The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[Eggs]

….Skelton re Be Aware;

He is mentally fragile, but he has come a long way in a year. He was way too fresh when galloping at Huntingdon, but we had to get a day into him, and he has done loads of work since. We will have him under control and if he settles in the Coral Cup he would have an outstanding chance. He ran well in both of his handicap hurdles this year and his best one was probably in the Greatwood Hurdle where he came up against Burdett Road. For me, he is a live candidate for the Coral Cup. If we ran in the County Hurdle you are coming against more speedy types and an Absurde can come and grab you late on like we did with L’Eau Du Sud last year. If you put Be Aware in that position, I think you would be putting him in the same position, so I think it is right to go for the Coral Cup.

[AaronLad]

I've backed comfort zone for this so far and I like his chances, but he has the pipe entry too and could go either way.
Ive backed another this morning, before the weights are released.

The first five home from last year were

1st langer dan ran off 141 now rated 158 +17
2nd ballyadam ran off 147 now rated 149 (IRE) +2
3rd shanbally kid ran off 134 no hurdles run since
4th lucky place ran off 137 now rated 153 +16
5th franciscan rock 138 now rated 147 (IRE) +9

As we can see the ones to have continued over hurdles have all improved their rating quite considerably, except for ballyadam who has increased but not by the considerable amount of the others.
If hes given 2lbs tax today that makes him +4lb from last year.

He has had a similar prep this season as he did last.
Running on the 28th december last season, and running on the 31st December this season.
He'll likely be topweight again this season, but it didnt stop him running a huge race last season.

His Cheltenham festival form is
2021 2nd supreme
2022 5th county (144)
2023 5th county (148)
2024 2nd coral cup (147)

It ia highly likely that he'll bump in to a younger, unexposed type thats a stone well in, but i
think hes an absolutley smashing each-way bet.

14/1 available for 5 places

There's also a couple of different form related bets with all the front 5 having entries at this years festival.

[Evesham Road]

I've backed comfort zone for this so far and I like his chances, but he has the pipe entry too and could go either way.
Ive backed another this morning, before the weights are released.

The first five home from last year were

1st langer dan ran off 141 now rated 158 +17
2nd ballyadam ran off 147 now rated 149 (IRE) +2
3rd shanbally kid ran off 134 no hurdles run since
4th lucky place ran off 137 now rated 153 +16
5th franciscan rock 138 now rated 147 (IRE) +9

As we can see the ones to have continued over hurdles have all improved their rating quite considerably, except for ballyadam who has increased but not by the considerable amount of the others.
If hes given 2lbs tax today that makes him +4lb from last year.

He has had a similar prep this season as he did last.
Running on the 28th december last season, and running on the 31st December this season.
He'll likely be topweight again this season, but it didnt stop him running a huge race last season.

His Cheltenham festival form is
2021 2nd supreme
2022 5th county (144)
2023 5th county (148)
2024 2nd coral cup (147)

It ia highly likely that he'll bump in to a younger, unexposed type thats a stone well in, but i
think hes an absolutley smashing each-way bet.

14/1 available for 5 places

There's also a couple of different form related bets with all the front 5 having entries at this years festival.

I like the selection, but it strikes me as one which will probably be available at a bigger price on the day, as more exciting/ 'well in' alternatives get talked up?

[AaronLad]

I like the selection, but it strikes me as one which will probably be available at a bigger price on the day, as more exciting/ 'well in' alternatives get talked up?

Possibly.

but his previous festival sp's are 6/1, 50/1, 12/1 and 13/2.

With the 13/2 being in the coral cup last year after being supported in the build up.

But i hope youre right here because with even more places available he'd be a monster each way bet

[Evesham Road]

Possibly.

but his previous festival sp's are 6/1, 50/1, 12/1 and 13/2.

With the 13/2 being in the coral cup last year after being supported in the build up.

But i hope youre right here because with even more places available he'd be a monster each way bet

Fair point, and I hadn't checked the previous SPs. Probably will have Rachel on board as Henry only otherwise has Beckett Rock (50s), too. I see available at 16s at Joe's/Laddies so for me perhaps a modest win single and then I would more seriously consider for EW doubles and trebles in the handicaps with the benefit of extra places and (hopefully!) similar or bigger prices available during the week.

Good case though, thanks again.

[Eggs]

1. Langer Dan (IRE) 12 0 158
2. Pied Piper 11 10 154
3. Maxxum (IRE) 11 9 153
4. Ballyadam (IRE) 11 7 151
5. Gold Tweet (FR) 11 7 151
6. Blueking d’Oroux (FR) 11 4 148
7. Salver (FR) 11 4 148
8. Hang In There (IRE) 11 3 147
9. Altobelli (IRE) 11 3 147
10. Eagle Fang (IRE) 11 3 147
11. Farren Glory (IRE) 11 3 147
12. Sandor Clegane (IRE) 11 3 147
13. Colonel Mustard (FR) 11 2 146
14. Jimmy du Seuil (FR) 11 2 146
15. Tounsivator (FR) 11 1 145
16. Sa Fureur (IRE) 11 1 145
17. Beacon Edge (IRE) 11 1 145
18. Gala Marceau (FR) 11 1 145
19. Kala Conti (FR) 11 1 145
20. Steel Ally (FR) 11 0 144
21. Al Gasparo (FR) 11 0 144
22. Staffordshire Knot (IRE) 10 13 143
23. Supersundae (FR) 10 13 143
24. Santos Blue 10 12 142
25. Wodhooh (FR) 10 11 141
26. Impose Toi (FR) 10 11 141
27. Ndaawi 10 10 140
28. Beckett Rock (IRE) 10 10 140
29. Bunting (FR) 10 9 139
30. Bugise Seagull (IRE) 10 9 139
31. No Questions Asked (IRE) 10 8 138
32. No Ordinary Joe (IRE) 10 8 138
33. King Alexander (IRE) 10 7 137
34. Bo Zenith (FR) 10 7 137
35. Comfort Zone (IRE) 10 7 137
36. Might I (IRE) 10 7 137
37. Be Aware (FR) 10 7 137
38. Uncle Bert 10 6 136
39. The Enabler (IRE) 10 6 136
40. Samui 10 6 136
41. Anna Bunina (FR) 10 6 136
42. West Balboa (IRE) 10 6 136
43. D Art D Art (FR) 10 6 136
44. Queens Gamble (IRE) 10 6 136
45. Kopeck de Mee (FR) 10 6 136
46. Feet of A Dancer (FR) 10 6 136
47. Thecompanysergeant 10 6 136
48. Joyeux Machin (FR) 10 5 135
49. Karafon (FR) 10 5 135
50. Jeriko du Reponet (FR) 10 5 135
51. Patter Merchant (IRE) 10 4 134
52. Doyen Quest (IRE) 10 3 133
53. Sporting Glory (IRE) 10 3 133
54. Lossiemouth 10 3 133
55. Captain Morgs (IRE) 10 3 133
56. Minella Missile (IRE) 10 3 133
57. Vischio (IRE) 10 3 133
58. Beat The Bat (IRE) 10 3 133
59. Park of Kings (IRE) 10 2 132
60. Kings Hill (IRE) 10 2 132
61. Finest Evermore (IRE) 10 1 131
62. Prends Garde A Toi (FR) 10 1 131
63. Jipcot (FR) 10 1 131
64. Punctuation 10 1 131
65. Donnie Devito (IRE) 10 1 131
66. Ike Sport (FR) 10 1 131
67. Eagles Reign (IRE) 10 1 131
68. Classic King (IRE) 10 1 131
69. Highwind (FR) 10 0 130
70. Petrol Head (IRE) 10 0 130
71. Saint Anapolino (FR) 10 0 130
72. Dr Eggman (FR) 10 0 130
73. Stormbreaker 10 0 130
74. Mordor (FR) 10 0 130
75. Blaze The Way (IRE) 9 13 129
76. Josh The Boss 9 13 129
77. Deep Cave (IRE) 9 13 129
78. Harsh 9 12 128
79. Guard The Moon 9 12 128
80. Idem (FR) 9 12 128
81. Spirit d’Aunou (FR) 9 11 127
82. Fenway Park (IRE) 9 11 127
83. Double Powerful (IRE) 9 11 127
84. Aston Martini 9 10 126
85. Royale Margaux (FR) 9 10 126
86. Timmy Tuesday (IRE) 9 9 125
87. Spirits Bay 9 9 125
88. Cormier (IRE) 9 8 124
89. Blenkinsop 9 6 122
90. Hamsiyann (IRE) 9 5 121
91. Country Park (IRE) 9 4 120
92. Jacovec Cavern 9 4 120
93. Kimy (FR) 8 12 114

[robith]

Possibly.

but his previous festival sp's are 6/1, 50/1, 12/1 and 13/2.

With the 13/2 being in the coral cup last year after being supported in the build up.

But i hope youre right here because with even more places available he'd be a monster each way bet

He was about 20/1-ish at the beginning of the week though

Edit: for accuracy, I went and checked and I had him at 20/1 on March 1

My main issue with Ballyadam is he isn't a huge fan of winning and I'm not in love with an each way bet where I think half of it is a waste

[Quevega]

Fucking Gigginstown and Mullins missed a real trick with Shanbally Kid in this race.

[AaronLad]

He was about 20/1-ish at the beginning of the week though

Edit: for accuracy, I went and checked and I had him at 20/1 on March 1

My main issue with Ballyadam is he isn't a huge fan of winning and I'm not in love with an each way bet where I think half of it is a waste

Yeah he hadn't won a hurdle race since November 2020, until last time out.
So backing him last year having not won over hurdles since 2020, the win part was possibly a waste, but now he's won over hurdles I'm happy he's got that winning mentality back robith

[Wayward Lad]

Fucking Gigginstown and Mullins missed a real trick with Shanbally Kid in this race.

Agree

But maybe the Jack Richard’s Novice Chase is the plan?…….and to use Magpies language, he’s been a ‘little nursed’ in his races this year!

[Quevega]

Agree

But maybe the Jack Richard’s Novice Chase is the plan?…….and to use Magpies language, he’s been a ‘little nursed’ in his races this year!

Doubt he'll get in that, noticed asian master been backed this afternoon. Not one for me mind but looks like he's coming over.

[Quevega]

I do like the look of Karl des Tourelles, and at 25's he looks value still. Him being 5 wouldn't put me off as he's been racing plenty long enough. Might be ridden by a claimer also, Niall Moore rides a lot for the trainer and is the jockey that rode Aqua Force the other day.

I like the Irish ones that look like they have had this race in mind since qualifying.

Probably like Feet of a Dancer even more and if they confirm she is likely to run then she is value at 16-1 also.

Both look reasonable treated.

But if I'm honest, I've focussed on the Irish challenge as I find it easier to narrow those down, but just looking at Henderson;s runners he looks like he has some well handicapped horses just in his yard. Never mind all the other UK entrants.

D art D art also worthy of mentioning looking at his second in front of Gwennie May Boy.

[Chelterskelter]

I do like the look of Karl des Tourelles, and at 25's he looks value still. Him being 5 wouldn't put me off as he's been racing plenty long enough. Might be ridden by a claimer also, Niall Moore rides a lot for the trainer and is the jockey that rode Aqua Force the other day.

I like the Irish ones that look like they have had this race in mind since qualifying.

Probably like Feet of a Dancer even more and if they confirm she is likely to run then she is value at 16-1 also.

Both look reasonable treated.

But if I'm honest, I've focussed on the Irish challenge as I find it easier to narrow those down, but just looking at Henderson;s runners he looks like he has some well handicapped horses just in his yard. Never mind all the other UK entrants.

D art D art also worthy of mentioning looking at his second in front of Gwennie May Boy.

Are you talking about the Pertemps?

[Quevega]

Are you talking about the Pertemps?

Yes mate ….

[Lobos]

Kopeck unlikely to get in here ??

Choice between County and Pipe??

I'd still favour the County of the two as surely Paul would want to ride another HCP snip.