Can The Shunter land the Coral Cup after switching back to hurdles?

Wednesday: 2.50 CheltenhamCoral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m5f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Turn the clock back 12 months and The Shunter was in the process of winning a £100,000 bonus for landing the Morebattle at Kelso and the Plate here 12 days later.

He is back at the festival and this time he takes the hurdles route and will compete from a mark 5lb lower than his chase rating, with Mark Walsh on board for only the second time.

It's an unusual prep to switch from one discipline to another and he pulled it off last year. However, historically it has been a lot easier to win at the Cheltenham Festival after switching from hurdles to chases than it is the other way around and these stats prove that.

Since the start of 2010, 13 horses (from 157 runners) have won a chase at the festival after prepping in a hurdle but just one, Benie Des Dieux in the 2018 Mares' Hurdle, has won a hurdle here after running in a chase on their last run, and that is from a total of 124 runners.

Benie Des Dieux was a Grade 1-winning mare, so that gives you an idea of the task facing The Shunter, but let's not forget he was second to Protektorat in a Grade 1 chase last season.

Gordon Elliott excels in almost all the handicaps at the festival and won this in 2011 with Carlito Brigante and 2016 with Diamond King. He has had a further five horses placed without winning in the last ten years and saddles seven runners in this bid for a third victory.

Davy Russell partnered both Carlito Brigante and Diamond King and he has ridden five of Elliott's seven runners here on at least one occasion. Maybe it is significant that he is set to take the ride on Grand Roi who, like Carlito Brigante, brings Graded form into a handicap.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of The Bosses Oscar, Commander Of Fleet, Saint Felicien, Grand Roi, Indigo Breeze, Tronador & Mars Harper
The step up in trip will suit Saint Felicien. He's run to a really good level in his few starts for us and I'd be disappointed if he wasn't in the shake-up. It didn't happen for Grand Roi in this race last year but he's run some solid races in Graded company and might find it a bit easier back in a handicap. Commander Of Fleet is not the easiest to predict but he does like big fields. Indigo Breeze is a nice horse but I would worry about his lack of experience. The Bosses Oscar has run well at a few festivals and he will be more at home back over hurdles after a stint chasing. Mars Harper could run well. He's got some form from earlier in the season which has worked out particularly well. Tronador won at Aintree last season and hopefully he might be able to come back to that sort of form.

Saint Felicien: one of seven runners for Gordon ElliottCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Ashdale Bob
He has a lot of weight but he is in great form. He seems to have appreciated coming back over hurdles. He has a bit of class so hopefully he'll run well.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of McFabulous
I think the trip will suit him and I'd say he's got an each-way chance.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Hang In There
Off a mark of 148, we've probably exhausted our racing over two miles so for there to be improvement, the step up in trip will be a positive. He's had a lovely break over the winter and has been built up for this. We wouldn't want to see too much rain. He's got course form and he's a tough horse with plenty of ability.

Emmet Mullins, trainer of The Shunter
He seems in great form. He has good track form as the winner of the Greatwood Hurdle and he has a better mark over hurdles than he has over fences, so hopefully we have picked the right race.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Gowel Road
I'm very hopeful. He's won at Cheltenham this season and he's been running well throughout. This race has been the aim for a while.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Ganapathi and Maze Runner
We were going to go chasing with Ganapathi but said we'd keep his maiden status for next season and keep him over hurdles. He has a chance over this trip. Maze Runner would have to put his best foot forward but has a small chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Christopher Wood
He ran a very nice first race for us and I hope he'll run well. He'll probably go chasing next season.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Drop The Anchor
He is in good form. The step up in trip should help him so I'd be hoping for a good run. He stayed on nicely at Leopardstown which was very encouraging. He seems well in himself.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Unexpected Party
He looks fantastic and we've had this race in mind since Ascot but it's such a competitive race.

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Garry Clermont
He's in grand form. He's hard to win with but we're hoping for a good run.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Call Me Lord
He's very consistent and has been running in top-class contests all of his life. I think this is a good trip for him and he should run his race, like he usually does.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Camprond
I just hope we don't have the rain that is predicted for tomorrow. On decent ground I hope he could run a good race.
Reporting by David Carr

Wednesday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

1.30 Cheltenham: 'It is ours to lose' – can anything stop the might of Sir Gerhard in Ballymore?

2.10 Cheltenham: star novices Bravemansgame, L'Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor clash in thriller

3.30 Cheltenham: 'This is going to be the biggest test of Shishkin's life' says Nicky Henderson

4.10 Cheltenham: Tiger Roll bids to bow out on a high back where it all began

4.50 Cheltenham: can Andy Dufresne unlock sky-high potential for Gordon Elliott in Grand Annual?

5.30 Cheltenham: who will be crowned the bumper king? Facile Vega and American Mike face off

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