Racecards
13:40 Cheltenham
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (grade 3) (Class 1)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £80,000 added
- Form 12380-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, hampered 6th, still well behind before 2 out, hung left but headway on long run to last, continued to hang left, strong challenge towards finish, just denied
- Form P308-30
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey J W Farrelly
held up in touch, fell 6th
- Form 114F-64
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, hampered after 2nd, badly hampered and lost place 6th, always in rear after
- Form 2F113-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
mid-division, weakened approaching 7th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1132-71
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey Paul Benson
raced keenly, chased leaders, hit 5th, went 2nd approaching 3 out until ridden before 2 out, soon dropped out
- Form 11010-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
mid-division, ridden and struggling from 2 out
- Form 583P00
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey S P Jones
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 10-1635
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, headway 7th, lost place under pressure before 2 out and no impression
The Package
28- Form 1-2192
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
chased leader to 3 out, soon dropped out, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 35-2113
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in rear, hampered 6th, struggling 3 out
- Form 42131-6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, ridden and no impression before 2 out
- Form 2256-02
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led before last, hung left flat, hung right and headed final 100 yards, no extra near finish
- Form 126149
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
held up, mistake 7th, struggling after 3 out
- Form 004312
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 132
mid-division, hampered and lost place 6th, stayed on before last but never in contention
- Form 211-1F4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey T Siddall
held up in rear, hampered 6th, headway after 2 out, chasing leaders before last, carried left flat, kept on same pace
- Form 111-441
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey N P Madden
mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 6th, blundered 7th, headway 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 463122
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Susan A Finn
- Jockey W J Lee
led, raced keenly, soon clear, ridden before 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened quickly
- Form 51/0702
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 312-71
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, challenged last, led final 100 yards, just held on
- Form F1/3211
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up in rear, headway 6th, chasing leaders before 2 out, hung left approaching last, kept on same pace, flat
Peacock (FR)
27- Form 326U42
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up and behind, hampered 6th, stayed on approaching last but never in contention
- Form 21-7588
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, rallied after 2 out, kept on same pace flat
- Form 2-311
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, not much room after 2nd, headway 7th, every chance last, faded final 150 yards
- Form 2212-12
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Ian Popham
held up in rear, ridden and effort after 2 out, no impression before last
Liberate
90- Form 25-7205
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey D P O'Dwyer
Nonrunner
- Form 0/0P-117
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Robert Colgan
Nonrunner
Shazand (FR)
61- Form 0-24110
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer E J O'Grady
- Jockey Doubtful
Nonrunner
Verdict
Kicks For Free can give weight and a beating to Leg Spinner and County Zen. Paul Nicholls' charge looked useful last year but had training troubles that prevented his acceleration to the top echelon. He did not look over-fazed at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance and if he does not bounce, he has to have a fair chance at decent odds. Leg Spinner is always to be feared whenever Tony Martin has runners at Prestbury Park. A class act on the level, he will have been laid out for this engagement. County Zen finished a fair third in the Totesport Trophy. That looked to be one of the most competitive handicaps of the season and he cannot be ruled out. Song Of Songs has been hard to beat in novice company but now takes on opposition outside of that comfort zone. Junior put up an improved effort on his latest start and should enjoy this afternoon's ground. The Package was held in high rank earlier in the season while Naiad Du Misselot has been given a typically quiet campaign by Ferdy Murphy and wouldn't be out of this if the ground was sticky. Warne's Way has not disgraced himself in big fields in the past and could work as a sporting selection at slightly longer odds. 2004 County Hurdle winner Sporazene reverts to the smaller obstacles after a couple of faux pas over chase fences. Competitive is an understatement to describe this race and Kicks For Free can take this under top-weight.
Formwatch
Kicks For Free (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, smooth headway after 3 out, led on bit last, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Chiaro (11-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
Whispered Promises (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Led, hit 4th, ridden after next, headed approaching 3 out, weakened, 15th of 24, 21l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Sporazene (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up, blundered 10th, effort to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 26l behind Tikram (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Bedlam Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up, never dangerous, 13th of 18, 32l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Astarador (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Made all, hit 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb beating Border Tale (9-11) by 2l, 7 ran.
Orbit O'Gold (USA) 10-1 (11-6) Towards rear when ridden 3 out, never in contention after, 10th of 19, 30l behind Sizing Europe (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Overstrand (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, 12th of 18, 30l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, soon ridden, hit 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 6, 36l behind Master Minded (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
The Package 14-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after last, headed and not pace of winner close home, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Punchestowns (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Feb.
County Zen (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 24, 4l behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Laustra Bad (FR) 7-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 9l behind Missis Potts (10-13) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Junior 8-1 (11-3) Soon mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, not fluent next, stayed on strongly under pressure, 2nd of 11, shd behind Hold Em (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Hill Forts Timmy 40-1 (11-2) Behind, headway 3 out, soon no impression, 9th of 18, 27l behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Take Your Mark (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 9th halfway, headway to 6th 2 out, ran on well after last to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Fen Game (10-7) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 81-123 gs in Feb.
Mendo 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 7l behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Clarnazar (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th and ridden 4 out, 6th 2 out, headway entering straight, close 2nd last, led close home, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl gs in Feb beating Fond Of A Drop (11-12) by a nk, 16 ran.
Baltiman (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Led, clear before 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Jered (11-6) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl gs in Feb.
Chiaro (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, led and hit 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Kicks For Free (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Naiad du Misselot (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching last, soon ridden, led flat, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec beating Regal Heights (10-11) by 4l, 11 ran.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 7th, led 2 out, kept on well under pressure flat, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Auroras Encore (11-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Peacock (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Behind, headway before 3 out, led before 2nd last, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 18, nk behind Backbord (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Tagula Blue (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, 8th of 14, 26l behind Oh Crick (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Song of Songs 5-6fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, rallied and led towards finish, all out, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Hot Diamond (10-0) by a shd, 18 ran.
Pyleigh Lady 14-1 (11-5) Held up, hit 8th, smooth headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Stripe Me Blue (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Liberate 10-3 (10-12) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent, headed 6th, lead again 8th, blundered, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 15l behind Pouvoir (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Warne's Way (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 4th, ridden after 2 out, headed after last, kept on, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Leg Spinner (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Towards rear in moderate 7th, no impression under pressure approaching 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, no extra, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Kingsmaster (11-3) at Listowel 2m hdl sft in Sept.
Shazand (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 10th 4 out, weakened from next, 22nd of 28, well behind Barker (10-6) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.