14:50 Cheltenham
Wednesday 11 March 2020
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 5f | Soft | 25 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 5m 25.4s
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Landed a 2m4f handicap at Navan after a cosy win at Naas in November. Had excuses when unsuited by a slowly run race in a Grade 2 latest (won by Cracking Smart) and likely to be suited to the cavalry charge style of this.
Bounced back to form when quickening up best in a slowly run Grade 2 at Navan last time; this is a completely different affair though and doesn't rate as the sort who will back that up from his revised mark here.
Won the mares' novice here last year and subsequently placed twice in Grade 1 company at the end of the season. Bounced back to form with a good fourth in a valuable Leopardstown handicap last time and may have won if not circling most of the field.
Has failed to finish in two previous runs at the Festival, falling in the 2018 Gold Cup when last seen here. Well beaten third behind Cracking Smart in a Grade 2 hurdle on reappearance but feasibly handicapped if he comes on for that run.
Prolific in 2018 and that run culminated in a Grade 3 success at Ascot in January last year. Didn't take to chasing earlier this campaign and return at Ascot was disappointing, others preferred.
Winner on debut for this yard at Gowran and posted a very promising effort behind mares' hurdle contender Stormy Ireland at Naas in January; could be short on experience for a race of this nature.
Unsuited by a drop in trip at Leopardstown last time behind some of these and while the step up in trip will suit, the handicapper has taken no chances with his mark on return here; looks progressive at least.
Grade 2 winner here as a novice but things haven't worked out since, tailed off at last year's Festival prior to not taking to fences at Ascot in November; could easily be well-handicapped from this sort of mark but arrives here with a bit to prove.
C&D winner prior to a good fifth in this last year and ran with credit at the Aintree meeting and Punchestown Festival towards the end of the campaign. Hasn't looked a natural over fences but claims back over hurdles on debut for new yard.
Excellent runner-up in the Fred Winter last year but hasn't gone on from a promising start to the season this term; needs to find improvement for the fitting of first-time cheekpieces.
Well beaten in two recent hurdle starts and very disappointing in two previous starts over fences. Yard have stronger claims with several of their other runners.
Cesarewitch winner on the Flat in October but hasn't looked quite as good over hurdles, particularly at this sort of trip.
Got his head in front over a similar trip on the new course here in January prior to what looked a harsh disqualification. A shade keen in Grade 2 company here when third last time but had a troubled trip and he's less exposed than plenty in here.
Good fourth in the mares' novice last year and she's been going well this year, landing a valuable handicap at Leopardstown last month. Respectable second in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time but 11lb higher than her handicap success.
3m winner here in October 2018 but hasn't won since and remains 8lb higher than that mark here; hard to fancy after two recent falls over fences.
Looked like he was in with every chance before hitting and falling at the last at Ascot last time; staying on best. Given a very workable mark for handicap debut over hurdles and not ruled out if none the worse for that fall.
Won here as a novice and fourth in 2018's County. Hasn't quite looked the force of old of late and didn't show much over hurdles last time out.
Kept on well for second behind Kilfernora last time out at Navan when second of 12. 2lb better off with that rival at the weights and it could well be an interesting form line; small step up in trip should suit.
C&D winner here at the Showcase meeting before two more highly promising efforts here. Only found a smart subsequent Grade 2 winner too good at Doncaster last time out and potentially has more to come.
Winner here in April 2018 and while she missed all of the following season, she improved from a promising reappearance to win here over a similar trip on the new course in December. That form looks solid and she's interesting from 8lb higher mark.
Has won two of his three starts this season and 8lb higher than his latest success when winning at Kempton. This is tougher but he's run well in defeat in two previous starts at this venue and not without each-way claims here.
Won a valuable handicap at Leopardstown last month but arrives here 13lb higher than that narrow success and has never won over this far; others make more appeal.
Progressive last season winning three handicaps and got his head back in front in a Listed handicap here at the November meeting. Pulled up on return at Sandown last time and would need a career best to figure here from this mark.
Returned to winning ways over a similar trip at Kempton in January and looked like he had the favourite beat when left in front at the last. First-time cheekpieces need to eke out more but that's entirely possible.
Runner-up in the Albert Bartlett in 2016 but hadn't been seen for 665 days prior to his return at Haydock when seventh of 10; big ask to go from that run to winning this.
Non-Runners
14
Mister Blue Sky39
Weight: 11-2| Age: 6
T: W P Mullins J: D J Mullins
NR
Forecasts
Dame De Compagnie (5/1), Canardier (13/2), Champagne Well (8/1), Thosedaysaregone (10/1), Franco De Port (10/1), Black Tears (12/1), Protektorat (12/1), Alfa Mix (14/1), Birchdale (14/1), Burrows Edge (14/1), Stratum (14/1), Eglantine Du Seuil (16/1), Top Moon (20/1), Traffic Fluide (25/1), Cracking Smart (33/1), Honest Vic (33/1), Bachasson (33/1), Sayo (33/1), Mister Blue Sky (33/1), Coko Beach (40/1), Kilfenora (40/1), Ballymoy (50/1), Golan Fortune (66/1), Fagan (66/1), The Mighty Don (66/1), Chesterfield (100/1)
A typically competitive renewal of this race and the five JP McManus runners declared for this are interesting. Irish raiders Alfa Mix and top-weight Kilfenora bring in similar form lines from some competitive handicaps in Ireland. Eglantine Du Seuil is another Irish contender who could be well ahead of her mark but preference is for DAME DE COMPAGNIE who has course form to her name. Nicky Henderson's mare is only up 8lb for her latest success and she has a less exposed profile than many in here.
- Dame De Compagnie
- Kilfenora
- Eglantine Du Seuil
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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