2026 BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (previously Coral Cup)

[BigChaang]

My thinking that he goes Coral Cup is that Willie already has strong chances according to the betting in Murcia and Karbau. He doesn't look to have as strong contenders in the Cup, so hopefully wants Storm Heart there who that who Paul would choose over Jump Allen.

I've been thinking Jump Allen is the one to be on here , for Mullins , based on the weight's
... ??.

 

[Lobos]

Their may not be a horse that is 10lb well in true

There might be something that has 10lb+ in hand haha

Like 5 of the last 6 winners

Saint roi, belfast banter, state man, absurde and kargese

They did stand out. Nothing does this year. Roc Dino perhaps if he gets in and doesn't go elsewhere. Anything else?

 

[Exar Essay]

I've been thinking Jump Allen is the one to be on here , for Mullins , based on the weight's
... ??.

Patrick and Ruby both agree with you. So he’ll probably not even travel over

 

[BigChaang]

Patrick and Ruby both agree with you. So he’ll probably not even travel over

 

[luisgarciaisgod]

Michael Kenneally riding for the Morans and Gordon today at Leopardstown, hoping he gets jocked up on The Yellow Clay for this

 

[darlojim]

Michael Kenneally riding for the Morans and Gordon today at Leopardstown, hoping he gets jocked up on The Yellow Clay for this

Seen gordon on some preview saying that he wouldnt claim off Staffordshire Knot

Said jockey experience is a huge advantage in the big hcaps, so wonder if there'll be a small change of tact in that

 

[ComplyOrDie]

They did stand out. Nothing does this year. Roc Dino perhaps if he gets in and doesn't go elsewhere. Anything else?

Roc Dino
Sinnatra
Murcia
Celtic Dino (on a line through Golden Ace, shoudn't be getting 10lbs from Anzadam, plus has Alexei form)
Joyeuse (on her back form at least)
Zillow
Kopeck De Mee (although likely to go for the Coral Cup)

Probably a couple of others I've missed.

If any of the above win the race it wouldn't surprise me. Anzadam is far from a stand out off 157 though, and I really like the horse.

 

[Lobos]

Roc Dino
Sinnatra
Murcia
Celtic Dino (on a line through Golden Ace, shoudn't be getting 10lbs from Anzadam, plus has Alexei form)
Joyeuse (on her back form at least)
Zillow
Kopeck De Mee (although likely to go for the Coral Cup)

Probably a couple of others I've missed.

If any of the above win the race it wouldn't surprise me. Anzadam is far from a stand out off 157 though, and I really like the horse.

Yeah, looked at those. Not sure Murcia and Dino have anything in hand now. Kopeck was just awful last year. Roc Dino maybe but his French form isn't all that and doubt the french trainer was looking at getting him well handicapped for Cheltenham. Agree Sinnatra looks very interesting. Apparently Anzadam has been dropped a pound to 156 so he's super well in now

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Yeah, looked at those. Not sure Murcia and Dino have anything in hand now. Kopeck was just awful last year. Roc Dino maybe but his French form isn't all that and doubt the french trainer was looking at getting him well handicapped for Cheltenham. Agree Sinnatra looks very interesting. Apparently Anzadam has been dropped a pound to 156 so he's super well in now

I'm struggling to see the Celtic Dino logic. You fancy Alexei for the Champion Hurdle, a race that will likely require a 170+ performance, but you think a horse, who beat him by 2 1/4 lengths and giving him 7lbs, will not have much in hand off 147?

Murcia I could agree with, a bit, although she's probably still got a little bit left to give.

Kopeck was awful, I think he'd be better down at 2m, but I think they'll give the Coral Cup a go.

 

[Lobos]

I'm struggling to see the Celtic Dino logic. You fancy Alexei for the Champion Hurdle, a race that will likely require a 170+ performance, but you think a horse, who beat him by 2 1/4 lengths and giving him 7lbs, will not have much in hand off 147?

Murcia I could agree with, a bit, although she's probably still got a little bit left to give.

Kopeck was awful, I think he'd be better down at 2m, but I think they'll give the Coral Cup a go.

Think Dino has reached his ceiling and there are better handicapped horses than him. Helnwein for example who also has that Alexei, Dino, wilful and Hot Fuss form that has worked out so well this season. Re Alexei, I changed my bet to EW as he does really only have potential place claims especially if Lossiemouth turns up. Hoping that Willie says in the tour today that she's coming good again and then it'll be all systems go!

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Think Dino has reached his ceiling and there are better handicapped horses than him. Helnwein for example who also has that Alexei, Dino, wilful and Hot Fuss form that has worked out so well this season. Re Alexei, I changed my bet to EW as he does really only have potential place claims especially if Lossiemouth turns up. Hoping that Willie says in the tour today that she's coming good again and then it'll be all systems go!

Likely to be better handicapped horse(s), given how some trainers cheat more than others, but to think he's hit his ceiling after 8 hurdles runs and for 2 defeats, 1 to Wodhooh over her optimum trip, who is likely to win or go very close in a Mares Hurdle, and the other behind Sir Gino on a track I don't think suited him, is baffling to me.

He's been out the frame just twice, once at Kempton behind Sir Gino and the other in the Formby, last season.

I think he's a great E/W play personally, with the caveat that he probably does prefer better ground, something connections have stuck to for most of his career.

 

[Lobos]

Likely to be better handicapped horse(s), given how some trainers cheat more than others, but to think he's hit his ceiling after 8 hurdles runs and for 2 defeats, 1 to Wodhooh over her optimum trip, who is likely to win or go very close in a Mares Hurdle, and the other behind Sir Gino on a track I don't think suited him, is baffling to me.

He's been out the frame just twice, once at Kempton behind Sir Gino and the other in the Formby, last season.

I think he's a great E/W play personally, with the caveat that he probably does prefer better ground, something connections have stuck to for most of his career.

Only getting 9lbs from Anzadam doesn't feel like a well handicapped horse to me. I have my doubts that the track will suit as well. What you say re ground is also a big point. Would be one perhaps to wait until the day and see what the weather does if you want to back him.

 

[YoungHustler]

I've been thinking Jump Allen is the one to be on here , for Mullins , based on the weight's
... ??.

Could well be and he may easily have improved considerably from last season but I still prefer SH who I think could be a 160+ horse. I just think Townend will pick SH. He chose him ahead of Kargese in the Triumph the other year and also Bunting over Jump Allen at Sandown last season. JA may also go for the Pipe.

 

[YoungHustler]

I'm more thinking he doesn't go at all. That last run was suggesting to me that they might go elsewhere

Willie on Storm Heart in his latest update on his Cheltenham runners in the Sportinglife.

Storm Heart’s recent win at Gowran would put him right in the mix for the BetMGM Cup. I loved the way he finished in Gowran. When things didn’t go well for him during the race Paul was very cute on him, coming with one run down the outside and that type of run tells me he could be good for this race

 

[Montelado]

Is Franciscan Rock @ 50/1 worth a poke in this - entered in the MP also. Was 5th in this to the "well campaigned" langer dan off 1lb lower 2 years ago. Not saying he will win but with Mouse Morris, you should get a good rum for you money

 

[Istabraq]

Apologies if this one has been mentioned previously but I've just spent some time on the race and can't believe Buddy One is 66/1 (50/1 NRNB).
He has a Stayers entry so could well end up back there but having finished 4th and 5th, between 8/12 lengths behind winner, he's proved himself to be in the region of 8-10lb below the best staying hurdlers out there without ever really looking like a proper 3m horse to me.
He'll go on any ground and I get the feeling a proper pace over this trip might see him run well.
Been chasing this season and I have no idea if that's by design to look after his hurdle mark or whether they just realised he couldn't win top graded hurdle races, he wasn't beaten that far in the Red Mills behind Impair Et Passe.
Has a win on the old course too and was given just 1lb tax on his Irish mark.
It's a dart...

 

[Kauto’s star]

Apologies if this one has been mentioned previously but I've just spent some time on the race and can't believe Buddy One is 66/1 (50/1 NRNB).
He has a Stayers entry so could well end up back there but having finished 4th and 5th, between 8/12 lengths behind winner, he's proved himself to be in the region of 8-10lb below the best staying hurdlers out there without ever really like a proper 3m horse to me.
He'll go on any ground and I get the feeling a proper pace over this trip might see him run well.
Been chasing this season and I have no idea if that's by design to look after his hurdle mark or whether they just realised he couldn't win top graded hurdle races, he wasn't beaten that far in the Red Mills behind Impair Et Passe.
Has a win on the old course too and was given just 1lb tax on his Irish mark.
It's a dart...

Interesting case! I like the approach, the course form, age, and rating. The one question, does he have 5lb+ in hand anymore? Can see him being an each way player potentially, especially at the price!!

 

[Eggs]

O'Leary on Storm Heart in the BetMGM Cup...​

"Hopefully he's a Graded horse in a handicap, well he is obviously. Storm Heartwas very good in Limerick first time out, not having run for a long time, and those were over two and a half.

"Then he came back to two the next day. He obviously needs further than two, so it was either the County or the BetMGM Cup, and it looks like he needs a trip, so he'll go to the MGM Cup."

 

[Istabraq]

O'Leary on Storm Heart in the BetMGM Cup...​

"Hopefully he's a Graded horse in a handicap, well he is obviously. Storm Heartwas very good in Limerick first time out, not having run for a long time, and those were over two and a half.

"Then he came back to two the next day. He obviously needs further than two, so it was either the County or the BetMGM Cup, and it looks like he needs a trip, so he'll go to the MGM Cup."

They'll be going a proper clip here, only tried further than 2m once suggest they saw the horse as a 2 miler having come from the flat where he raced predominantly between 10-11 furlongs, I won't be falling off my chair in shock if he was outstayed by one or more....

 

[YoungHustler]

They'll be going a proper clip here, only tried further than 2m once suggest they saw the horse as a 2 miler having come from the flat where he raced predominantly between 10-11 furlongs, I won't be falling off my chair in shock if he was outstayed by one or more....

Game of opinions Ista. I think the trip will be no problem and only fancied him for the Cup and not the County. He debuted on the flat as a 2 year old over 10f which says to me that he was already thought of as a stayer. He's only had 7 starts over hurdles and 4 of which were as a 4 year old so you wouldn't have expected him to have gone over further at that age. In his 2 runs this season, he's put his head down and hit the line really hard and I also think better ground will also suit him. I'm really quite sweet on him.