14:50 Cheltenham
Wednesday 13 March 2024
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:5017:30
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 5f | Soft (Heavy in places) | 21 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 32.44s
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Selected odds by:
Made it third time lucky over fences at Wexford last summer but it's been a while since he tasted success in this sphere. Returned to form back from 5 months off when 11½ lengths third of 6 to Irish Point in Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (23.4f) last time so warrants respect back in a handicap.
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Doubled his tally for the season at Cork (20f, heavy) in January and ran well upped in grade when 4 lengths third of 8 to Hiddenvalley Lake in Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan (21f, heavy) last month, well positioned. This a completely different kettle of fish, however. Cheekpieces on.
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Made the most of a good opportunity to end a long losing run on return/yard debut at Thurles in October and has matched that form in graded events the last twice. Struggled in a big-field handicap at Navan (25.2f, heavy) in December and faces a similar scenario here.
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Useful hurdler who showed a similar level on his chasing debut when runner-up at Newton Abbot in October. Finished alone in a match at Exeter following month but disappointed in better company when well beaten at Ascot (18.8f, good) before Christmas. Back hurdling but others look stronger.
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Thwarted a monster gamble on Gaelic Warrior in the Fred Winter a couple of years ago and entitled to be all the sharper for his Leopardstown effort returning from 4 months off recently. Never tried beyond 17f so has stamina questions to answer, but he's worth keeping a close eye on.
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Put up a fine weight-carrying performance when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.4f, good) when last seen 19 months ago, battling well. Has since left Willie Mullins and she can only be watched given the length of absence. Yard won this in 2021.
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Prolific handicap hurdler who added another victory to his tally in a 7-runner event at Kempton (for the second successive season) 18 days ago. Did that easily but has a career-high mark to contend with now in a much more competitive event.
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Landed the third big handicap win of his career when seeing off 25 rivals in this corresponding event last season, holding on gamely. Little impact in 4 starts this season (bled last time) and as a result, he's back down to his last winning mark. Sure to be popular once again.
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Progressive hurdler who won Navan maiden in December. Better form in defeat on both subsequent starts and looks a very interesting contender now handicapping upped markedly in trip. 1 of 4 for Gordon Elliott and seemingly the choice of Jack Kennedy.
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Off the mark on second outing in France for Y. Fouin and returning from 8 months off, got back on the up when beating former Grand National winner Noble Yeats at Limerick (20f, heavy) 11 weeks ago. Has been plenty of talk about his opening mark and he warrants considerable respect.
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Added to his Gowran success with another wide-margin win on testing ground in 6-runner novice at Down Royal (17.2f, heavy) just over 7 weeks ago. This is just his second handicap start and any further rain would only enhance his chances.
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Stepped up appreciably on reappearance run when winning maiden hurdle at Limerick (21f, heavy) over Christmas and followed up in equally impressive fashion in Punchestown novice (20f, heavy) a month later. Cheekpieces on and he's likely to progress further now handicapping.
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Made it hurdle victory number 6 at Musselburgh on New Year's Day and having arrived in good nick, never looked like repeating last year's Morebattle success at Kelso (16.2f, soft) 11 days ago. Will need to leave that effort well behind if he's to feature. Tongue strap on for first time this season.
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Fair to say his chasing career hasn't gone to plan as yet and he was below form back in cheekpieces/over hurdles at Leopardstown (23.4f, heavy) in December. Tongue tie back on and looks out of his depth in this.
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Yet to finish out of the first 2 in 5 career starts, opening his account in big-field Doncaster novice in December. Made Gidleigh Park work hard in Grade 2 Classic Novices' Hurdle at this course (20.2f, good to soft) on Trials Day and he should have more to offer on handicap debut.
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Developed into a smart and likeable hurdler in 2021/22. Shaped as if retaining just about all of his ability after 22 months on return when last of 5 to Lossiemouth here in January and out of his depth in Kingwell Hurdle the following month. Back up in trip.
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Won second time up over hurdles last term, and after disappointing on chasing debut, shaped better than the distance beaten suggested returned to this sphere on handicap debut when 11¾ lengths eighth of 22 to Maxxum at Leopardstown (24.3f, soft) 39 days ago. Drop back in trip should suit.
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Off the mark on yard debut in a Thurles maiden in November but well beaten in better company on both subsequent starts. Now sent handicapping and lacks the experience required to play a leading role in this competitive contest.
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Made light of a 2-year absence when extending his unbeaten record under Rules to 4 in 2m Ascot conditions race in November. Good second to recent Imperial Cup winner Go Dante here next time and ran a cracker when fourth in the Betfair Hurdle last month. Stacks to like, particularly back up in trip.
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Second success of the season when seeing off Irish Hill at Newbury (20.5f, soft) over Christmas but his jumping was scrappy and he was found out back in better company following a harsh 9 lb hike at Ascot (19.3f, good to soft) last month.
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Made the most of a good opportunity to get off the mark at Cork in October and has shaped well in handicaps the last twice, ridden to see out the longer trip but caught further back than ideal as a result when 7¾ lengths sixth of 22 to Maxxum in at Leopardstown last time (hooded).
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Non-Runners
2
Maxxum17
Weight: 11-12| Age: 7
T: G Elliott J: J Coen
NR
5
First Street46
Weight: 11-10| Age: 7
T: N J Henderson J: Paul O'Brien
NR
23
Supreme Gift25
Weight: 10-10| Age: 7
T: H D Daly J: Non Runner
NR
25
Zanndabad39
Weight: 10-2| Age: 5
T: A J Martin J: Daniel King
NR
Forecasts
Built By Ballymore (4/1), Sa Majeste (5/1), Langer Dan (13/2), Ballyadam (13/2), Doddiethegreat (9/1), Jigoro (11/1), Shanbally Kid (12/1), Black Bamboo (14/1), Might I (14/1), First Street (14/1), Brazil (16/1), Zanndabad (16/1), Lucky Place (25/1), Guard Your Dreams (25/1), Western Fold (28/1), Da Capo Glory (33/1), Rambo T (33/1), Beacon Edge (33/1), Mark Of Gold (33/1), Maxxum (33/1), Lombron (40/1), Franciscan Rock (50/1), Supreme Gift (50/1), Benson (66/1), Finest Evermore (80/1)
A typically large field for this feature handicap with several unexposed sorts lining up and it's DODDIETHEGREAT who gets the nod having been shaping up extremely well considering the length of his pre-season absence this term. Stepping back up in trip, he can provide Nicky Henderson with a fifth Coral Cup success at the expense of Langer Dan, who won this last year and is back down to the same mark. Sa Majeste, Lucky Place and Built By Ballymore are just a handful of others to consider, too.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £56,270.002nd: £21,200.003rd: £10,610.004th: £5,300.005th: £2,660.006th: £1,330.007th: £660.008th: £340.00
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