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14:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 5m 8.59s

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Selected odds by:

Thomas Darby^p1⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 155| C

14/1

Runner-up in Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2019. Landed a strong Ascot handicap last term and latest effort in Grade 2 company was solid, but present mark may prove beyond his reach. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 2313-33

Grand Roi⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J W Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 149

6/1

Limerick Grade 2 winner in good style on penultimate start in December. Brushed aside by Bachasson at Naas (15.7f) since but he advanced his form in the process. Handicap debut up in trip.

Form: 411-312

Koshari³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

12/1

Looked as good as ever when landing a Cork handicap hurdle on return from a lengthy absence in January. Wasn't seen to best effect at Leopardstown since and this low-mileage 9-y-o needs considering.

Form: 1F02/16

Janika^t⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

33/1

Grade 2 winner over fences last term and wasn't disgraced on British hurdles debut here in January 2020. However, he was disappointing in Ascot race won by stablemate Craigneiche on belated return.

Form: 14442-9

Monte Cristo⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

14/1

French recruit who left low-key reappearance well behind when landing a competitive Kempton handicap (21f) in good style on Boxing Day. Up 12 lb for that, but this 5-y-o likely has more to offer.

Form: 2141-81

Birchdale³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| C| D

12/1

Very promising earlier in his career and shaped quite well when eighth in this race off a 2 lb higher mark last year. Chasing didn't really go to plan but he's certainly in the right hands.

Form: P/38-U63

Sayo^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

28/1

Resumed winning ways at Kilbeggan last summer, but hasn't posed a threat in completed starts subsequently and finished out with the washing off a similar mark in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 00-8187

Saint Sonnet^t⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| BF

33/1

Ex-French recruit who made a promising start for this yard over fences last season. Has failed to complete all 3 starts this time round but he is in top hands on this return to timber.

Form: 317-FPP

Botox Has⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| C

17/2

Has failed to make a real impact since switched to handicaps, beaten 16½ lengths when sixth to Craigneiche at Ascot last time. However, he's 2-3 here and this stiffer test could be what he needs.

Form: 21-1406

Tea Clipper⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 141| BF

33/1

Improved again when bagging a Grade 3 Chepstow handicap in October. Has come up short in 2 subsequent runs (in a jumpers bumper last time) but unwise to think limit has necessarily been reached.

Form: 112-155

Burbank^p⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 140| D

125/1

Unsuccessful at the last 4 Festivals, but wasn't disgraced when seventh off 3 lb higher in this race in 2018. In good form in jumpers bumpers for new yard this season but this is a different ask.

Form: 518P-13

Craigneiche⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

17/2

Doncaster maiden hurdle winner last term and big step forward when landing a competitive Ascot handicap (19.3f) in good style on return in January. Up 12 lb, but he remains with serious potential.

Form: 131-1

Boreham Bill⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139| D

50/1

Right back to form returned to this sphere at Kempton the last twice, placed in 21f handicap in November prior to landing the Lanzarote. Merits respect despite 7 lb rise.

Form: 0-34331

Garo De Juilley^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Felix de Giles| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 139

66/1

Hasn't won on these shores since October 2018, but has hit the target twice in France this season, including a listed contest over 20.4f at Pau last month. Doesn't possess the scope of a few of these.

Form: 821F31

Heaven Help Us^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hennessy| OR: 138| C

33/1

Looked better than ever back in this sphere when landing a valuable mares' handicap in first-time cheekpieces at Leopardstown (2¼m) last month. New mark demands another jolt of progress.

Form: 175441

Blue Sari^t1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

14/1

Looked good early in career, runner-up in the 2019 Champion Bumper. Lightly raced since, running no sort of race on reappearance/handicap debut last month so top connections reach for a tongue tie.

Form: 12/14P-P

Dysart Diamond^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF

28/1

Fitted with a tongue tie and advanced her form when making a winning handicap debut over 2m at Leopardstown in December. Easy to excuse last month's run (hampered) and she has more to offer.

Form: 3-11410

Sneaky Getaway^p1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: B Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 137| D

20/1

Useful on the Flat (ran on AW latest) and bright start to hurdles career last year, scoring at Roscommon and Fairyhouse. However, well held last 2 starts in this sphere and cheekpieces now employed.

Form: 13-115P

Palmers Hill²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| CD

33/1

Winner of a big-field C&D handicap hurdle in November 2018. Cracking effort at Kempton on sole start last term, but below par in a 2 runs so far this season and he clearly comes with risks attached.

Form: 431/2-40

Shakem Up'arry²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 135

28/1

Scored at Ffos Las in November and has continued in good form, 12l eighth to Soaring Glory in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time and now back up in trip.

Form: 20-1428

Our Power²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| D

40/1

Landed big-field handicap at Kempton last spring and creditable efforts on first 3 starts of this season, including over C&D in October. Bombed out last time, but he's pretty reliable on the whole.

Form: 31-634P

Shang Tang²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 135

50/1

Shaped well until stamina gave way in the River Don (24.4f) and resumed winning ways in clear-cut fashion at Fakenham last month. Revised mark calls for more back in a handicap.

Form: 31FP51

Guard Your Dreams^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

7/1

Progressive type who made a winning handicap debut at Sandown in January. Further progress when sixth of 23 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f) since and this step up in trip looks a good move.

Form: 2-14116

Nelson River²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 133| C

80/1

Excelled himself when fourth in the 2019 Triumph. AW winner in January prior to a brace of heavy defeats and he may lack the class and/or stamina back hurdling in a race of this nature.

Form: 4/559-47

Dans Le Vent²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 132

28/1

Better than ever when narrowly landing 7-runner handicap back hurdling following 13 months off at Hereford (19.5f) in December. Brace of fourth-place finishes since confirm he's in good nick.

Form: 0/U2-144

Witness Protection⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 130

33/1

Promise in bumpers and successful twice in novice company this season, latterly strong at the finish at Chepstow in January. More to come in handicaps and return to this sort of trip should suit.

Form: 342-121

Forecasts

Grand Roi (6/1), Guard Your Dreams (7/1), Craigneiche (17/2), Botox Has (17/2), Birchdale (12/1), Koshari (12/1), Monte Cristo (14/1), Thomas Darby (14/1), Blue Sari (14/1), Sneaky Getaway (20/1), Sayo (28/1), Dans Le Vent (28/1), Shakem Up'arry (28/1), Dysart Diamond (28/1), Heaven Help Us (33/1), Tea Clipper (33/1), Janika (33/1), Palmers Hill (33/1), Saint Sonnet (33/1), Witness Protection (33/1), Our Power (40/1), Shang Tang (50/1), Boreham Bill (50/1), Garo De Juilley (66/1), Nelson River (80/1), Burbank (125/1)

Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals of this and saddles four in his bid for the hat-trick. Comfortably the most persuasive of them is CRAIGNEICHE, who was expertly prepared to make a winning return from a year off in January and his revised mark still underestimates him with this trip promising to suit. Guard Your Dreams and Witness Protection are a couple of many potential threats.