Coral Cup

14:50 Cheltenham - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

The maximum field of 26 go in the Coral Cup. Again, bookies will be pay 6, 7 or 8 places in a race like this so do look around. Very difficult to talk about all 26 as you could make a case for half the field in a race like this.

Good Risk At All is a reserve at the moment and if he gets in would have a huge chance and is hugely unexposed.

Unexpected Party has done well in handicaps all season and was very good last time out at Ascot up 12 pounds though since that win and that may just limit his chances of winning but certainly in contention. The Shunter won at the Festival last year and has to be respected.

Saint Felicien and Drop The Anchor are currently the market favourites at the time of writing both talented horses but I think in a big field handicap race like this there is better value to have. Saint Felicien has never been tried at this trip and when you add that there are another 25 runners, you'll need a bit of luck and not get caught in any traffic or fallers.

Davey Russel is on board Grand Roi and over the years he always knows how to get his horse into contention in these big field handicaps. So maybe worth following him in a race like this. Although Grand Roi was favourite in last year's Pertemps and disappointed finishing 12th (Davey Russel of course missed Cheltenham last year)

Very difficult to talk about all 26 as you could make a case for half the field in a race like this.

My first selection is Ashdale Bob, Jack Foley takes a handy 3 pounds of Ashdale Bob who has gone back to hurdling in 2022. Ashdale Bob just didn't quite take to chasing clearly and has shown some promising hurdling form over his career. Wouldn't mind the expected rain forecasted for Wednesday as his better form seems over softer ground rather than good. But also, this trip has seen his better form come about.

My second selection and probably more the main selection out of my two. Is Gowel Road. Gowel Road has the course and distance form around here and is another who will not mind the expected rain on Wednesday, Gowel Road has beaten the likes of Unexpected Party over this course and distance and will be suited by the old course as such. Again, I can't get away from Nigel Twiston Davies 30% course record form with his runners at Cheltenham this year. Gowel Road showed some good battling qualities last time out when losing to Metier on ground that makes Metier very strong. So that performance should be marked up a little. Providing he has shown no ill effects on that heavy ground race at Lingfield last time Gowel Road should be in contention here.

This big field handicaps are always minefields but these are two I think can go well at each way prices.

written by Luke Tucker