The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

[chunker86]

Birchdale has snuck under the radar a bit for this one. Henderson admitted they got it wrong going AB last year as he didn't stay, they had hopes for him to be a JLT horse this year, but chasing hasn't worked out for whatever reason and he's reverted back to hurdles without much noise.

Decent hurdle form with Brewinupastorm (fell at the last when they were head to head) from last year and a Cheltenham course win at 2m4 on GS.

Only entry for this and comes here off 146 for JP/NH - best priced 16s on 365.

[Eggs]

....Kim Bailey says HappygoLucky is on the cusp to get in but is ‘under the radar’ for this.

[Innoko]

Sempo.

His two main options are the Coral Cup and the Albert Bartlett. At the minute, I’d say we’re favouring the Albert Bartlett. We’d want the best ground possible for him, so the weather forecast closer to the time will likely influence our final decision. He had very good bumper form last season and has improved with each of his three starts over hurdles. He ran well at the Festival last season, so while he’ll probably be a big price, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ran well.

[Eggs]

The move appears to be for Sempo. At 44 is he sure to get in? Presumably, it depends on whether Mullins wants to run half the field. The two obvious negatives would be a preference for a sound surface (are all these punters magically assuming the ground is going to dry up?) and his clumsy jumping.

...despite being a shorter price for this, JoB suggesting Albert Bartlett more likely for Sempo (as above).

[Jrow]

Stratum is entered this sunday at Leopardstown

[Istabraq]

Stratum is entered this sunday at Leopardstown

Baffling....

[Istabraq]

Stratum is entered this sunday at Leopardstown

Can't see Strutum in the decs, Menglai Khan just as bizarrely is....

[Jrow]

Looks like hes been scratched now thankfully.

[DenmanSacre]

I horse I would be interested in this on the day with the better place terms would be Top Moon of Joesph O'Brien. In the stable tour on ATR, JOB has said he will be coming to this race.

French bred 5 year old with 6 hurdle runs since August so hoping he hasn't taken too much out of himself this season.

Irish rating of 143 and given 146 by the British handicapper, which is a lower raise than the average hurdler.

First run over 2 and a half miles was a Cork handicap where he beat Morosini. Top Moon took the lead before the last, clattered the final hurdle and easily retook the lead and won cosily. The thing that impressed me in this race was that between the third last and second last hurdle, he was squeezed for room and was checked. A gap then opened between the horses and he quickly moved through and started making up ground on the leader.

Being able to quickly go through the gap will be key for him as he is likely to be running mid division in this. All of his best work was in the last section of the race, with the extra furlong in the Coral Cup looking like it will help him.

Morosini was rated 126 at the time and is now rated 137 after winning next time out. The third also won next time out. The fourth hasn't been out since and the rest were miles back.

Time of the race was ok, but the main pace was in the middle of the race and Top Moon still sprinted away after the last.

Top Moons next race was a month later at Navan over 2m 4f where he finished second to Alfa Mix by 1.75lengths. He was giving 11 pounds to Alfa Mix in this race and if both turn up in this race, he would only be giving Alfa Mix 4 pounds!

In this race, coming round the bend he moved through horses to move towards the front of the race with 3 hurdles to go. Between the second last and last, his run was checked by another horse drifting in front of him and Alfa Mix moved 2 lengths clear of him. Top Moon made some of this back over the final stretch.

Alfa Mix was rated 127 in this race and now rated 142 in Ireland after finishing 2nd to Kilnefora. Alfa Mix interestingly has kept the same rating with the British handicapper. Kilnefora gave 10 pounds to Alfa Mix and beat him by 1 and a quarter lengths. Kilnefora is rated 154 by the British handicapper.

If we take the Alfa Mix formline with Kilnefora at face value, there shouldn't be much difference in weight between Top Moon and Kilnefora, but Kilnefora will be carrying 8 pounds more.

Golden Jewel was also in this race and consequently finished 2nd at the DRF.

Top Moons latest race was at the DRF back to 2m in the handicap won by Thosedaysaregone. He made a move round the bend and then was handled tenderly to finish 12th. The handicapper dropped him 1 pound.

Back up in a trip that will suit, he looks good value with 33/1 available Paddy Power NRNB

[Eggs]

I horse I would be interested in this on the day with the better place terms would be Top Moon of Joesph O'Brien. In the stable tour on ATR, JOB has said he will be coming to this race.

French bred 5 year old with 6 hurdle runs since August so hoping he hasn't taken too much out of himself this season.

Irish rating of 143 and given 146 by the British handicapper, which is a lower raise than the average hurdler.

First run over 2 and a half miles was a Cork handicap where he beat Morosini. Top Moon took the lead before the last, clattered the final hurdle and easily retook the lead and won cosily. The thing that impressed me in this race was that between the third last and second last hurdle, he was squeezed for room and was checked. A gap then opened between the horses and he quickly moved through and started making up ground on the leader.

Being able to quickly go through the gap will be key for him as he is likely to be running mid division in this. All of his best work was in the last section of the race, with the extra furlong in the Coral Cup looking like it will help him.

Morosini was rated 126 at the time and is now rated 137 after winning next time out. The third also won next time out. The fourth hasn't been out since and the rest were miles back.

Time of the race was ok, but the main pace was in the middle of the race and Top Moon still sprinted away after the last.

Top Moons next race was a month later at Navan over 2m 4f where he finished second to Alfa Mix by 1.75lengths. He was giving 11 pounds to Alfa Mix in this race and if both turn up in this race, he would only be giving Alfa Mix 4 pounds!

In this race, coming round the bend he moved through horses to move towards the front of the race with 3 hurdles to go. Between the second last and last, his run was checked by another horse drifting in front of him and Alfa Mix moved 2 lengths clear of him. Top Moon made some of this back over the final stretch.

Alfa Mix was rated 127 in this race and now rated 142 in Ireland after finishing 2nd to Kilnefora. Alfa Mix interestingly has kept the same rating with the British handicapper. Kilnefora gave 10 pounds to Alfa Mix and beat him by 1 and a quarter lengths. Kilnefora is rated 154 by the British handicapper.

If we take the Alfa Mix formline with Kilnefora at face value, there shouldn't be much difference in weight between Top Moon and Kilnefora, but Kilnefora will be carrying 8 pounds more.

Golden Jewel was also in this race and consequently finished 2nd at the DRF.

Top Moons latest race was at the DRF back to 2m in the handicap won by Thosedaysaregone. He made a move round the bend and then was handled tenderly to finish 12th. The handicapper dropped him 1 pound.

Back up in a trip that will suit, he looks good value with 25/1 available Bet365 NRNB and 33/1 with WH and a few others.

...33-1nrnb with PP.

[Pendil]

...33-1nrnb with PP.

I had been looking at backing Alfa Mix for the Coral. This seems better. I'm on, thanks DS, very persuasive.

[mayo]

Well argued but I am still unconvinced by Joseph at Cheltenham.

[Borisfox]

Hello Mayo

Can't find your mayomillions thread - is there one I can't find?
Got a few Borisbillions I would like to share!
As ever in sport
Boris

[Jrow]

i cant believe Bachassons lack of support in this thread

He is a stand out runner to me

[Saxon Warrior]

I had been looking at backing Alfa Mix for the Coral. This seems better. I'm on, thanks DS, very persuasive.

I love the way ALFA MIX travels in his races, and 16/1 NRNB is a reasonable return.