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14:50 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2019

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

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 8.04s

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Selected odds by:

Wicklow Brave⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| C

28/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles and returned to form with a better run at Naas last time after a poor run of form towards the back end of last year. Has a bit to prove at this sort of trip but has won here and handicap mark isn't insurmountable.

Form: 13F472

Vision Des Flos^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152

9/1

Produced a career best effort when winning a Fontwell Grade 2 last time. Not the strongest race for the Grade and 2lb higher here but he's run well on each of his three starts since wind surgery. Needs another chunk of improvement to land this.

Form: 235231

William Henry^p⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151| C| DWS

28/1

Excellent fourth in this race last year but he's disappointed in two starts since. Has his first start since wind surgery and has run several of his better races here including a novice hurdle success; not one to rule out if he can bounce back.

Form: 1/P144-P

Scarpeta^p1⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| BF

20/1

He's two from seven over hurdles since switched to this yard, his most recent success a 3m Clonmel win when odds on. Beaten favourite in follow up bid at Punchestown when making jumping errors; needs first-time cheekpieces to sharpen him up.

Form: 143P-13

Farclas^b,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C

16/1

Impressive Triumph winner last year but has gone backwards in five starts since, four this season. Doesn't shape like a step back up in trip will help but yard capable of readying one for this meeting and booking of Russell could be significant.

Form: 15-6F55

Killultagh Vic²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| CD

16/1

3m Grade 1 winner at Punchestown in 2015. Lost his way at the end of last season and showed little over fences when last of four at Gowran last month but he's interesting on his previous run when only 1½L down to Presenting Percy over hurdles.

Form: P5-P534

Lil Rockerfeller^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 150| C| D

20/1

Aborted his chase career despite three wins including a course success and ran well in the Cleeve Hurdle on trials day. Ran okay on first start since wind surgery but he's better over further than this and opposable on balance.

Form: 11U353

Diamond Cauchois^t³²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: N D Fehily| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

33/1

Won when odds on at Navan (2m5f) in Grade 2 company last season but struggled when upped in class towards the end of last season. Wouldn't appear to be among the trainer's leading chances but plenty of rain would help his cause.

Form: 313126-

Cracking Smart^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150

12/1

Looked potentially smart last season but hasn't been in the same form this time around, tailed off at Leopardstown and beaten by lesser fancied stablemate Tiger Roll and Navan last time. Testing conditions would suit and he's relatively low mileage.

Form: 1122-63

Monbeg Theatre^p,t⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 148| C| DWS

66/1

Recorded a belated hat-trick with Wetherby win on seasonal return and has run well in three starts since without getting his head in front. 3m winner on his only start here but tends to need to lead to be at his best and that won't be easy in this.

Form: 1-11342

Bleu Berry⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| CD

25/1

Showed a game attitude when winning this race last year from 5lb lower and while he's disappointed subsequently, he came into last year's race in similar form. While Walsh prefers Uradel, he's not out of this if he can bounce back.

Form: 0143-07

Ballyandy²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 148| BF| C

14/1

Champion Bumper winner and fourth in the Supreme in 2017. Has bounced back to form in this sphere after a disappointing chase career. Doesn't look well-handicapped after his 6lb rise for his Uttoxeter success in January and others preferred.

Form: P-3P413

Brio Conti²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| D

10/1

Benefited from a strong gallop when held up at Ascot last time, hanging on gamely to make it four wins from his last six start. 5lb higher in a deeper race leaves him with questions to answer but yard in flying form and he's low mileage.

Form: 115/1-P1

Dancing On My Own³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 145

16/1

Showed some smart form in maiden hurdles and not beaten all that far by leading Supreme chance Klassical Dream when dropped in to Grade 1 class last time. Handicapper hasn't taken a chance with the opening mark but entirely unexposed.

Form: 5234

Burbank^p⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| BF

40/1

Hasn't won since a maiden hurdle success nearly two years ago but has run some fair races in big fields including a seventh in this last year. Handicapper not really relenting though; has second start since a wind op.

Form: 06379-2

Canardier^h¹³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 141| CD

14/1

Justified favouritism in a novice hurdle at the Showcase meeting and while he's gone up 7lb for that, he won with enough in hand to suggest he's still well-handicapped. Softer going is the big question mark after several wins on a sound surface.

Form: 5-12331

Apple's Shakira^h⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| BF| C

10/1

Won each of her first four career starts including three course wins but has finished beaten favourite on three subsequent efforts and pulled up at Sandown on seasonal return. Can refuse to settle and has questions to answer at present.

Form: 11143-P

Knight In Dubai^t⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

25/1

Quickly aborted his chase career after falling here in October but got back on track with a better effort at Newbury last time out when only narrowly denied. 4lb higher here but still feasibly handicapped for a yard in form.

Form: 1340-F2

Highest Sun¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139| BF

16/1

Won in better style than the winning margin suggested at Chepstow last time when justifying favouritism. This is clearly tougher and 8lb higher now but the step up in trip looks certain to suit. Could run well.

Form: 1-3421

Tully East³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: D Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 138| C

16/1

Won the novice handicap chase here two years ago and has acquitted himself well on each of his three course starts. Not at his best at trips short of his best recently and lurks on a dangerous handicap mark.

Form: 63-8000

Eragon De Chanay^v²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 138| D

66/1

Has won twice this season at similar trips but hasn't been at his best in three career starts around here. 5lb rise for his latest success means others are probably better handicapped.

Form: P13731

Uradel³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF

13/2

Narrowly denied in the Cesarewitch on the Flat and gives the impression he could well be on a nice mark in this sphere. Left with too much to do last time at Leopardstown but it was an eye-catching run and he's the pick of Walsh. Back up in trip.

Form: 3/117-B5

Erick Le Rouge¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 137| D

16/1

Showed promise last season and has gone from strength to strength this campaign, rattling off four in a row. Showed a game attitude when getting up last time and only nudged up 3lb for that success; going the right way.

Form: 52-1111

Calie Du Mesnil^t1³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| D

25/1

Won her first two starts over hurdles for this yard and only narrowly denied having looked like the winner at Leopardstown last time (3m). Handicapper hasn't missed her but could go well at big odds. Wears first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 1132P2

Oscar Knight²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 133

33/1

Only has one win since 2016. Shaped well enough on her return but well beaten last time and the handicapper is refusing to relent, despite him finishing well beaten. Back in trip and others have more obvious claims.

Form: B3-8P67

Non-Runners

Joke Dancer¹⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: Mrs S J Smith J: Danny Cook

Forecasts

Uradel (13/2), Vision Des Flos (9/1), Brio Conti (10/1), Apple's Shakira (10/1), Cracking Smart (12/1), Ballyandy (14/1), Canardier (14/1), Tully East (16/1), Highest Sun (16/1), Killultagh Vic (16/1), Dancing On My Own (16/1), Farclas (16/1), Erick Le Rouge (16/1), Lil Rockerfeller (20/1), Scarpeta (20/1), Bleu Berry (25/1), Knight In Dubai (25/1), Calie Du Mesnil (25/1), Joke Dancer (25/1), William Henry (28/1), Wicklow Brave (28/1), Oscar Knight (33/1), Diamond Cauchois (33/1), Burbank (40/1), Monbeg Theatre (66/1), Eragon De Chanay (66/1)

Very few races are as competitive as the Coral Cup year on year and it's another wide-open renewal. Bleu Berry won the race last year and he's been overlooked by Ruby Walsh in favour of Uradel who appeals as a well-handicapped type. However, preference is for TULLY EAST who goes well at his course. The son of Shantou hasn't been at his best over two miles in recent starts but he's on a nice mark as a result and will relish this step up in trip. Bold Plan can go well if he gets in the race (first reserve) after the form of his latest run was franked in emphatic fashion by the runner-up and the five-year-old is less exposed than most in here.