14:40 Cheltenham Tips: Sandor Clegane the one for Nolan in Coral Cup

Coral Cup Tips

• Sandor Clegane @ 16/1
• Ike Sport @ 66/1 (e/w)

*Odds correct as of the time of publication

Coral Cup Tips & Runners Guide

Maxxum (Gordon Elliott/Carl Millar) 16/1 

He gained his sixth hurdles win (6-23) when landing a Grade 2 at Navan (2m6f) last month and he's also proven in big-field scenarios such as this, but has a career-high mark now. 

Ballyadam (Henry de Bromhead/Rachael Blackmore) 12/1 

Runner-up in this contest 12 months ago from 4lb lower. He showed his well-being with a win at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and has performed well in all four starts at this meeting. 

Eagle Fang (William Durkan/Oakley Brown) 25/1 

Dual hurdles winner, has run well in graded contests in his last two starts. Comes here fresh but his supporters were left disappointed after plenty of market support in the Fred Winter last year. 

Sandor Clegane (Paul Nolan/Sean O'Keefe) 16/1 

Albert Bartlett third here in 2023, he ran some excellent races last season as a novice over fences and has been typically consistent back hurdling this term in graded company. First time handicapping. 

Colonel Mustard (Lorna Fowler/Tiernan Power Roche) 20/1 

A very likeable performer, he was third in the County Hurdle here in 2022 as State Man won and then fifth in last year's Champion Hurdle as the same rival scored. Just one hurdles win in 18 attempts, however. 

Jimmy Du Seuil (Willie Mullins/Danny Mullins) 12/1 

Second to stablemate Ballyburn in the Grade 1 over this trip last spring, before taking on tough assignments at Aintree and Punchestown. He's been off 313 days and now makes his handicap bow. 

Sa Fureur (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy) 20/1 

Versatile sort, at home over hurdles/fences. He doesn't have major miles on the clock but he was disappointing at Christmas when last spotted and the handicapper has taken no chances as he's 12lb higher despite being tailed off there. 

Beacon Edge (Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan) 28/1 

This is his fifth Cheltenham Festival start and, having finished fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle in 2021, he hasn't bettered that. Mid-division in the last two runnings of this. 

Al Gasparo (Gavin Cromwell/Keith Donoghue) 14/1 

Disappointed over 3m in a Pertemps qualifier here in October, but has flanked that with wins at Killarney (2m1f) and Leopardstown (2m4f), latterly from the front. 12lb higher here. 

Staffordshire Knot (Gordon Elliott/Sam Ewing) 33/1 

Enjoyed a promising first season last time, winning a bumper/maiden hurdle and second to Brighterdaysahead in an Aintree Grade 1 novice. Lost his way since and the blinkers will have to perk him up. 

Impose Toi (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) 15/2 

Nicky Henderson has won this twice in the last six years. This JP McManus inmate is a course winner and scored on his only start this season at Newbury in November. 7lb higher in first-time cheekpieces and goes well fresh. 

Beckett Rock (Henry De Bromhead/Darragh O'Keefe) 

Clonmel winner in January but was all at sea in a Dublin Racing Festival handicap last month. Better since at Fairyhouse (2m4f, second), but has plenty on his plate. 

Bunting (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) 5/1 

Represents top connections and rallied well when second at Clonmel after a break. No easy starting point on handicap bow, but a possible player if jumping better. 

King Alexander (Willie Mullins/Brian Hayes) 40/1 

Three-time hurdles winner with Nicky Henderson and took a low-key Fairyhouse win on debut for this handler in January. Well held since over 3m at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

Comfort Zone (Joseph O'Brien/Mark Walsh) 8/1 

Course winner over shorter in 2023, third behind Al Gasparo in a valuable Leopardstown Christmas contest when last spotted, 6lb higher now. 

Might I (Harry Fry/Sean Bowen) 33/1 

Fourth in the Martin Pipe here in 2023 but only midfield in this race a year ago. Has scored at Bangor this season and is dropping down the ratings but may find a few too strong. 

Be Aware (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) 5/1 

November's second behind Burdett Road in the Greatwood here was a cracking effort, and he ran another good race at Ascot (1m7½f) in December. Goes well fresh and handicapper has offered him a chance. 

Samui (Gordon Elliott/Jordan Gainford) 33/1 

Smart performer on the Flat who produced best effort to date over hurdles when landing 2m Thurles handicap in January. Not as good next time so must rebound. 

Anna Bunina (John McConnell/Harry Cobden) 33/1 

A fine servant to connections, this is her 41st start over hurdles. No win in this code since 2022, and has looked a bit below her best of late. 

Lossiemouth (Polly Gundry/Stan Sheppard) 33/1 

Not that Lossiemouth! Three decent efforts in defeat since leaving Tom Lacey to join this yard, but the 10-year-old is taking a sharp rise in class now. 

Captain Morgs (Nicky Henderson/Sam Twiston-Davies) 66/1 

Course winner over 3m in late 2022, he has been pulled up in two of his last three starts over hurdles and was well beaten here in November when last out. 

Minella Missile (Evan Williams/Adam Wedge) 40/1 

Course winner in November 2023, but subsequently spent over a year on the sidelines and has been pulled up on his last two starts. 

Vischio (Emmet Mullins/Donagh Meyler) 22/1 

Convincing winner over 2m2f at last month's Dublin Racing Festival in a valuable handicap, but well held since in the Morebattle at Kelso (2m) off this mark. Longer trip should suit and could go well for a shrewd trainer. 

Beat The Bat (Harry Fry/Bryan Carver) 16/1 

Chepstow bumper winner wasn't out of the first two in his first four hurdles starts. Eye-catcher in Windsor and Newbury runs over 2m this season and potentially one with some upside at this new trip. 

Jipcot (Jonjo & AJ O'Neill/Kielan Woods) 25/1 

Returned from a wind op to win at Newbury over this sort of trip in December and solid efforts since in defeat at Windsor and Haydock over further. 

Ike Sport (Neil Mulholland/Conor O'Farrell) 66/1 

Four-time hurdles winner for this yard, including a decent Sandown race over 2m4f last April. Perhaps hasn't been seeing out races over further since, but a better effort at Doncaster recently and is on a fair mark. 

Verdict 

Sandor Clegane @ 16/1 & Ike Sport @ 66/1 

The likes of Be Aware for the Skeltons and Bunting for Team Mullins are potential improvers, while Nicky Henderson's recent record in this means Impose Toi has to be feared. That market has that trio sussed, however. 

SANDOR CLEGANE has plenty of stamina and some fine efforts in graded races on his CV. Paul Nolan's runner has twice run well over further as a novice at this meeting and might be set for an impact on his belated handicap bow. 

Beat The Bat is interesting but, at a massive price, don't rule out IKE SPORT for Neil Mulholland. He hasn't been seeing his races out over further and could be on a lenient mark. 

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