Dan to repeat the feat in Coral Cup
The trainer/owner combination of Martin Brassil and Sean and Bernadine Mulryan have been responsible for the runner-up in each of the past two renewals of this race, with Fastorslow beaten a short head in 2022 and An Epic Song beaten denied by a head last year.
Formerly sponsors of the ex-Ballymore, the owners were perhaps keen to have a runner on day 2 of the festival and look to have an outstanding chance once again with Built By Ballymore. However, he has been well found in the market and given this race has a history of throwing up big-priced winners I’m more than happy to look elsewhere.
Given that 12 of the last 15 winners had run at Cheltenham previously, the one I simply cannot get away from here is LANGER DAN, who evidently loves it here and has come back down to the same mark he won this off last year (141) following some below-par efforts since.
However, Dan Skelton said in a recent interview that winning this for a second year running has been the long-term plan, so it would be no surprise to see him bounce back in what looks a weaker renewal this time around.
Tips
Langer Dan
1pt EW @ 8/1 | bet365 (6 Places, 1/5 Odds)
Elliott to get off the mark in Grand Annual
Maskada won this doing handsprings last year and while she hasn’t been in quite the same form since, arriving here on the back of a disappointing run hasn’t proved to be a negative in recent years. However, she’ll have to do it from a 8lb higher mark this time around and I can’t help but feel she may prove vulnerable to younger legs.
Indeed, 11 of the last 15 winners were novices or second-season chasers, so the lightly-raced angle seems like an obvious starting point and SA FUREUR looks to have a great chance of getting Gordon Elliott off the mark for the week (assuming he hasn’t already had a winner by the time this race goes to post, of course).
A grade 3 winner over hurdles, he was sent off favourite for last year’s Coral Cup before meeting all sorts of trouble in running, but in a race where course form has been vital in recent years that experience is nonetheless likely to stand him in good stead.
He likely wouldn’t have been beaten far by Facile Vega and Inthepocket on chasing debut were it not for coming unstuck 3 out and his 2nd to Quilixios last time suggests he could prove to be quite a bit better than an opening mark of 145 here.
Tips
Sa Fureur
1pt EW @ 11/2 | bet365 (5 Places, 1/5 Odds)