Racecards
14:50 Cheltenham
Coral Cup (Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle) (Class 1)
- 26 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 26y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £90,000 added
- Winner: £51,255
- 2nd: £19,233
- 3rd: £9,630
- 4th: £4,797
- Form 4253-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Freddie Mitchell
mid-division, ridden after 2 out, never reached leaders
- Form 1/4112-8
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, never involved
- Form 21P-211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along and lost place 4 out, behind from 2 out, tailed off
- Form U-172P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey Mikey Ennis
mid-division, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
- Form 421-134
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
mid-division in touch, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not pace to threaten leaders
- Form 3/114-22
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
held up behind, headway 3 out, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, one pace before last, never on terms
- Form 5211-3P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
chased leaders, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, weakened flat
- Form 1/7P-421
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
mid-division in touch, smooth headway 2 out, effort on inside between last 2, upsides last, soon led, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 231P-15
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
always towards rear, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
Ubak (FR)
17- Form 12/4U42
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly approaching last, headed soon after, kept on and held flat, lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 4P-112F
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
towards rear, outpaced 3 out, switched inside and headway between last 2, ridden and kept on same pace from last, never troubled leaders
- Form 137-415
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Miss I Pickard
- Jockey S Bowen
towards rear of mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 2119-UF
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey J J Burke
led to 1st, chased leaders, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 913P05
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 142
towards rear, headway before 3 out, driven to chase leaders after next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression
- Form 21U21
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
in touch on outside, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
- Form 153-322
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, one pace last, weakened flat
- Form 1119-07
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey David Bass
in touch on outside, lost place after 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
- Form F1-3919
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, driven and effort after 2 out, upsides and every chance last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression in 4th closing stages
- Form 2195-40
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey Mr Alex Ferguson
mid-division on otuside, some headway before 3 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, weakened before last
Sgt Reckless
88- Form 1561-70
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey B S Hughes
towards rear of mid-division, pushed along 2 out, never on terms, weakened last
- Form 72-1P12
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Brian Harding
always behind, struggling before 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6611-1U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on well under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
- Form 11-77F3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey L P Aspell
mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, never reached leaders
- Form 34111
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
in touch, outpaced before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on under pressure flat, not reach leaders
- Form 86-1112
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
led 1st, ridden and headed approaching last, gradually weakened flat
- Form 20/11-18
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace before last, weakened flat
Verdict
Nicky Henderson has won two of the last six renewals and is mob-handed this year. Whisper defied a big weight in 2014 and Volnay De Thaix and Call The Cops will seek to defy similar hefty burdens. Days Of Heaven and Hunters Hoof may be more interesting further down the handicap. BLAZER could prove the pick of the Mullins' quartet, ahead of Arbre De Vie, as he didn't give his true running when a well-backed favourite for the Betfair Hurdle last month. He is worth another chance on the evidence of an earlier easy win in a big field at Leopardstown. Diamond King, Rock The Kasbah, Politologue and Baoulet Delaroque are all in peak form while it's possible that a step up in trip will suit Doncaster runner-up Qewy. Beast Of Burden was fancied for the Neptune Investment on this day last year but refused to settle and finished tailed off. It later transpired that he'd broken a blood vessel and little has gone right since but he's got plenty of ability and could go well if the switch back to hurdles rekindles his interest.
Formwatch
Volnay De Thaix (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, not always fluent, mistake 9th, in touch 11th, ridden after next, mistake and weakened 3 out, went modest 4th close home, 4th of 7, 30 1/4l behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Call The Cops (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, took keen hold, switched left before 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Cup Final (10-4) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 7-1cfav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, ridden to challenge after 3 out, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Baron Alco (10-9) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Commissioned (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Started slowly, held up, left 3rd when hampered 4th, dropped to last before 6th, well beaten from 4 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 20 1/2l behind Bobs Worth (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) sft in Nov.
Brother Tedd 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened last, 4th of 9, 12 3/4l behind Yala Enki (10-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 4-11fav (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, bad mistake 6 out and soon dropped 5 lengths off leader, slight mistake 3 out, closer 2 out, ridden before last where slight mistake, kept on run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Montys Meadow (11-12) at Thurles 2m 4f hvy in Jan.
Theinval (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, under pressure 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Diamond King (IRE) 6-5fav (11-6) Held up in touch in rear, progress into 4th 3 out, went close 3rd on inner entering straight, switched right and ridden to lead before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Jan beating Jennies Jewel (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Blood Cotil (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 9th halfway, some progress 2 out and 7th entering straight, pushed along and went 5th before last, no extra run-in, 5th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Jan.
Ubak (FR) 17-2 (11-3) Led, hit 3 out, headed next, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Avant Tout (FR) 9-4 (11-3) Chased leaders early, held up behind leaders from 7th, 3rd halfway, improved into 2nd approaching 3 out where fell, at Thurles 2m 2f lst (1) hvy in Jan.
Mister Fizz 12-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 5, 1 1/4l behind Gabrial The Duke (9-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Beast Of Burden (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 10th, closed next, mistake 14th, soon weakened, fell 5 out, at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Waxies Dargle 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway on outside after 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra closing stages, 5th of 22, 13 1/4l behind Agrapart (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Politologue (FR) 2-9fav (11-11) Held up in touch, led 5 out, looking in command and about 3 lengths up when left clear from 2 out, won at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb beating Trans Express (11-3) by dist, 5 ran.
Qewy (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, soon went 2nd, led after last, soon ridden, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Minstrels Gallery (10-3) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Days Of Heaven (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd or 6th, losing place when not fluent 2 out, weakened, 7th of 11, 18 3/4l behind Shrewd (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Feb.
Blazer (FR) 3-1fav (10-4) In touch, hampered on bend after 1st, headway to chase leaders 4 out, under pressure after next, weakened flat, 9th of 22, 21 3/4l behind Agrapart (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last two, 13th of 21, 19 3/4l behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Sgt Reckless 33-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, never involved, 17th of 21, dist behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
One For Harry (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) In touch and in rear, headway after 3 out, led before last, soon ridden, headed last, no impression, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Top Notch (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Long House Hall (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 4th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Oct.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up behind in touch, headway to track leaders 2 out, 3rd and ridden after last, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Thistlecrack (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Baoulet Delaroque (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led next, driven approaching last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Value At Risk (11-6) by 2l, 13 ran.
Baron Alco (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Led, pulled hard, mistake 4th, strongly challenged from 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on gamely towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Hunters Hoof (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 8th of 9, 25 3/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-9) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.