through. The pair raced until the line, but it was the 50-1 shot Commander Of Fleet, trained by Gordon Elliott, who stuck his neck in front to win by a short head. Ashdale Bob did, however, have enough left in the tank to hold off Camprond for third spot.