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2026 BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (previously Coral Cup)

Eggs

Eggs

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ENTRIES FEBRUARY 17TH, WEIGHTS FEBRUARY 24TH (any horse with a win after Feb 22nd onward set to carry a 5lb penalty).


Coral Cup Wednesday March 11th

For four yrs old and upwards

TWO MILES ABOUT FIVE FURLONGS 2M 5F


PLEASE NOTE: A novice or juvenile horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of FIVE times in Hurdle Races in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code

2025 Jimmy de Seuil 6-11-7 16-1 W Mullins - Danny Mullins RPR 155 (26 ran)
2024 Langer Dan 8-11-8 13/2 D.Skelton - Harry Skelton RPR 148 (21 ran)

2023. Langer Dan 7-11-4 9/1 D. Skelton - H. Skelton RPR 147. 26 ran

2022. Commander Of Fleet 8-11-10 50/1 G Elliott - S Fitzgerald(5) RPR 157. 23 ran

2021. Heaven Help Us 7-10-2 33/1 Paul Hennessy - Richard Condon(7) RPR 149. 26 ran

2020. Dame De Compagnie 7-10-12 5/1F N Henderson - B Geraghty RPR 147. 25 ran

2019. William Henry. 9-11-10. 28/1. N Henderson - N de Boinville. RPR 156. 25 ran

2018. Bleu Berry. 7-11-2. 20/1. W P Mullins. - M Walsh. RPR 149. 26 ran

2017. Supasundae. 7-11-4. 16/1. Mrs J Harrington - R Power. RPR 157. 25 ran

2016. Diamond King. 8-11-3. 12/1. G Elliott. - Davy Russell. RPR 154. 26 ran

2015. Aux Ptits Soins. 5-10-7. 9/1. P Nicholls.- S Twiston-Davies. RPR 146. 25 ran

2014. Whisper. 6-11-6. 14/1. N Henderson - N de Boinville (5). RPR 159. 28 ran

2025 1st OR 146, 2nd OR 141, 3rd OR 151, 4th OR 133 (High OR 153, Low OR 131)
2024 1st OR 141, 2nd OR 147, 3rd OR 134, 4th OR 137 (High OR 147, Low OR 128)
2023, 1st OR 141, 2nd OR 137, 3rd OR 138, 4th OR 147 (High OR 151, Low OR 134)
2022, 1st OR 152, 2nd OR 141, 3rd OR 152, 4th OR 140 (High OR 154, Low OR 137)
2021, 1st OR 138, 2nd OR 139, 3rd OR 141, 4th OR 143 (High OR 155, Low OR 130)
2020. 1st OR 140, 2nd OR 144, 3rd OR 139, 4th OR 153 (High OR 154, Low OR 138)
2019. 1st OR 151, 2nd OR 153, 3rd OR 148, 4th OR 146 (High OR 153, Low OR 133)
2018. 1st OR 143, 2nd OR 150, 3rd OR 137, 4th OR 151 (High OR 153, Low OR 135)
2017. 1st OR 148, 2nd OR 148, 3rd OR 146, 4th OR 147 (High OR 156, Low OR 136)
2016. 1st OR 149, 2nd OR 140, 3rd OR 144, 4th OR 141 (High OR 158, Low OR 139)
2015. 1st OR 139, 2nd OR 144, 3rd OR 147, 4th OR 140 (High OR 158, Low OR 138)
2014. 1st OR 153, 2nd OR 148, 3rd OR 138, 4th OR 143 (High OR 154, Low OR 135)
2013. 1st OR 148, 2nd OR 143, 3rd OR 149, 4th OR 142 (High OR 150, Low OR 134)
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…..2026 TREND ANALYSIS for reference;

Six of the last seven individual winners had already won to Listed level minimum​

10 of the last 11 had won a hurdle in distance from 2m 2f to 2m 6f​

Only six winners ever were previous course winners, four of those six from N Henderson​

11 of the last 12 won by Irish trained, N Henderson or D Skelton​

Dame De Compagnie 2020 and Xenophon 2003 only clear favs ever to win​

Only six winners this century had more than nine previous hurdle runs​

Only Langer Dan (3) of the last 11 had more that one h'cap hurdle win​

One winner older than 8 since 2007​

Five yr olds 0-34 since 2015​

Langer Dan only horse ever to win two of these.​

13 of the last 16 had previously run at Cheltenham​

14 of the last 16 no more than 4 previous runs that season​

16 of last 17 BHA Rated at least 138​

Four of the last seven wore headgear​

Only four of the last 17 returned shorter than 12/1​

Since 2018, three horses placed in the DRF Mares H'cap then placed here​

Summary​

Coral pull their sponsorship on 28th January 2028. Stated Chancellor's tax increases the issue. '51ys at the Festival, walls will crumble blah, blah, blah.' Probably left it to a late date for maximum effect and inconvenience. Disappointing but we'll get over it. Max field size down to 24 in 2026.

Race Distance - 2 miles and abt 5f. 5 yr olds not recent. Will be aged 6 or 7 unless G Elliott or a previous course winner. Likely to have already won to at least Listed level or WPM. Nothing placed above a 10 yr old unless previous Festival winner. Irish trained, N Henderson and D Skelton to the fore. Will have won somewhere a race between 2m 1f and 2m 6f or WPM. If not successful over a minimum of 2m 4f will be aged 7 or under and have been placed in graded company. Unlikely to have won more than one handicap. Check Dublin Racing Festival form, especially the Mares H'cap. Will not be more than seven pounds out of the handicap (including jockeys allowances). Either no more than 10 runs over hurdles or returned 12/1 and under. Can be any price. Respect JP McManus owned, French bred. Has run here before, likely with merit. Not BF last time unless trained by N Henderson. Has won sometime this season or was placed in a previous festival. Check those that won last time out. Not first run of the season unless WPM.
 
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Reserved for entries and weights.
 
Bar the new mid distance handicap chase, this remains the only race at the festival I have never backed the winner of
 
robith said:
Bar the new mid distance handicap chase, this remains the only race at the festival I have never backed the winner of
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Definitely a tough race for punters, massive field!

Thinking back, my most memorable winner out of the couple I've had was Diamond King, 10 years ago, wow! It was part of a trio I hit in a decent Lucky 15 that day. The first horse got beat, ironically the shortest price of the four and the only one to let me down for a decent lift! Still, it was a nice payout with the three, and the Hills bookie staff said something like, "Ahh, we thought it was you who placed this" when I went to collect.
 
Big Bucks said:
Definitely a tough race for punters, massive field!

Thinking back, my most memorable winner out of the couple I've had was Diamond King, 10 years ago, wow! It was part of a trio I hit in a decent Lucky 15 that day. The first horse got beat, ironically the shortest price of the four and the only one to let me down for a decent lift! Still, it was a nice payout with the three, and the Hills bookie staff said something like, "Ahh, we thought it was you who placed this" when I went to collect.
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Didn’t sit you down for a well-being check then?😂😂
 
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These comments just made me check through the recent winners, turns out this is a good race for me, who knew.
 
I'm wondering if Mullins will revert Funiculi Funicula back to hurdles for this. Got a nice piece of form over this distance at Aintree last April and would be on a similar mark to Jimmy Du Seuil last year
 
Strong fav today is Storm Heart. Can't remember where the conversation was but I don't think I'd want to see him winning today. Hopefully Kawoboomga is ready. Workahead and Farren Glory mid 140s and off levels, may get away with it but wouldn't want to beat them too far anyway.
 
Benjy23 said:
Strong fav today is Storm Heart. Can't remember where the conversation was but I don't think I'd want to see him winning today. Hopefully Kawoboomga is ready. Workahead and Farren Glory mid 140s and off levels, may get away with it but wouldn't want to beat them too far anyway.
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I backed but running him here suggests this isn't the plan tbh
 
Not played any of the handicaps yet and won't be doing until the week. However my old man has a share in the owners group horse Guard Duty and there's a fair chance he'll be coming here if we get some soft in the description. He'll be coming home just about best of anything late on, for people that like to take advantage of the extra places being offered he'll be a cracking bet to place.
 
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Paul Nolan could be tempted to drop back into handicap company with Feet Of A Dancer at Cheltenham.

A creditable fourth in the Pertemps Final last year, this season she has stepped up in class and won a Grade Two easily at Doncaster last time out.

Nolan had thought his options were to stick at three miles and take on the geldings – but no mare has won the Stayers’ Hurdle since Shuil Ar Aghaidh in 1993 – or take on Wodhooh and possibly Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle.

With a handicap mark of 141 Nolan could consider another crack at the Pertemps or what was the Coral Cup.

“We haven’t made our minds up fully yet,” said Nolan.

“Hopefully she’s still in one piece and we have a decision to make at the time but we were thinking between the mares’ race and the Stayers’ Hurdle.

“In the Mares’ Hurdle if Lossiemouth turns up along with Wodhooh, realistically we’re playing for third and against the geldings she’d be meeting them plenty wrong even with the 7lb allowance.

“On the other hand she was left alone on a mark of 141 after winning at Doncaster as he (the handicapper) went through the second of Emmet Mullins’ (Dream On Baby rated 139) so what would the top weight be in the Coral? Normally about 150 but the handicaps are changing now, aren’t they?

“Because of the new rules for novices needing more runs there will be much bigger fields in the Grade Ones I think and that may alter the handicaps a bit.

“Feet Of A Dancer ran in the Pertemps last year and she was a little unlucky not to win it. Obviously she’s gone up that bit more this season so we’ve got a decision to make but we don’t have to make it for a while yet.”
 
Surprise to see the Irish handicapper leave Storm Heart on 147 and raise Workahead 2lbs for coming second! Maybe he has him backed for the Coral Cup too!
Willie mentioned Coral or County for SH. I'm hoping Coral and Karbau for the County.
 
Seen people flapping over him on X yesterday

He'd practically ran to his rating so would have only got 1 or 2 MAX if hcapper was being harsh.
YoungHustler said:
Surprise to see the Irish handicapper leave Storm Heart on 147 and raise Workahead 2lbs for coming second! Maybe he has him backed for the Coral Cup too!
Willie mentioned Coral or County for SH. I'm hoping Coral and Karbau for the County.
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Eggs said:
Paul Nolan could be tempted to drop back into handicap company with Feet Of A Dancer at Cheltenham.

A creditable fourth in the Pertemps Final last year, this season she has stepped up in class and won a Grade Two easily at Doncaster last time out.

Nolan had thought his options were to stick at three miles and take on the geldings – but no mare has won the Stayers’ Hurdle since Shuil Ar Aghaidh in 1993 – or take on Wodhooh and possibly Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle.

With a handicap mark of 141 Nolan could consider another crack at the Pertemps or what was the Coral Cup.

“We haven’t made our minds up fully yet,” said Nolan.

“Hopefully she’s still in one piece and we have a decision to make at the time but we were thinking between the mares’ race and the Stayers’ Hurdle.

“In the Mares’ Hurdle if Lossiemouth turns up along with Wodhooh, realistically we’re playing for third and against the geldings she’d be meeting them plenty wrong even with the 7lb allowance.

“On the other hand she was left alone on a mark of 141 after winning at Doncaster as he (the handicapper) went through the second of Emmet Mullins’ (Dream On Baby rated 139) so what would the top weight be in the Coral? Normally about 150 but the handicaps are changing now, aren’t they?

“Because of the new rules for novices needing more runs there will be much bigger fields in the Grade Ones I think and that may alter the handicaps a bit.

“Feet Of A Dancer ran in the Pertemps last year and she was a little unlucky not to win it. Obviously she’s gone up that bit more this season so we’ve got a decision to make but we don’t have to make it for a while yet.”
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Oh FFS 🤦‍♂️ I only cashed her out yesterday at 50’s for the coral as I assumed she went up loads for her Doncaster win and was a certainty to run in the mares!
Note to self, do more homework!
Going to have to back her now at 25’s NRNB…….. think she will go really well off her mark in this if she turns up
 
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I'd not be certain that Nolan is right about Feet of a Dancer's mark being kept to 141.
Although I'd like to think he's asked already.
Got a performance rating of 144 for the Doncaster run.
And Emmet's horse got 141.
Lavida Adiva also got raised officially by 2lb and she was much further back.
I'd be expecting a new rating of 144 myself which is only another 3lb anyhow so probably not make a lot of difference.

But like I said, you'd expect he ought to know.
 
Quevega said:
I'd not be certain that Nolan is right about Feet of a Dancer's mark being kept to 141.
Although I'd like to think he's asked already.
Got a performance rating of 144 for the Doncaster run.
And Emmet's horse got 141.
Lavida Adiva also got raised officially by 2lb and she was much further back.
I'd be expecting a new rating of 144 myself which is only another 3lb anyhow so probably not make a lot of difference.

But like I said, you'd expect he ought to know.
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I wouldnt be surprised if people on here know more about trainers horses than they do themselves in a lot of cases to be honest.

Nicky entered manlaga in a novice hurdle the other day even though she's not a novice. Pretty sure emmet thought soldier in milan qualified for the nhc on Sunday. I've seen willie mullins refer to diamond du berlais as "he" multiple times 😂
 
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Best years yet entered, We're running it back but I doubt we'll get the 50/66s we got last year on him !
 
After all that fun last night Joyeuse did just get entered in the county :ROFLMAO:
 
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