Coral Cup

The Coral Cup, sponsored by Coral since its inauguration in 1993, is run over 2 miles 5 furlongs on the Old Course at Cheltenham. The race is open to horse aged four years and upwards and is currently scheduled as the third race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival in March each year. The Coral Cup is, in fact, the first handicap hurdle of the week at the Cheltenham Festival and, along with Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle run on the fourth and final day, is one of the most popular betting races.

Of the current crop of trainers,  Nicky Henderson is ahead of the pack with four wins(Spirit River (2010), Whisper (2014), William Henry (2019), Dame De Compagnie (2020)). More recently, joint leading jockey Davy Russell rode Naiad de Misselot (2008), Carlito Brigante (2011) and Diamond King (2016), also for a total of three wins. He's equal with Barry Geraghty -(Sky's The Limit (2006), Spirit River (2010), Dame De Compagnie (2020)).

No favourite has won the Coral Cup in the last ten years, with the exception of Dame De Compagnie at 5/1, but there have been winners at 50-1 (Commander of fleet - 2022), Heaven help Us (33/1 - 2021) and  William Henry (28-1 - 2019) so it's not a race in which ro rule any contender out!