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14:50 Cheltenham

Wednesday 15 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 4.1s

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Selected odds by:

Modus^h⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 156

16/1

Comfortable winner of the Lanzarote Hurdle. A line through the runner-up would give him a lot to find with Air Horse One. Stable took this in 2015 and this improving six-year-old rates the pick of their team.

Form: 0-32716

Old Guard⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150

20/1

Recent form has been patchy but it would come as no surprise to see another big run at a track which has witnessed his best performances.

Form: 434774

The Romford Pele^b⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 149

66/1

Struggling to recapture his form but will return fresh from a break. Form indicates a stiffer test of stamina is needed.

Form: 8U-214P

Mister Miyagi⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149

16/1

Two of his best career performances came here last season including a sixth place finish in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Has not been disgraced in top class company this season and his latest effort can be discounted due to the ground.

Form: 161-326

Tombstone²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 149

7/2

Fourth in the Supreme Novices' last year. Has learnt to settle better this term and produced a distinguished effort to beat Jezki last time. Earned his position as one of the market leaders with that performance and hails from a yard that have won this twice since 2010. Trying a new trip but won a 19f bumper.

Form: 24-3103

Supasundae²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 148

16/1

Has finished just out of the frame here in the Bumper and the Supreme Novices' over the last two years. Makes handicap debut off a mark which looks attractive if his emphatic victory over Monksland is taken at face value. However, a line through the third suggests he has a bit to find with Tombstone. Has made mistakes and not reproduced that effort in two starts since.

Form: 6/9317-4

Taquin Du Seuil²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Jonjo & A O'Neill| OR: 148

12/1

Better known as a top-class chaser who took the JLT Novices' Chase in 2014. Had useful form as a novice hurdler and his mark over the smaller obstacles is 12lb below than over fences. An autumn run over hurdles in a handicap suggested there is a big prize waiting for him in this sphere.

Form: 9/165-61

Monksland^h⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 147

66/1

Looks firmly held by Supsasundae judged on their meeting on New Year's Eve. Has been given a break since then and goes well fresh. Others look better handicapped for this daunting contest.

Form: 232-1F3

Kalondra^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 147

20/1

Looks held by Modus on running in the Lanzarote Hurdle. Has since bolted up at Huntingdon and handicapper has reacted accordingly. Obviously needs to improve but is heading in the right direction.

Form: 311231

Waxies Dargle^t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 146

50/1

Sixth in this last year and hard to see where the handicapper has found the extra 4lb he has to carry here. Looked a fortunate winner at Fairyhouse in December and performances since suggest he will struggle here.

Form: 6-01000

Who Dares Wins³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 146

33/1

Winner of a Grade 2 as a juvenile and versatile in terms of going. Has always appealed as a type to do better over a trip in this sort of race but recent efforts have made him look a difficult ride. Has something to find with Kalondra and Taquin du Seuil on recent form.

Form: 140-4U1

Thomas Hobson²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

50/1

Recent efforts do not inspire. Yard are 6-131 in handicaps in Great Britain during the past five seasons and it is hard to be positive about his prospects.

Form: P-39P01

River Frost¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 143

25/1

Winner of three of his five starts in this country. Looked unlucky when coming down at Wincanton and reinforced that impression when scoring decisively next time. Overcame errors that day and can ill afford to do so again off a significantly higher mark.

Form: 31

Automated⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

16/1

Travels strongly in his races and has form in big fields. Has been well supported for this contest which his trainer has landed twice since 2010. Handicapper has made a stiff assessment of his latest victory but stable have made an excellent start to the Festival.

Form: 345105-

Peregrine Run⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 142

7/1

Beat the useful Wholestone over C&D in November. Well handicapped on that form and has an excellent chance provided there is no give in the ground.

Form: 011113

Hawk High^p⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: T D Easterby| OR: 140

25/1

Winner of the 2014 Fred Winter and has been unplaced in the last two runnings of the County Hurdle. Flat form suggests this new trip is worth a try but others make more appeal.

Form: 320/59-3

Allblak Des Places⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

40/1

Yet to produce his form of last season and yard do not have a good record in handicaps in Britain. Has found little for pressure on last two starts and he has a big task here at the weights.

Form: 12/50P0-

Morello Royale^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140

100/1

Does not have a good record at this track and a 5lb rise for her latest effort makes her even less appealing.

Form: F4180-4

Tin Soldier²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

5/1

Has made giant strides since joining top handler. Yard are yet to win this and their record in handicaps in Britain is just 6-131 for the last five years. The trends count against him but the handicapper has given him a fighting chance of proving the stats wrong.

Form: 2/84-118

Hargam^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

14/1

Appears to have lost his way and he may be better in smaller fields nowadays. Cheekpieces are tried for the first time but it remains hard to enthuse about his chances.

Form: 310000-

Leoncavallo^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 140

66/1

Fifth in last year's Triumph Hurdle but handicapper appears to have taken charge since then. Last two starts do not indicate his form to be at the level needed to take this.

Form: 1U5-27P

Robinshill^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 139

100/1

Had been busy prior to his latest blowout. Will be freshened up by a break since for an event that will require significant improvement. Still to prove he stays this far.

Form: 120117

Scoir Mear⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 138

20/1

Closely matched with Automated on Navan running. That rival won with plenty in hand so hard to see those placings being reversed unless these likely faster conditions make a big difference.

Form: 112225

Bravissimo³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Ms K Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

33/1

One of six possible targets at the Festival. Did well to score on his return from a two year absence. Failed in higher grade since and this is potentially tougher.

Form: 3/1700

Sure Reef¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

40/1

Has jumped poorly on all three starts this term and hard to see him figuring here despite his powerful connections.

Form: 11/3540

Non-Runners

Carrig Cathal³

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Tombstone (7/2), Tin Soldier (5/1), Peregrine Run (7/1), Taquin Du Seuil (12/1), Hargam (14/1), Supasundae (16/1), Modus (16/1), Automated (16/1), Mister Miyagi (16/1), Scoir Mear (20/1), Old Guard (20/1), Kalondra (20/1), River Frost (25/1), Hawk High (25/1), Carrig Cathal (25/1), Who Dares Wins (33/1), Bravissimo (33/1), Sure Reef (40/1), Allblak Des Places (40/1), Waxies Dargle (50/1), Thomas Hobson (50/1), Monksland (66/1), Leoncavallo (66/1), The Romford Pele (66/1), Morello Royale (100/1), Robinshill (100/1)

Gordon Elliott has already tasted success at this year's Festival and has assembled a strong team in his bid to land this for the third time since 2010. Tombstone beat Jezki last time when having more use made of his stamina than when the pair met the previous month. The proximity of the third casts a shadow over the form and preference is for stable companion AUTOMATED. He has been the subject of a huge gamble for this following a brilliant display last time. He was always travelling strongly that day and that cruising speed is something that will be a huge asset in this. Taquin Du Seuil has proven form in the highest grade when chasing. He has only been beaten once in a handicap and that was over hurdles on his first run this season when the yard were out of form. Nevertheless he was noted staying on nicely over a trip short of his best and having performed well since there is cause for optimism.