The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[JackieMoon33]

A quarter of the races at this year's Festival (7) have the favourite priced up at 9-4 or shorter.
More than half of all the races (15) have the favourite top priced 5-1 or shorter.
The only races where the favourite is still double figures are 8 of the handicaps (Shan Blue at 8-1 makes the Ultima the exception).

Does this go some way to explaining why everyone from tipsters to FJs are turning to the handicaps in a search for a working man's price rather than taking on some of the shorties?

100%. With most markets fully formed now, the search for a decent price is now limited to the handicaps.

[JackieMoon33]

Maybe but we are playing into the bookies hands betting handicaps this early. At this stage apart from a few that trainers have said are targeting certain races, we don't have a clue what will turn up and where.

And that risk is reflected in the price of 33/1. No different to backing the hundreds of novices that have been put up on here before the season even started.

[Speedy17]

Is Ch'tibello being laid out for this? He's fallen to a mark of 142 which is 4lb lower than when he won the County. I know he's 11 and getting on a bit, but will be very interested to see how he runs in the Lanzarote Saturday... A cosy 4th or 5th and I think he's a player.

[Istabraq]

Is Ch'tibello being laid out for this? He's fallen to a mark of 142 which is 4lb lower than when he won the County. I know he's 11 and getting on a bit, but will be very interested to see how he runs in the Lanzarote Saturday... A cosy 4th or 5th and I think he's a player.

Would be a stats buster and some.
91 renewals of the race only one winner aged over 9, has become a real novice/unexposed second season hurdler benefit.
Skelton knows how to get a horses mark right for sure but there will be horses much better handicapped than Ch’tibello.
Just not for me…

[jack1092]

One that's on my mind for this is Mr Adjudicator..

He returned from a setback over 3m in the xmas g1, a tough ask off 879 days off. Plenty of good handicap form and i reckon the intermediate trip would suit him. Been around yonks, but still only 8. I can't see the handicapper going mad at all, he'll probably be left on the same mark as he's on now.

WPM has plenty of history bringing back horses for this, Sayo ran well last year, Wicklow Brave ran big off a big weight, Bleu Berry etc.

I'll see what they do, but he's one i'd be interested in i reckon.

[ComplyOrDie]

Surprised Maries Rock has drifted by a fair bit after today.

On the bare form you'd think fair enough she's been pulled up, she must have run a stinker, but that was far from the reality of it. She was lucky she even stayed in the race early on, Nico got unbalanced after being massively hampered by the faller and had to use her energy to tag back on to the back of the pack. Her early exertions almost definitely cost her and she was never going to be given the kitchen sink by Nico after that.

I think they gave themselves two options today, with regards to the festival, either win and go for the Mares Hurdle or obviously not win and the Coral Cup remains an option, IMO. She's still massively unexposed over this trip.

I doubt she'll get dropped anything for today, but going there off 140 will be no major issue, IMO.

[On The Fringe]

Surprised Maries Rock has drifted by a fair bit after today.

On the bare form you'd think fair enough she's been pulled up, she must have run a stinker, but that was far from the reality of it. She was lucky she even stayed in the race early on, Nico got unbalanced after being massively hampered by the faller and had to use her energy to tag back on to the back of the pack. Her early exertions almost definitely cost her and she was never going to be given the kitchen sink by Nico after that.

I think they gave themselves two options today, with regards to the festival, either win and go for the Mares Hurdle or obviously not win and the Coral Cup remains an option, IMO. She's still massively unexposed over this trip.

I doubt she'll get dropped anything for today, but going there off 140 will be no major issue, IMO.

Completely agree with everything you've said there COD.

I was hoping she didn't win today, but ran well (finishing 3rd or 4th) with the Coral Cup in mind, and given how she was almost brought down early on, I cannot believe she was pushed out to 33/1 with with a few firms for the Coral Cup.

I duly took the 33/1 and am now hoping the owners don't find another opportunity to ruin her mark prior to Cheltenham!

[Lbur4288]

Surprised Maries Rock has drifted by a fair bit after today.

On the bare form you'd think fair enough she's been pulled up, she must have run a stinker, but that was far from the reality of it. She was lucky she even stayed in the race early on, Nico got unbalanced after being massively hampered by the faller and had to use her energy to tag back on to the back of the pack. Her early exertions almost definitely cost her and she was never going to be given the kitchen sink by Nico after that.

I think they gave themselves two options today, with regards to the festival, either win and go for the Mares Hurdle or obviously not win and the Coral Cup remains an option, IMO. She's still massively unexposed over this trip.

I doubt she'll get dropped anything for today, but going there off 140 will be no major issue, IMO.

This is one I'm sweet on and made my case in the handicap thread in the members section. I stick by it even more after today and I think the Coral Cup is a more than realistic target for the horse and connections.

[TiggerRoll]

Surprised Maries Rock has drifted by a fair bit after today.

On the bare form you'd think fair enough she's been pulled up, she must have run a stinker, but that was far from the reality of it. She was lucky she even stayed in the race early on, Nico got unbalanced after being massively hampered by the faller and had to use her energy to tag back on to the back of the pack. Her early exertions almost definitely cost her and she was never going to be given the kitchen sink by Nico after that.

I think they gave themselves two options today, with regards to the festival, either win and go for the Mares Hurdle or obviously not win and the Coral Cup remains an option, IMO. She's still massively unexposed over this trip.

I doubt she'll get dropped anything for today, but going there off 140 will be no major issue, IMO.

Agree with everything you say but I’d like to see another jockey on other than Nico. He didn’t settle her anywhere near as well as Sean Bowen last time (before or after the incident) and he’s not one for settling a keen horse imo.

Have a similar view that No Ordinary Joe could improve a fair chunk for a different set of hands too.

[ComplyOrDie]

Agree with everything you say but I’d like to see another jockey on other than Nico. He didn’t settle her anywhere near as well as Sean Bowen last time (before or after the incident) and he’s not one for settling a keen horse imo.

Have a similar view that No Ordinary Joe could improve a fair chunk for a different set of hands too.

It may happen.

Nicky usually chucks more than one at this race, so no guarantee Nico will be on her again.

[Kevloaf]

Some good points regarding Marie's Rock - liked the cases prior to her run but not really the price (by the time I got to it).... but after having her race a bit spoilt, her chances in the Coral Cup itself haven't been hampered, so 33/1 seems a fair punt. Wouldn't get the whole stake on just yet, but it's fair enough.

[RufusFlynn]

I think Call Me Lord has to be of interest if he turns up here. Has ran in better races over hurdles and has been tried over further. NH horses tend to do well in the race and those who revert to hurdles after poor form over fences (e.g Janina last year for the same connections) do seem to have the right profile for the race. Has a bit of back class and is still a decent price around 25/1.

[Rooster Booster]

Surprised Maries Rock has drifted by a fair bit after today.

On the bare form you'd think fair enough she's been pulled up, she must have run a stinker, but that was far from the reality of it. She was lucky she even stayed in the race early on, Nico got unbalanced after being massively hampered by the faller and had to use her energy to tag back on to the back of the pack. Her early exertions almost definitely cost her and she was never going to be given the kitchen sink by Nico after that.

I think they gave themselves two options today, with regards to the festival, either win and go for the Mares Hurdle or obviously not win and the Coral Cup remains an option, IMO. She's still massively unexposed over this trip.

I doubt she'll get dropped anything for today, but going there off 140 will be no major issue, IMO.

On the same logic recognising there is no answer either way from yesterday’s race the mares hurdle would presumably also still be on the table as an option and hills have pushed her out to 50s. Recognising her run style she will always be relying on luck in a 20+ runner handicap. If she were mine I’d just like to see her have a consistent run at things now to give her every chance of maximising the early potential she showed. I’m not sure running for luck again when she has had so little of it in her career to date is necessarily the best option.

P.s Adrian Heskin rode her last time not Sean Bowen ...and yes she settled beautifully for him.

[Nathaniel99999]

Really don't get the hype of Marie's Rock, I just don't think the horse would win this, I think theres plenty of horses that would beat her in this. Only horse I'm hoping that would be entered for this is "Finest evermore". I've asked several betting companies to request a price and none of them have wanted to which I find weird. Managed to only get the market to win any race on Williamhill.

[Kevloaf]

Really don't get the hype of Marie's Rock, I just don't think the horse would win this, I think theres plenty of horses that would beat her in this. Only horse I'm hoping that would be entered for this is "Finest evermore". I've asked several betting companies to request a price and none of them have wanted to which I find weird. Managed to only get the market to win any race on Williamhill.

It's that people think she's better than 140.

Finest Evermore is 137 in Ireland, so may well be rated even closer to her if they met over here...


I'm guessing you'd have Finest Evermore an odds on shot to beat her in a match?


I don't know how much Finest Evermore has in hand (obviously), but no real strong reason to think she's not been trying the last two runs...so her rating must be fairly accurate?



I think she's a good and interest shout by the way... I'd take a proper look if she was entered.