The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[Run4Home]

Sa Majeste doing a Ballyburn. Seems more popular for this today over the Pipe. Where's he heading???

JP will decide when he splits his up next week
Sounds like Mark Walsh may come calling though...

[Lobos]

JP will decide when he splits his up next week
Sounds like Mark Walsh may come calling though...

Both Sa Majeste and Quai De Bourbon are rated 140 which gives them plenty of options but also a nice headache. Any chance they both go for the same race rather than being split ??

[Quevega]

Both Sa Majeste and Quai De Bourbon are rated 140 which gives them plenty of options but also a nice headache. Any chance they both go for the same race rather than being split ??

Why would those 2 be split in particular ?
Just cos they're both 140 ?

It's Waterford Whispers, Sa Majeste and No Ordinary Joe that look the well handicapped JP horses for the 2 middle distance hurdles, and I'd expect they want to know if Waterford gets in ideally, before jocking up and deciding on others.
I doubt Walsh will decide myself but I'd imagine he'd want a nice ride in the Coral cup.

[Lobos]

Why would those 2 be split in particular ?
Just cos they're both 140 ?

It's Waterford Whispers, Sa Majeste and No Ordinary Joe that look the well handicapped JP horses for the 2 middle distance hurdles, and I'd expect they want to know if Waterford gets in ideally, before jocking up and deciding on others.
I doubt Walsh will decide myself but I'd imagine he'd want a nice ride in the Coral cup.

Have it in my head that those two are Willie's best options for the Pipe or/and the Coral. They could both go for the same race of course as different owners.

[FinalFurlong91]

Brasil/owners have had 2 seconds in this the last two seasons with an epic song and Fastorslow

Clearly a race they target on the day the sponsor the first race

Their runner this year is built by ballymore

Iv had a go on at 16s nrnb

They keep knocking on the door eventually it will open

[Lobos]

He'll love it if it keeps raining. Looks an out and out Stayer.

[Craigy14]

Hiddenvalley lake skipping Cheltenham for Aintree! Didn’t know HDB had Paul Nicholls genes!! Owner has confirmed!

[JackieMoon33]

Hiddenvalley lake skipping Cheltenham for Aintree! Didn’t know HDB had Paul Nicholls genes!! Owner has confirmed!

I think it's more likely the owners than HDB as they seem to have a big say in their race planning. He was also a no-show last year in the AB despite being fancied.

[Craigy14]

I think it's more likely the owners than HDB as they seem to have a big say in their race planning. He was also a no-show last year in the AB despite being fancied.

Aye I thought so JM, I was just being childish

Thought he’d have a great chance.

Aintree is a Grade 1 and with the other 2 looking stayers bound it makes sense for the owner.

[JackieMoon33]

Aye I thought so JM, I was just being childish

Thought he’d have a great chance.

Aintree is a Grade 1 and with the other 2 looking stayers bound it makes sense for the owner.

It's good to have open owners like that though. We could do with more of them!

[Studfarm254]

With Quai de bourbon being pumped for the Martin Pipe it makes me think Sa Majeste could be coming here

[Folski]

Any word on Might I for this?

[Alderbrook]

I like Might I

“Might I reverts to the smaller obstacles in the Coral Cup. He didn’t prove to be a natural over fences and we have deliberately not run him before Christmas to go into the Festival as fresh as possible. I am very happy with how he is going at home, and he ran a good race under topweight in the Martin Pipe last year. I am looking forward to him taking his chance in the Coral off a few pounds lower, and we know he can be competitive off his mark. Hopefully, he will be there or thereabouts at the business end.”

[Folski]

Some Stats for this having looked at last 20 years:

20/20 hadn’t fallen in last 4 runs. 17/20 hadn’t fallen (COF, BBerry & Son of F all fell a max of 1 time - makes sense the consistency with the jumping is incredible looking through the winners).

20/20 no more than 2 wins in last 4

20/20 won 2 hcap hdls max, 3 won 2, 10 won 1, 7 won 0.

19/20 had won in their last 4 starts. SoF the exemption 2nd in Piper year previous and was 5lb below that mark.

19/20 (last 19) had 2 to 4 hurdle wins.

19/20 were first 4 on 2 of last 4 runs. SoF again!

12/20 had first run under rules in a NHF all 12 won a NHF (10 of last 12 btw)

Only winner to start career over hurdles abroad hadn’t run in Ire or UK. Aux P S - Dame DC and BBerrry started and won in NHF in France.

Only winner to run (won) P2P was a G1 winning hurdler. COF

All 3 winners who started over hurdles placed at least on first 3 runs.

Leaves you with

Ballyadam
Da Capo Glory
Springwell Bay
Finest Evermore
No Ordinary Joe (on account of his 2nd in the pipe)
Party Central
Nurse Susan
Doddiethegreat
Samui

[Istabraq]

Just went to a Ladbrokes and they aren't quoting Sa Majeste in this.
I immediately hoped that I'd missed word he was heading to the M Pipe but far more likely an error....