Racecards
16:00 Cheltenham
Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle Race) (Class A)
- 27 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good
- Form 113-161
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Mr J P Magnier
in touch, headway to chase leading pair going well last, ridden and kept on well flat, not reach leaders
Quazar (IRE)
24- Form 122454
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, headway 7th, tracking leaders when hit 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 424331
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, mistake 2nd, some headway after 7th, soon beaten
- Form 0-01211
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
- Form 134231
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, headway 6th, challenged on bit throughout, soon led, ridden approaching last, ran on well
- Form 011053
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
held up, stayed on from 2 out, never near to challenge
Mughas (IRE)
32- Form 6-01134
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, tracking leaders when slightly hampered on bend approaching last, stayed on one pace last
- Form 11/06-0
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up, some late progress, never dangerous
- Form 311514
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
with leaders until 6th, soon weakened
- Form P-12F12
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in touch, mistake 5th, some headway after 3 out, no impression
Korelo (FR)
11- Form P-4336P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
mid-division, ridden 6th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on
Redemption
53- Form P1F1U5
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
in touch, headway 5th, led just after 6th, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 51F1U5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
mid-division, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, stayed on well flat, nearest finish
- Form 5-22000
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
behind, headway approaching 3 out, never near leaders
Bow Strada
340- Form 231014-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey S Durack
prominent until approaching 3 out
- Form 10P-2P1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch until approaching 2 out
- Form 103-011
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
mistake 4th, always behind
Contraband
32- Form 311120
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey James Davies
prominent until 6th
- Form 20-P301
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey S Thomas
prominent, weakening when blundered 7th
- Form 104040
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Kevin Francis O'Donnell
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
mid-division, headway 2 out, edged left, stayed on flat, nearest finish
- Form 44/0-213
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey M Batchelor
made most until just after 6th, weakening when hampered on bend after next
Court Shareef
117- Form 221234
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Price
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, chased winner approaching last, kept on flat
Anatar (IRE)
32- Form 1-00400
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey J P Elliott
always towards rear
- Form 0320-03
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Meade
- Jockey T J Phelan
with leaders until weakened approaching 7th
Ollie Magern
141- Form 112111
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
took keen hold in touch, went 2nd after 7th, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The presence of Rhinestone Cowboy at the top of the handicap ensures that two thirds of the field have to race from out of the weights proper, so this may not be as competitive as the numbers would suggest and the vote goes to Dromlease Express, who is preferred to Inca Trail. The last mentioned is a full-brother to Best Mate and has, not surprisingly, failed to live up to early expectations and comparisons. However, there was plenty to like about the way he quickened clear at Wincanton last time and there may be more to come from a relatively unexposed horse. Five-year-olds have a poor record in this contest so the likes of Mughas, Starzaan and Mon Villez look worth taking on and a bigger threat to the selection may come from Monkerhostin. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding showed improved form to land the Rendlesham Hurdle at Kempton last month but conditions race form does not always work out in handicaps and, at the forecast odds, we would rather look elsewhere. Rhinestone Cowboy is undoubtedly a classy performer and should be well suited by the likely strong gallop here. However, Jonjo O'Neill's gelding has to give a huge amount of weight away to his rivals and it will be a surprise if there is not one rival who is ahead of the handicapper. The Irish have for a long time held a good record in this contest and among those with chances are the progressive Rosaker from the Noel Meade stable, Tom Taaffe's Emotional Moment and the Mouse Morris-trained Keepatem, who comes here fresher than most after just one start this term. The vote though goes to Dromlease Express. The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding has also been lightly raced this term and, having landed a gamble on his second start at Naas, was an impressive winner of Leopardstown's Pierse Hurdle on his third, and most recent start, in January. Admittedly the handicapper has seen fit to raise him significantly for that success and the six-year-old has to race from out of the weights by 6lbs but there should be plenty more improvement to come and he gets the nod.