The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[Istabraq]

Certainly appears to appreciate softer conditions so a big field frenetic pace on spring ground admittedly would be a different ball game for him.

Have spent a bit of time today on this race and Thedevilscoachman is of interest, and I don't think ground will be an issue whatever they race on.
He won his bumper on good ground and I read a quote from Noel Meade saying that he 'took off in his bumper' which says a turn of foot, and in the Boyne hurdle last week he has outstayed Ashdale Bob (and a host of confirmed stayers) to get up on the line.
Meade has also said that the horse is likely to be stepped up to 3m after Cheltenham.
To me, a bustling 21f hurdle race on decent ground is likely to play into his hands, he can pick his way through the pack with that engine and turn of foot.
It's hard to be ultra confident at this stage about a G2 winner, without a mark, representing connections who have festival history, but assuming this is where he heads he would have to come here with a chance, albeit with a fair amount of weight on his back.
I think I'm tempted enough to get with him today...

[FinalFurlong91]

20/1 nrnb for Five O'clock will do me

Hasn't run since the 2020 Martin pipe when he went off 7/1 and finished just outside the places after being impeded

Just think he's a fascinating entry

Should probably back him for the pipe too just incase he sneaks a mark 145 or lower but don't want to add another there yet

[Istabraq]

20/1 nrnb for Five O'clock will do me

I know the man is a genius but that would be some training performance.
Has anything ever won a festival race having been off the track for two years ?

[FinalFurlong91]

I know the man is a genius but that would be some training performance.
Has anything ever won a festival race having been off the track for two years ?

Not a clue

Just thought it was extremely interesting he was given entries and at 20/1 nrnb am happy to throw a few pennies away

[Istabraq]

Not a clue

Just thought it was extremely interesting he was given entries and at 20/1 nrnb am happy to throw a few pennies away

Absolutely no criticism of the pick whatsoever, for all we know this may well the execution of a two year plan.
His stable tour (posted yesterday I think) he said he hadn't given the handicaps any thought and that all his horses were exposed, at best it's an ignorant comment at worst it's full on putting us away.
I give the comment no credibility...

[FinalFurlong91]

Absolutely no criticism of the pick whatsoever, for all we know this may well the execution of a two year plan.
His stable tour (posted yesterday I think) he said he hadn't given the handicaps any thought and that all his horses were exposed, at best it's an ignorant comment at worst it's full on putting us away.
I give the comment no credibility...

Unless he runs 5 in the supreme and 5 in the ballymore I find it very hard to believe he doesn't have a few novices for the handicaps

[Istabraq]

Unless he runs 5 in the supreme and 5 in the ballymore I find it very hard to believe he doesn't have a few novices for the handicaps

Exactly, my first thought when I heard the comment was State Man, how can he be described as exposed ?
Unless he has no intention of sending him to a handicap...

[Alderbrook]

Have spent a bit of time today on this race and Thedevilscoachman is of interest, and I don't think ground will be an issue whatever they race on.
He won his bumper on good ground and I read a quote from Noel Meade saying that he 'took off in his bumper' which says a turn of foot, and in the Boyne hurdle last week he has outstayed Ashdale Bob (and a host of confirmed stayers) to get up on the line.
Meade has also said that the horse is likely to be stepped up to 3m after Cheltenham.
To me, a bustling 21f hurdle race on decent ground is likely to play into his hands, he can pick his way through the pack with that engine and turn of foot.
It's hard to be ultra confident at this stage about a G2 winner, without a mark, representing connections who have festival history, but assuming this is where he heads he would have to come here with a chance, albeit with a fair amount of weight on his back.
I think I'm tempted enough to get with him today...

I was very taken by Thedevilscoachman's last performance, but suspect he will get hammered having beaten some fairly highly rated ones by 10+ lengths. Does anyone have a view on the mark he might get tomorrow? Could it be mid 150's and potentially top weight?

[Istabraq]

I was very taken by Thedevilscoachman's last performance, but suspect he will get hammered having beaten some fairly highly rated ones by 10+ lengths. Does anyone have a view on the mark he might get tomorrow? Could it be mid 150's and potentially top weight?

I am working on 153-155 and top weight.
If his RPR is to be believed that last run was a 12lb improvement on his last hurdle run, I'm not convinced those behind (other than Ashdale Bob) have run to form.
History tell us top to bottom here is somewhere around 16/18lb so whilst he'd be giving weight to them all there won't be an unexposed one sneaking in at the bottom off 10st.
I do like his chances...

[Lobos]

Any news on The Shunter ?? Can't see him winning off his chase rating but, chuck a claimer on him and he'd be down close to his last winning hurdles mark wouldn't he ?? Surely on that basis this has to be the only place he'll turn up in?? Can't find anything at all from Emmet Mullins.

[Outlaw]

Have spent a bit of time today on this race and Thedevilscoachman is of interest, and I don't think ground will be an issue whatever they race on.
He won his bumper on good ground and I read a quote from Noel Meade saying that he 'took off in his bumper' which says a turn of foot, and in the Boyne hurdle last week he has outstayed Ashdale Bob (and a host of confirmed stayers) to get up on the line.
Meade has also said that the horse is likely to be stepped up to 3m after Cheltenham.
To me, a bustling 21f hurdle race on decent ground is likely to play into his hands, he can pick his way through the pack with that engine and turn of foot.
It's hard to be ultra confident at this stage about a G2 winner, without a mark, representing connections who have festival history, but assuming this is where he heads he would have to come here with a chance, albeit with a fair amount of weight on his back.
I think I'm tempted enough to get with him today...

All that and you end up arguing with yourself
roll on Tuesday can start some proper discussions on these hcap threads with ratings to boot !

[Outlaw]

Any news on The Shunter ?? Can't see him winning off his chase rating but, chuck a claimer on him and he'd be down close to his last winning hurdles mark wouldn't he ?? Surely on that basis this has to be the only place he'll turn up in?? Can't find anything at all from Emmet Mullins.

Hope he says nothing tbf then gets declared on the Monday, get a price with silly places on offer and he’d be auto bet for plenty of folk.

[Istabraq]

151 Thedevilscoachman is kinder than I expected...

[Outlaw]

Hope he says nothing tbf then gets declared on the Monday, get a price with silly places on offer and he’d be auto bet for plenty of folk.

148 which is within a lb of what I thought he'd get, If coming here will end up in the top6/7 of the hcap and they have been rising to the top those sorts over the last few years(last year was a car crash mind) festival winner and hurdle winner on the old course in the Nov meet 2020, lots to like imo.

[AnFiieLD.]

All over Drop The Anchor here - As eyecatching as they come LTO and a decent enough mark for this race