The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[Benjy23]

What kind of race do you think this horse could poodle round in ?
I don't think this is possible, and the handicapper and stewards know this.
Skelton will be aiming to win IMO.
But not by much. If he does have a prep at all.

In fact the whole idea of a prep run then imperial cup then cheltenham is fanciful for a horse who's had a year off.
So it's more likely the Imperial cup is the first run, then hope to win that and run in the pipe or coral off a 5lb penalty. And risk the bounce factor.
It's a safer option than risking a bigger, or any rise in a prep, and trying to get three runs in.

If he has a prep then I can't see them running in both big handicaps.

Last year he ran around midfield in a class 3 at market rasen. A couple of weeks before the Imperial Cup

He's entered at Tuesday at Taunton where we'll get similar.

[Quevega]

Last year he ran around midfield in a class 3 at market rasen. A couple of weeks before the Imperial Cup

He's entered at Tuesday at Taunton where we'll get similar.

We'll see.
It was easier this time last year, he's a little bit more high profile now.
But, they could get away with it.

[Benjy23]

We'll see.
It was easier this time last year, he's a little bit more high profile now.
But, they could get away with it.

Aye, and he hadn't had such a long time off before the Market Rasen run last year. I'm not saying it's necessarily a great plan to squeeze 3 runs into 4 weeks after a year off but I'm fairly sure it is the plan.

[Istabraq]

What kind of race do you think this horse could poodle round in ?
I don't think this is possible, and the handicapper and stewards know this.
Skelton will be aiming to win IMO.
But not by much. If he does have a prep at all.

In fact the whole idea of a prep run then imperial cup then cheltenham is fanciful for a horse who's had a year off.
So it's more likely the Imperial cup is the first run, then hope to win that and run in the pipe or coral off a 5lb penalty. And risk the bounce factor.
It's a safer option than risking a bigger, or any rise in a prep, and trying to get three runs in.

If he has a prep then I can't see them running in both big handicaps.

Never underestimate a trainer/jockeys ability to get a horse beaten...

[Studfarm254]

He'll be a non trier first time won't he. Won't even want to get any additional weight for the Imperial Cup. And then the Imperial Cup will be after weights are out so he'll just get 5lb penalty if he did win anyway...

But yea NRNB can't knock the idea.

I get what your saying. So if he runs at Taunton and goes up at all in the weights they may skip sandown then and head straight to the MP in fear of winning it again and the 5lb penalty taking him over the 145 threshold. But then again will they really, imperial cup is almost identical prize money and will be a far easier race to win in a much smaller field and probably no Irish. Then again it’s hard to beat the thrill of banging in a winner at the festival, so maybe.

Happy to take it on the chin anyway and demote the tip from world class to business class

[DenmanSacre]

Cap Du Mathan runs today. Only rated 132 so will probably need another 3/4 pounds minimum to get into this. Going to take the chance today that he wins and if he shows up at Cheltenham, he'd be my pick in this at the moment.

[DenmanSacre]

I get what your saying. So if he runs at Taunton and goes up at all in the weights they may skip sandown then and head straight to the MP in fear of winning it again and the 5lb penalty taking him over the 145 threshold. But then again will they really, imperial cup is almost identical prize money and will be a far easier race to win in a much smaller field and probably no Irish. Then again it’s hard to beat the thrill of banging in a winner at the festival, so maybe.

Happy to take it on the chin anyway and demote the tip from world class to business class

I don't think the penalty can rule you out of the race

[Saxon Warrior]

Just gona do what i do best and throw another world class tip into the mix. Langer Dan is set to run at least once and probably twice before Cheltenham. He’s only got 5lbs to work with for getting into the Martin pipe and if he’s half as good as what he’s supposed to be his mark will be too high come Cheltenham for this race. So surely he’s worth covering NRNB for the coral cup. Hills are 17.5/1 with the boost as apposed to 7/1 with bet365.

Feel free to thank me later guys. Hugs, handshakes and fist pumps will all suffice

If you like Langer Dan then NRNB Coral Cup, after he gets declared at Taunton, is the obvious cover bet, for sure.

[Quevega]

I don't think the penalty can rule you out of the race

I think it does under normal circumstances, top weight in the pipe is 11 12.
And the conditions state that no penalty can take you above this.
I remember Hunt Ball being able to run of 12 stone once, but can't remember why they allowed it.

[Istabraq]

I think it does under normal circumstances, top weight in the pipe is 11 12.
And the conditions state that no penalty can take you above this.
I remember Hunt Ball being able to run of 12 stone once, but can't remember why they allowed it.

I’m sure something ran in the race they binned with a pen that took the horse above normal topweight.
I was under the impression that it’s your rating at the point the weights are announced that count with 5lb pens applied for wins thereafter, but horses can run even if the pen takes you above the standard topweight…

[Buckingham]

I’m sure something ran in the race they binned with a pen that took the horse above normal topweight.
I was under the impression that it’s your rating at the point the weights are announced that count with 5lb pens applied for wins thereafter, but horses can run even if the pen takes you above the standard topweight…

Virak ran off 146 back in 2014

[Istabraq]

Virak ran off 146 back in 2014

Thanks.
It's probably happened a few more times than we realise...

[Quevega]

I’m sure something ran in the race they binned with a pen that took the horse above normal topweight.
I was under the impression that it’s your rating at the point the weights are announced that count with 5lb pens applied for wins thereafter, but horses can run even if the pen takes you above the standard topweight…

Hunt Ball - I've just said that.
The conditions of the race specifically state no penalty can take the horse above 11 12,
But it has happened every now and then, but not sure what circumstances allowed it.
Virak is an odd one, can't explain that one, some anorak will know.

[Quevega]

Thanks.
It's probably happened a few more times than we realise...

virak didn't run under a penalty.
there was something else going on with that.

[Quevega]

In fact I don't think either ran under a penalty, it was just the re assessed mark, after entry, before weights announced.