CORAL CUP INFO
Date: Wednesday (2:50), March 15, 2023 – Day 2
Type: Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle
Distance: 2 Miles 5 Furlongs
Age Of The Horse: 4 Years and Older
The Coral Cup is usually run on the second day of Cheltenham which falls on a Wednesday. The history books can be traced back to the first outing in 1993 when Olympian cemented himself as the first ever champion for Peter Scudamore and Martin Pipe. We have enjoyed some memorable renewals over the years with previous champions including Monkerhostin, Carlito Brigante and Supasundae.
This incredibly competitive 2m5f handicap hurdle is difficult to solve on the day, let alone in advance. To put it into context; there can be a maximum of 26 runners on the day and yet at the ante post stage fully 91 have held their ground. Luckily, there is Betway Cheltenham free bet offer and a range of similar promotions intended to make your choice a bit easier and/or safer.
Not all of them will prove to be very well handicapped however, and that’s the crucial thing in races of this nature and is in fact even more of a factor than ground conditions for example. Being well-in at the weights and showing a liking for Cheltenham, or at least a stiff uphill finish, are crucial and with that we like the chances of a few at this early stage. Below you’ll find a full list of ante-post entries, our Coral Cup 2022 tips, as well as Coral Cup offers, such as Non runner no bet and Best Odds guaranteed.
Antepost betting markets have begun to creep in covering the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. These allow punters the chance to get their cash down early and secure a better price on their predictions than will be available to those betting after the final declarations or on the day of the race. The sooner you gamble on the winner of the top races at Cheltenham the better price you’ll get.
The reason for that is antepost betting comes with a few risks attached. The main one of these is the horse you back to win a race may not run in that contest. It may be steered in a different direction or it may suffer an injury and miss the festival entirely. If that happens and you have laid your cash down before the non-runner no bet promotion becomes live you will lose your stake money. What’s more, you’ll lose it without ever getting a run for your money. Check that the price on your favourite horse is bigger than the risk of it missing the race and you dropping your cash.
Many of the biggest races of the week have been prices up early with antepost betting markets available on the likes of the Gold Cup. There have been odds available on the top races for many weeks now, almost as soon as the 2020 results were added to the book.
All that will change in the coming months and by the turn of the year there should be betting for the 2023 Coral Cup. Keep checking this page for an updated list which we will add and review as and when it becomes available.
Unlike Coral Cup, many Cheltenham races have already received ante post quotes – visit our Cheltenham Betting Guide to check them out.
In this section of the article you will find Coral Cup offers and deals available to both new and existing customers on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
The types of deals you’ll find below include free bets for new customers, money back for fallers, enhanced odds on favourites, extra places each way and plenty more besides.
An interesting fact about the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2022 is that no horse has won the previous races more than once, but followers of the trends shouldn’t fret as we have plenty of hints, tips and clues to go on. Read on as we dissect the race before offering our expert betting guide designed to help you beat the bookies and land a profit from the Prestbury Park showpiece.
We have picked out a few of the more important points below:
You’ll find no shortage of Coral Cup tips available as we approach race month with many different sites promises to help you beat the bookies. Do your research on a tipster before taking their advice. It is advised that you always go with your own feeling and use these types of sites as a guide. Read previews, reviews, the trends, interviews and everything else you can get your hands on before parting with your hard-earned cash.
Antepost betting is a great tool for those wishing to jump the queue and secure a better price about their selection. This should be played wisely, however, to minimalize the risk of you losing your stake money without a run. The earlier you bet the better price you’ll get. Check recent results and form before trusting a horse to run in one Cheltenham Festival race over another. The distances, results and type of race will give backers an idea of what to expect come March in Gloucestershire.
You’ll notice live betting and live streaming is now available on every UK and Irish horse race throughout the year and this extends to the Cheltenham Festival. If you place a bet on a race you are able to view the action unfold through an HD quality live streaming service that also offers expert commentary and exciting camera angles, all at no extra cost to you. Place a bet and watch the race through your desktop or mobile app.
Last 10 Coral Cup winners:
Winner: Dame De Compagnie
A monster gamble developed on Dame De Compagnie in the 2m 5f Grade 3 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Trained by Nicky Henderson for JP McManus, this seven-year-old mare had previously won twice at the course in the last 12 months. That form proved key as she was backed from 10/1 the night before into half those odds and returned at 5/1.
Dame De Compagnie was always going well in the Coral Cup. She raced in midfield and tracked the leaders approaching the penultimate flight. McManus’ retained rider Barry Geraghty then shook the reins and she threw down a challenge approaching the last. Dame De Compagnie led and ran on well up the Cheltenham hill, asserting close home to score by 2 1/4 lengths from 12/1 Irish raider Black Tears – winner of a valuable graded handicap for mares at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out.
Seven Barrows handler Henderson scooped Coral Cup success in the previous season with William Henry too. Dame De Compagnie had another Irish gamble, 10/1 chance Thosedaysaregone, a further 2 1/2 lengths behind Black Tears in third for trainer Charlie Byrnes. Gordon Elliott also had Gigginstown House Stud’s Cracking Smart placed further at 33/1 and he had previously beaten dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
McManus has several classy mares in training both with Henderson and in general. Where Dame De Compagnie goes from here will be interesting. It’s not out of the question that she could run in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over 2m 4f on the opening day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree. She could well be back at Cheltenam next season.
2019 Cheltenham Coral Cup was won by William Henry, ridden by Nico de Boinville and trained by Nicky Henderson. He was a nine-year-old at the time of becoming champion and was Nicky Henderson’s first success in the race since Whisper did the business in 2014.
The bay gelding won off an SP 28/1 to put a smile on the faces of those who had him backed but punters who played the antepost market in the run up to the event had even more to shout about. The champion held on to beat runner up Wicklow Brave by a short head in what was a thrilling finish to a tactical race. The second was also a 28/1 shot and we had Ballyandy back in third at 14/1, another ½ length off the pace in a bunch finish.
William Henry chased the early leaders approaching the last fence and backers were delighted to see the horse respond to the encouragement of his rider. He continued to eat away at the leaders and stuck strongly to the task at hand to win the cup by the tightest of margins. A challenge that was delivered perfectly and we ended with a worthy and deserving champion.