Cheltenham Festival - Coral Cup Preview

The Coral Cup is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the betting jungle which surrounds the Cheltenham Festival and this year will be no exception as a maximum field of 30 hurdlers once again take their chance over the fascinating and frenetic Grade Three two-mile-five-furlong contest.

Horses carrying low to medium weights usually come out on top at the end of the gruelling run in, a trend which Get Me Out Of Here will be seeking to buck following his fine second behind Champion Hurdle candidate Zarkandar in the betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

And but for being hampered by the crashing fall of Darlan at the second last, Get Me Out Of Here may well have eclipsed his rival having stayed on so well at the finish.

Jonjo O’Neill’s eight-year-old has developed into a top handicapper and has strong Cheltenham form in the locker having finished runner-up in a Supreme Novices and a County Hurdle.

He will have to defy a 4lb rise in the weights but that looks more than manageable should he be able to repeat his latest effort – especially taking into the equation that a horse of Zarkandar’s class won’t be around to stop him.

Last year’s winner Carlito Brigante will be out to retain his crown however his task should be made near impossible after a giant hike in the weights.

Gordon Elliot’s six-year-old flew up the hill off a flyweight 10st 2lbs twelve months ago but will have to defy 11st 10lbs if he is to repeat the feat again.

With Get Me Out Of Here looking the only serious candidate at the fore of the handicap, other potential challengers have to be sought further down the list, providing that they can make the cut when the final declarations are made.

David Pipe has to be respected in all Cheltenham Festival handicaps and his Consigliere looks a decent bet at 33/1 should he get a run.

The nine-year-old has been plying his trade over fences and finished a highly respectable fourth to Nacarat in the recent Racing Post Chase at Kempton.

Although Consigliere may well be aimed at a handicap over the larger obstacles, he is potentially very well treated over timber and could spring a surprise.

Poole Master and Balgarry are other possible challengers from the Pipe yard who would also be in with a shout if they make it to post.

Indeed, the problem for many punters regarding the Coral Cup ante post is the number of initial entries and the uncertainty over what will actually run.

For the entire betting furore that surrounds the race and makes it one of the biggest and busiest gambling heats of the season, ante post bets are few and far between unless punters can guarantee a run from their selection.

Like Get Me Out Of Here however, one other fancied horse almost guaranteed to start is Bourne from the Donald McCain stable.

The six-year-old looks like a natural Coral Cup horse and was impressive when last seen at Ascot, winning well amongst a competitive field of 18 runners.

Bourne has a light weight of 10st 4lb which is not much of a punishment for that success and he should sneak in the weights once some of the other entries fall by the wayside.

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09/03/2012     © Frixo 2024