The CORAL CUP Handicap Hurdle

[Quevega]

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.

JP owns the horse.

[Lobos]

JP owns the horse.

Silly me. Schoolboy error.

[Middle_Of_March]

I’d love to see comfort zone being sent here. Think he’d have a huge huge chance.25s e/w NRNB. Goes well fresh and has definitely got a big handicap like this in him. Saved for the race.

Absolutely screams handicap plot to me.

Not quite Jagwar levels but he’d be one of my strongest handicap bets of the whole week here.

[Birds Nest]

I’d love to see comfort zone being sent here. Think he’d have a huge huge chance.25s e/w NRNB. Goes well fresh and has definitely got a big handicap like this in him. Saved for the race.

Absolutely screams handicap plot to me.

Not quite Jagwar levels but he’d be one of my strongest handicap bets of the whole week here.

Ive seen comfort z been mentioned a few times now, on here and on previews, iam i missing something? Hes irish mark is 133 and flat 94, seems about right if not a little exposed..been given 137 by the english handicapper, he's highest winning mark is 131, hes improving for sure but he couldnt win a valuable hurdle at Galway off 129, i know he made a mistake 3 out but eh, and hes a jp horse thats not been backed in a handicap hurdle at the festival. Please convince me i would love to have a coral plot at 25s..

[Studfarm254]

Impose toi and Bo zenith in this. Too tired to go into details as to why but it should be obvious imo. Happy enough to take a chance on the antipost prices as I think they’ll both turn up here. Impose 16s with 365 and skybet. Bo zenith 33s with skybet.

[Eggs]

…Elliott;

I’d say we’ll have Beacon Edge, Kala Conti, Maxxum, The Enabler and Mordor. Maxxum runs well in those big handicaps off big weights - he just seems to be one of those horses. Carl Millar will claim off him. We’re throwing a few others at it and seeing what happens. Kala Conti is probably the pick of them, if she runs. Beacon Edge is a great horse. I wouldn’t mind owning him myself; he picks up a cheque every day he runs. He could run well in the race again, even though he’s not getting any younger. We’re probably rolling a bit of a dice with Mordor, to be honest. The Enabler wasn’t right after his last start at the Dublin Racing Festival [when mid-field behind McLaurey].

[DenmanSacre]

Going through the Coral Cup now and the main thing I'd be looking for are horses who have been tried at graded level previously (one I like in any handicap hurdle to be honest) as the first way to get a shortlist.

Langer Dan ran in a grade 2 before his win, Commander of Fleet 2nd in the potato race and ran in Galmoy and Boyne before his win, Heaven Help Us had ran in a Supreme and other graded races before dropping down in class and winning at the DRF and this race, DDC ran in a grade 2 Supreme trial, William Henry in a few graded races etc. I think you need to go back to Diamond King to get a winner who hadn't been tried in graded company.

I'll also ignore runners aged 9 or over, as well as those who have won 2 or more handicaps (more likely to have shown their hand) and those without either a good run at Cheltenham or if not ran at Cheltenham, I'd want a good run on an undulating track. I'll also ignore KDM as I don't think he runs here.

Looking at the likely runners, this reduces the field to

Salver - 3rd in the Triumph but needs bad ground and I don't like his form this year.
Farren Glory - not sure he's wanting this trip?
Sandor Clegane - not sure this is the trip he wants
Jimmy du Seuil - will he come here first run of the season?
Tounsivator - won a slowly run Royal Bond and disappointed both times since
Kala Conti
Staffordshire Knot - not shown anything so far this season
Supersundae- not sure he will come here and I'd only be interested if Paul decided to ride him
Bo Zenith
Comfort Zone

Of the 3 highlighted:

Comfort Zone - 20/1 Bet365, WH, 888

JP owned, JOB trained. 94 rated on the flat after a good win at Naas over 2m in October. He's rated 137 for the Coral Cup after being given an extra 6 pounds by the British handicapper.

Over hurdles, he was seen as a juvenile, winning a decent maiden (beat Jazzy Matty 6 lengths and Tekao (WPM trained, JP owned odds on fav)), finishing 3rd in the grade 3 at Fairyhouse (beaten by Lossiemouth and Zarak the Brave), then winning the grade 2s at Chepstow and Cheltenham. He wasn't then seen for the rest of his juvenile season. Raced once over 7 months later on the flat then next seen in March 2024 over hurdles.

This season over hurdles, he's finished 3rd over 2m6 at the Galway Festival, beaten by The Wallpark and So Scottish, finishing just in front of Beacon Edge, and then 3rd at Xmas at Leopardstown in a listed handicap behind Al Gasparo.

He could be a JP plot for this, but I'm not sure he has the outright class to win this. I couldn't see him stepping up to grade 1 or 2 class next time in open company for example and that's usually the class of winner in this.

Interesting enough and I've had a small e/w saver.

Bo Zenith - general 16s

This is a horse I've never really taken to.

Talented juvenile, finishing his season losing a short head to Zenta in the Aintree grade 1 for the Moores in 2023. Got injured and was off for over 18 months before finishing 3rd at Cheltenham in a class 3 handicap hurdle for his first run for Henderson. Winner got away from them and a poor ride by those in behind. Finished half a length behind the 2nd place horse after struggling throughout and looking like he was going to be pulled up. His final 4 furlongs were easily the quickest of the field, finishing in a 112% finishing speed

Went to Ascot next time in January where he finished 5th, 7 lengths behind Altobelli. He was mid division, but when the pace picked up from 1 mile out to half a mile out, he clocked the worst time out of all 9 runners in that section and by a fair amount. He finished decently enough but the Coral Cup requires that tactical pace to be able to get in the gaps, stay in contention coming to the final bend and make your move towards the last. I'm not sure he'll be able to get himself or keep himself in position to do that.

Nicky has a great record in this.

He's one I'm not too keen to get involved in right now as I think you could back him in running if he isn't too far behind coming to half a mile out and I'd rather take the shorter win odds then than the each way chance now. I do think he will be finishing strongly though.

Kala Conti - 20/1 Coral/Ladbrokes, 16s general

Not sure if she will come here as she's more than good enough to take her place in the Mares but she'd have a great chance in this.

Good juvenile, beating Kargese at Leopardstown over Xmas to win the grade 2. Not far way at the DRF and then missed Cheltenham. Won her first handicap this season and two game efforts behind Anzadam and July Flower. She went off with the front 2 at Leopardstown and they went too quick. The fact she's only finished 4 lengths off July Flower (ridden patiently and a strong stayer with the last missed) giving 5 pounds and Jetara, also a strong stayer, finished 12 lengths back. With Jack on board, he'll give her a better ride and I think she should be single digit odds for this.

Mares have a great record in this, Gordon's has a couple as well and this could be a stepping stone to the Mares next season.

Hopefully she turns up but if BDA goes to the CH and Lossiemouth also goes to the CH, she'd have a good chance in the Mares Hurdle.

[Eggs]

…..Emmet Mullins suggesting this race will suit Vischio, 25-1 NRNB is a bit of a stand-out with Hills. Probably quoted ahead of Morebattle.

[ComplyOrDie]

Maxxum (IRE)
Ballyadam (IRE)
Eagle Fang (IRE)
Farren Glory (IRE)
Sandor Clegane (IRE)
Colonel Mustard (FR)
Jimmy du Seuil (FR)
Tounsivator (FR)
Sa Fureur (IRE)
Beacon Edge (IRE)
Kala Conti (FR)
Al Gasparo (FR)
Staffordshire Knot (IRE)
Supersundae (FR)
Wodhooh (FR)
Impose Toi (FR)
Ndaawi
Beckett Rock (IRE)
Bunting (FR)
King Alexander (IRE)
Bo Zenith (FR)
Comfort Zone (IRE)
Might I (IRE)
Be Aware (FR)
Uncle Bert
The Enabler (IRE)
Samui
Anna Bunina (FR)
Feet of A Dancer (FR)
Joyeux Machin (FR)
Karafon (FR)
Patter Merchant (IRE)
Sporting Glory (IRE)
Lossiemouth
Captain Morgs (IRE)
Minella Missile (IRE)
Vischio (IRE)
Beat The Bat (IRE)
Park of Kings (IRE)
Prends Garde A Toi (FR)
Jipcot (FR)
Ike Sport (FR)
Classic King (IRE)
Saint Anapolino (FR)
Dr Eggman (FR)
Stormbreaker Mordor (FR)
Josh The Boss
Deep Cave (IRE)
Harsh
Guard The Moon
Idem (FR)
Spirit d'Aunou (FR)
Fenway Park (IRE)
Double Powerful (IRE)
Aston Martini
Royale Margaux (FR)
Timmy Tuesday (IRE)
Spirits Bay
Blenkinsop
Hamsiyann (IRE)
Kimy (FR)

[Eggs]

….looks like one down with 2 to go for Kopeck.

[darlojim]

….looks like one down with 2 to go for Kopeck.

The pieces of the puzzle all coming together nicely.

[Craigy14]

Was always least likely imo, very rough race for a 5 year old yet to run over here.

Ruby mentions it all the time about the Coral Cup.

[Istabraq]

Was always least likely imo, very rough race for a 5 year old yet to run over here.

Ruby mentions it all the time about the Coral Cup.

I thought that was an odd comment from Ruby, why would the County or Pipe be any less rough ?

[Craigy14]

I thought that was an odd comment from Ruby, why would the County or Pipe be any less rough ?

Old course being sharper with so many horses, not as much room? County starts on the long straight, pipe once round the bend is on the long straight as well, although the coral cup starts furlong back from the pipe.

Only thing I can think of, was his least favourite race as he also stated.

[Eggs]

….Comfort Zone into a general 12-1.