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Coral Cup Hurdle
14:50 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-13
Winner: £56,270
Runners: 21
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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15(0)
-44140
Benson
-
J: Ryan Mania
T: Sandy Thomson
9
11-6
139
148
Made all at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day 2023 and 2024; last season he then came from the rear to win the Morebattle at Kelso (2m, good to soft) but he pulled up in this race next time and never got out of the rear division in the Morebattle 11 days ago; has a fair bit to prove now, especially given need for a career best; tongue-tie (last worn in 2022) returns.
4(0)
6-1P42
Beacon Edge
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
10
11-12
145
152
Acts on heavy; smart performer for Noel Meade in 2021, fourth here in the Grade 1 Stayers'; more miss than hit since and last year's Coral Cup saw one of his lesser efforts; his better shows last term give him a shout but while plenty of ability remains this term for new yard, judged on those the handicapper has not shown him enough leniency.
9(0)
7-54F1
Mark Of Gold
-
J: Rob Hargreaves
T: Gary Moore
7
11-8
141
148
Creditable seventh in 2023 Martin Pipe here; won the same 2m5f race at Kempton in February for the last two seasons and in good style, on soft ground latest; revised mark is a career high, though, and he needs to find extra.
10(0)
1-6P90
Langer Dan
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
8
11-8
141
154
Won this race (soft) last year off the same mark; he's not shown much this season even by his usual winter standards but ulcers were diagnosed and he's raised his game for the Cheltenham or Aintree festivals in each of the last four seasons; it's hard to say he won't do it again.
1(0)
5-2133
Ballyadam
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
9
12-0
147
150
Ran well all three Festival starts, fifth in last two editions of the 2m1f County Hurdle (on soft last year); four of his five starts since last year's Festival were over further than that (his solitary run this winter was in a 2m7f Grade 1) and he's shown enough to suggest he remains of interest.
8(0)
/4/P1-
Finest Evermore
-
J: Brian Hayes
T: Paul Hennessy
8
11-9
142
146
Best results front-running; rattled off a hat-trick in 2020, two of those wins on soft; very few miles on the clock since, winning a handicap at Killarney (2m6f, good to yielding) in August 2022 when last seen; withdrawn three times last summer (lame on third occasion) and has left Willie Mullins; returns in a hot race and in need of a career best.
18(0)
23U/54
Guard Your Dreams
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
8
11-4
137
151
Very well handicapped judged on best efforts, including on soft at this track, but they were two seasons ago; 660 days off before last of five to high-class Lossiemouth here in January, which didn't look bad strictly on form but he struggled on heavy ground at Wincanton in another Grade 2 three weeks later; back up in trip but does not look the percentage call.
NR(0)
8-3233
First Street
-
T: Nicky Henderson
7
11-10
143
155
Second in the 2022 County Hurdle here and ran creditably when 11th in it last year, though that shows he was on a tough mark; 9lb lower today and not at all discredited against top rivals in his last two outings; had wind surgery since; rarely seen over this sort of trip but he was a good third in 2m4f Grade 2 here (soft) last winter, so a pretty good case can be made.
7(0)
120-P0
Brazil
-
J: Aidan Kelly
T: Padraig Roche
6
11-9
142
145
Won the 4yo handicap at 2022 Festival (good to soft) on his sole appearance at Cheltenham; his two hurdle races in 2023 and one last month were all poor, having been gelded before the latter, but there was a Flat win at last year's Galway Festival, so he might not be done with just yet; this is his first foray beyond 2m1f.
21(0)
/1/124
Doddiethegreat
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
8
10-13
132
152
8yo but just six races; won the first four and finishing second at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) in December was a solid introduction to handicaps; 18-1 for a top handicap at Newbury (2m, heavy) last month and, having tried to settle him out the back, his late progress into fourth of 21 caught the eye, despite hanging left; stable form is the big worry but, off the same mark as last time and back up in trip, having run away with a 2m5f novice in 2021, he should have a big shout.
6(0)
4-5213
Might I
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Harry Fry
8
11-9
142
150
Fourth in the Martin Pipe here (2m4f, soft) one year ago off 3lb higher; his jumping has not been so convincing switched to fences this term but he's still looked in form; strong-travelling sort who should get into serious contention on this return to hurdling.
3(0)
-15P13
Da Capo Glory
-
J: Mr D Allen
T: Padraig Butler
7
11-12
145
147
Usually ridden by 7lb-claiming amateur Darragh Allen, including when he won narrowly at Cork (2m4f, soft to heavy) in January; ran respectably at Navan (2m5f, heavy) latest but now has first-time headgear; it's a concern that he ran poorly last April/August in his two biggest handicaps.
NR(0)
-314P2
Supreme Gift
-
T: Henry Daly
7
10-10
129
148
He was back from chasing, and wore first-time visor (retained), when second of 13 at Ascot (near 3m, good to soft) on latest outing, keeping on from off the pace having been given an early reminder; Harry Cobden replaces 5lb claimer (for whom he's done well) but others are much more convincing.
24(0)
235166
Black Bamboo
-
J: Sean Flanagan
T: John Joseph Murphy
7
10-9
128
146
Bumper winner who's won a 2m4f Cork maiden (last October) from seven hurdle races; hooded first time when he came from well off the pace for sixth of 22 to Maxxum at Leopardstown (upped to 3m, soft) on latest outing; hood left off today; could still be capable of better.
22(0)
713619
Rambo T
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Olly Murphy
7
10-12
131
148
Three wins in 2023, taking a particular step forward at Newbury (2m4f, soft) at the end of the year; 8lb higher today and he was never dangerous when 16-1 at Ascot last month, but a running-on third here (2m4f) in October ensures he is not entirely ruled out.
NR(0)
745-02
Zanndabad
-
T: A J Martin
5
10-2
117
146
Four Flat wins in France; 0-7 for current yard but much the best of his five goes over hurdles was last time when second of 13 at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) and there was clear promise in that effort, running on well from towards rear; 6lb higher today, including 4lb out of the handicap, but his yard is renowned for producing rabbits from hats and this 5yo is well worth a second look.
NR(0)
145P16
Maxxum
-
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-12
145
147
Last three wins have been over about 3m, including two big-field handicap hurdles at Leopardstown on soft; penultimate start was one of those and he's not raced over this short a trip since October 2022, but he has sometimes shaped (including in last year's Pertemps Final here) as if the return to this sort of trip would suit; needs a career best but he's one to consider.
16(0)
33-F47
Franciscan Rock
-
J: Ricky Doyle
T: M F Morris
7
11-5
138
147
Chasing did not work out on first two starts this term and well beaten back over hurdles at Christmas, albeit on heavy going; wore these cheekpieces last April (career best) and on latest start, and the tongue-tie (worn on penultimate start) is back; opposable on nearly all evidence, except his 80-1 third in a Grade 1 novice at Punchestown (3m, yielding) last April.
19(0)
418-48
Shanbally Kid
-
J: Michael O'Sullivan
T: W P Mullins
7
11-1
134
149
2m4f maiden winner (soft) last term before weakening badly from the home turn here in the 3m Grade 1 Albert Bartlett; seen only twice this term, jumping poorly over fences on first occasion and fading late on when eighth of 22 to Maxxum at Leopardstown (3m, soft); unexposed and this drop back in trip looks the right move.
12(0)
3/16-1
Sa Majeste
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
140
143
Won a 4yo hurdle at Auteuil in May 2022; only two starts for Willie Mullins but latest was a striking performance when he swatted aside high-class staying chaser Noble Yeats late on at level weights in a four-runner conditions hurdle race at Limerick (2m4f, heavy) over Christmas; unsurprisingly of major interest on this handicap debut, clear favourite in the build-up.
14(0)
05-811
Built By Ballymore
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Martin Brassil
6
11-6
139
152
Same connections had one beaten a head in this race last year at 16-1; this 6yo has run in only two bumpers and four hurdle races, on last two outings winning on heavy ground in a maiden at Limerick (2m5f) and novice at Punchestown (2m4f); had to work to get there in the latter but he drew 12l clear and looks a scopey sort with major potential; cheekpieces join the tongue-tie; needs to prove he's quick enough for this but he's one to note.
13(0)
3U15F1
Western Fold
-
J: Sam Ewing
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-7
140
153
Won a maiden at Gowran (2m, heavy) in November on fourth start and huge improvement to score by 15l in a novice at Down Royal (2m1f, soft) in January latest; fell at halfway on penultimate start in his only handicap (2m4f); has a tempting mark in this top handicap and there's enough stamina in pedigree to make today's third attempt at this sort of trip look worth a go.
20(0)
3-147
Lombron
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-0
133
137
Ran in one hurdle race in France and three in Ireland, easy winner of a Thurles maiden (2m, yielding); beaten about 25l at Punchestown in a Grade 2 (soft) and Listed event (heavy) but that leaves him extremely unexposed and this is a marked step up in trip for handicap debut.
17(0)
22122
Lucky Place
-
J: James Bowen
T: Nicky Henderson
5
11-4
137
144
Easy winner at Doncaster and enhanced his reputation when second at Taunton (soft) and Cheltenham, both against rivals who are serious contenders for Graded-race novice honours this week; those three novice races were over about 2m3f-2m4f and he's a clear candidate for further improvement on this handicap debut for stable which has tasted plenty of success in this race.
11(0)
2-2123
Jigoro
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-8
141
140
Has run in just one French bumper and four Irish hurdle races; impressive in a maiden at Navan (heavy) and, although put firmly in his place, he's run with credit since behind Tuesday's Mullins-trained Supreme runners Mystical Power and Tullyhill; all those were at about 2m and stepping up in trip may well suit; makes his handicap debut too and looks the first string on jockey bookings for his powerful stable.
RACING POST TIP
Doddiethegreat
Langer Dan's revivals in the spring are well known by now and last year's brought him a win in this race off the same mark as today, but this time round Might I might prove even more potent among the more established runners. Both face a host of far less exposed challengers. Sa Majeste, the ante-post favourite, is probably the pick of those but Built By Ballymore and Jigoro also deserve a high profile among the Irish and Lucky Place is a British novice to note. The latter is with Nicky Henderson, whose recent fortunes will hopefully take a turn for the better at the Festival and who could take this race with DODDIETHEGREAT, whose late gains in the Betfair Hurdle augured well. The chief threat may come from a less heralded Irish challenger in Zanndabad, who is 4lb out of the handicap but could be about to come into his own.
Verdict
CORAL CUP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Langer Dan | -378 | 7 | 9-1 | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 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 |
CORAL CUP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- No more than nine hurdle runs, 8/10
- 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, 7/10 (four 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
Other factors
The two winners to have had more than nine hurdle runs came in the last two runnings – Commander Of Fleet in 2022 (13 hurdle runs) and Langer Dan last year (16).
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2024 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CORAL CUP 2023
A maximum field for one of the most competitive handicaps of the week was won by Dan Skelton and LANGER DAN who’s win provided his age group with a sixth win in the last seven renewals. Those held up never figured but the first three deserve credit for pulling clear in the closing stages.