2.50 CORAL CUP  Handicap Hurdle - Group 3 / Class 1 - 2 miles 5 furlongs - 26 run - Good to Soft*

(* possibly heavy rain due from midday but its trajectory could just miss the Course, it's one of those where you  have to grin and bear it but with the Going on the Good side of Soft it's hard to see it worse than soft and our general reasoning here is always to look for stamina to get up the hill and frankly it's hard to find any excuse for anything of note being seriously affected either way - we'll leave the excuses to others!)

 

Sean - 

 

Regulars will know that I like to occasionally have a  few bob aside from the tips on big-priced Elliott horses when they are at big odds. He runs 7 here and its one of those races where the punters generally look for unexposed plot jobs who have hidden form under a bushel. However sometimes more exposed types are lurking and ready to run into past form off marks that give them serious chances.

 

So if you want a quid each way at big odds to enhanced places on any 3 horses all week (aside from the normal staking on the race) look no further than Commander of Fleet and The Bosses Oscar for Elliott and Maze Runner for Mullins. They are anything but unexposed but lurk there and whilst they may not, it would not surprise me if one scooted up the hill and we all looked back and thought "hindsight" !!

 

There are a host of Irish horses in with chances, Daly Tiger and Tronador are not no-hopers at the bottom of the market, Mars Harper has a solid chance on the book but may not be quite good enough, Grand Roi disappointed in this race last year and has done again since, Champagne Gold may be better at shorter and although a tongue tie may assist is another who has disappointed too often.

 

Ganapathi has been off for 320 days, Fastorslow will have its supporters for a yard in form but is upped in trip and I think will do well to place here, similarly Indigo Breeze, Drop The Anchor (who is well fancied by many) and Saint Felician have to conclusively prove they get 2 miles and 5 furlongs let alone in a hurly burly race like this and up the hill at the finish.

 

By a process of elimination and about 5 hours of form analysis and detailed race watching I think the best Irish pair at the prices are ASHDALE BOB and THE SHUNTER. ASHDALE BOB is back over hurdles but well handicapped on a few form lines for Jessie Harrington and I think is one who has been completely overlooked by many. THE SHUNTER is also back over Hurdles and won the 2021 Paddy Power Plate here off a mark of 140 and would not be handicapped out of it and looks sure to enjoy the conditions of the race off a mark of 148.

 

Ian - 

 

The home contingent are probably easier to sum up, I liked the look of the Nicholls horse McFabulous but I'm not sure if he is quite in the form needed to take this, Unexpected Party is in form and very progressive but is now really at the mercy of the handicapper I fear, can't rule one in such an upward spiral finding more, but not for me today. I'm not sure any rain would help Camprond and Hobbs horses don't always deliver earlier promise at this Meeting.

 

I'm very keen on the collateral for of GOWER ROAD and DANS LE VENT, the proven stamina of Evan Williams DANS LE VENT is most appealing, I'd be a lot happier if Adam Wedge were riding it but Miss Williams is a more than capable jockey and if the horse is good enough, hopefully she is, GOWEL ROAD has the Course and Distance form and is 12lbs better off with Unexpected Party here and one who I think will always tough it out and give you 100%.

 

The other very dark horse for me, especially given the Yard form is CALL ME LORD its out of form but very well handicapped and the Yard form yesterday suggests they have been tuned to the minute, by whatever means fair or foul!

 

 

 

TIPS - Ashdale Bob + Dans Le Vent / Trackers - Gowel Road + The Shunter - Shrapnel - Call Me Lord

(if you want the advised £1 quid e/w on Seans hunches they are Commander Of Fleet @ 40/1 / The Bosses Oscar @ 40/1  and Maze Runner  @ 33/1 (Sky go to 8th / others to 7th)

 

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The selections in this one from a shortlist 8 (we discounted Thyme White / Before Midnight / Embittered / Elixir Du Nuit and Amarillo Sky from that shortlist) are-:

 

SKY PIRATE who won this race last year and likely targetted it again, noted in running last time having a good blow and would be no surprise to see it return to peak form here.

 

BUDDY RICH looks the best Irish chance for Elliott withe Davy Russell up in the saddle, its hard to see any chinks nor excuses why the hore wouldn't run a big race.

 

FRERO BANBOU has a solid profile, runs off a nice mark and probably the one best suited if the rain does come with any significance. It's got proven soft ground form and the Venetia Williams and Charlie Duetsch combo have been in excellent form.

 

 

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Other small e/w bets to consider-:

 

1.30 I AM MAXIMUS 18/1  and JOURNEY WITH ME 7/1  are both attractively priced in terms of place money odds to 3rd place

 

2.10 FURY ROAD 20/1  and AHOY SENIOR 7/1  could both pick up the pieces if Bravemans Game falters - many bookies go odds to 4th place

 

3.30 NUBE NEGRA 14/1 seems to have been overlooked in the hype about the top 3 in the market and could sneak a place if they cut each other's throats tactically. Odds to 3rd place. 

 

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PLACEPOT

 

 

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TRACKERS (elsewhere)

 

Huntingdon 1.50 Elkstone 12/1 (has been disappointing but James Bowen - amazing he has no Cheltenham rides picks up a nice ride - worth a small e/w)