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Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Race Conditions
The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (4:00pm) is a Class A Grade 3 handicap hurdle race run over two miles and five furlongs. It is open to horses aged 5 years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £80,000.
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Recent Winners
The Coral Cup is first of the big handicap hurdles run at the meeting and is, therefore, a huge betting heat. A well handicapped horse is essential and it often pays to wait until the day of the race to see where the money is going before finalising a selection.
Having said that, only one favourite has been successful in recent years (Xenophon was backed down from long odds to 4/1F in 2003) and in that time some monster gambles have been foiled by relatively unconsidered outsiders.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Naiad Du Misselot | 7 | Ferdy Murphy | 7/1 |
| 2007 | Burntoakboy | 9 | Dr R D P Newland | 10/1 |
| 2006 | Sky´s The Limit | 5 | E O´Grady | 11/1 |
| 2005 | Idole First | 6 | Miss V Williams | 33/1 |
| 2004 | Monkerhostin | 7 | P Hobbs | 13/2 |
| 2003 | Xenophon | 7 | A Martin | 4/1F |
| 2002 | llnamar | 6 | M Pipe | 25/1 |
| 2000 | What’s Up Boys | 6 | P Hobbs | 33/1 |
| 1999 | Khayrawani | 7 | C Roche | 16/1 |
| 1998 | Top Cees | 8 | Mrs J Ramsden | 11/1 |
| 1997 | Big Strand | 8 | M Pipe | 16/1 |
| 1996 | Trainglot | 9 | J Fitzgerald | 11/2 |
| 1995 | Chance Coffey | 10 | P O’Donnell | 11/1 |
| 1994 | Time For A Run | 7 | E O’Grady | 11/1 |
Key Trends
5 of the last 6 winners won last time out.
Only 1 favourite has won in the last 14 renewals.
Watch the 2008 Coral Cup:
2007 Review
An amazing season for rookie trainer Richard Newland got even better as BURNTOAKBOY ran out a relatively comfortable winner of this fiercely competitive handicap.
It was Dr Newland’s first Festival runner and half his string of just four horses will be in action over these four days (Overstrand runs in the World Hurdle on Thursday).
The horse took 30 attempts to lose his maiden tag but since he’s joined his new trainer he had improved leaps and bounds, and even a nine pound rise for his win last time out at Leicester wasn’t enough to stop him here.
The horse jumped his way to the front three out and was never in danger thereafter. If anything, he idled on the run in and was value for more than the official winning margin of three lengths.
It was also a first Festival success for his promising young jockey, Sam Jones.
Powerstation ran on strongly to be second. He was well clear of the third, but possible needs a tougher test of stamina / a stronger pace to be at his most effective. He was second to Black Jack Ketchum in last year’s Brit Insurance Hurdle and so clearly acts well around this track.
Another Irish raider, Baron De Feypo finished third for his flamboyant trainer, Patrick O Brady, who celebrated like he had trained the winner of the Gold Cup!
The well backed Oscatello was fourth, giving further evidence that the switch of stables to Phillip Hobbs has rekindled his enthusiasm for the game. He was another to stay on well from off the pace, as was Mister Height who travelled particularly well for much of the way. He was obviously ridden to get the trip, but perhaps the tactics were too conservative in the end and a more forceful ride might have seen him run into a place at least. A mistake at the top of the hill didn’t help him either in his efforts to make up ground on the leaders, but he is definitely worth another go at this trip.
2006 Review
SKY’S THE LIMIT defied top weight of 11st 12lb, as well as the history books, to become the first five year old winner of the Coral Cup.
Beforehand, this looked like one of the most competitive hurdle races to be run at the meeting for many years, with just 15lbs separating the thirty runners. However, the winner made a mockery of the handicap to cruise home without jockey Barry Geraghty having to ask him a serious question.
Although the relatively slow early pace probably suited the winner who has an excellent turn of foot, the manner of the victory suggests that he is very well named as he surely has the ability to contest the very best staying races next season. He’ll also make a chaser in time.
Trainer, Edward O’Grady’s runners at the Festival always command the utmost respect and this one had clearly been laid out for the race. It was owner Ray Rooney’s first Festival runner since Golden Cygnet was trained by O’Grady to win the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Strangely Brown made it a one – two for Ireland and proved again that top class juvenile hurdlers often improve for a step up in trip in their second season. He also seems to be at his best in the Spring.
Dom d’Orgeval ran a cracker in third and continues to defy the handicapper. He has had a tremendous season and is a credit to his connections. Softer ground suits, and he may be switched to fences next season.
Phar Bleu was also a top juvenile hurdler and this was a fine first effort after a recent wind operation. Given that he has been switched to Paul Nicholls’ yard there is every reason to suggest he too will go chasing in the near future.
Inch Pride ran much better than her stable companions have this week and looks like she is coming back to form, but the hard luck story of the race was undoubtedly All Star who was closing on the heels of the leaders when running out at the second last. He would otherwise have been placed.
Barry Geraghty guides Sky's The Limit to 2006 Coral Cup success