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Cheltenham Ante-Post Book – Brassil Can Land Belated Coral Cup with Dave Young’s Latest Ante-Post Play

We’ve finally had some racing and just as it feels like we’ve turned a corner on that front we have some very big weekends coming up. Cheltenham Trials Day is the feature fixture of the weekend although they do have a weather warning on Friday for strong winds and any amount of rain, but I’m sure it’ll be fine and there is some great racing elsewhere this week which we’ll come onto soon enough. For now, I’m going to throw up a handicap horse for consideration.

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JAMES’S GATE – CORAL CUP @ 12/1 – BET365 (8/1 NRMB with William Hill)

I’ll start off by making this clear; I’ve bet this horse in the outright ante-post market and not Non Runner Money Back. However, I’ve quoted both prices above as ultimately the decision is yours whether to follow me in or not, and which terms to strike that bet under. The reason I’ve opted for the outright price rather than NRMB is because I’m sure single figures will be available for him near the race anyway, so there’s no value in the NRMB concession at this moment, but I feel we’ll certainly not get the 12/1 about him should he line up. I appreciate the risk of not being a runner in the race due to being a novice and only having the four runs so far, but his Official Rating means he’ll be in and the trainer name checked the race in an interview after his win last week.

James’s Gate is an 8yo but he’s coming in here with four hurdle runs as a second season Novice hurdler. He’ll need another run before he can get in here, but he was 3rd in the Champion Bumper behind Facile Vega in 2022, a race which came 31 days after his bumper debut so there’s a few weeks to get him out again just yet. Away from the last three renewals, the ten prior were won by horses with single-figure runs over hurdles and eight of those ten had run at Cheltenham so he ticks both boxes.

I do accept that this is a horse who has left Willie Mullins and you’d think he may have held onto him if he had high hopes, however the Mulryan’s have many runners with Martin Brassil, and he’s taken his time with this horse to get him on what looks to be an upward curve this season. Frist time up in December he made mistakes at his hurdles, but his engine allowed him to win with ease and he notched up a 130 RPR. In Navan on Saturday he ran in a decent Rated Novice Hurdle race which has seen horses like Banbridge winning before taking the Martin Pipe and even Better Days Ahead was beaten in that race before taking a Martin Pipe last season. That might make you question why am I putting him up for the Coral Cup and not the Martin Pipe? Well, Martin Brassil hasn’t had a runner in the Pipe but he has targeted the Coral Cup for the last three seasons with two runner ups and a well beaten favourite last year.

Fastorslow went down by a short head to Commander Of Fleet in 2022 and An Epic Song was downed by Langer Dan. He of course took the race again last season, but we’re going to get a fair crack at this race this time round with him stayers hurdle bound, and rated too highly to win this again surely?

This horse is older than his recent runners but because of his issue after his bumper season, he’s essentially run his career in the mould of a horse he’s profiled for this before and he’s bred to stay too with lots of 3-milers in the family. Fastorslow had 5 hurdle runs prior to his attempt, an Epic Song had 7, but neither campaigned in bumpers.

I’m hoping we see an entry for a Handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival for James’s Gate but as long as he runs before the Festival, I don’t really mind where. We do need to hope that the handicapper isn’t too harsh on him as both of Martin Brassil’s runners up were raised 2lbs from their Irish marks, but I don’t see any reason why the BHA would be harder on an 8yo vs two 6yo’s and we may even defy a rise altogether.

I appreciate there are more risks attached with this runner than others that I have recommended, so I’ll re-iterate that just because I’ve bet himself doesn’t mean you have to follow me in blind, but I do think he’s a horse that’s worth keeping on your radars.

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THE WEEK JUST GONE

In the wake of Salvator Mundi dividing the racing community as to whether he’s the worst favourite for a Supreme in recent years or not, we saw Kiss Will win a Maiden Hurdle for Closuttion on Thursday at Fairyhouse with suggestions that he could be a Supreme contender. It was a decent debut, but he beat the third about the same distance Kel Histoire did prior, and we saw Salvator Mundi slam him last time out. I only reference the Salvator Mundi talk because there will be a period after where people are looking for a performance that warrants taking him on.

Friday at Windsor saw Gidleigh Park landing the Grade 2 Lightning Novice’s Chase, which was run over 2 miles. He took the race by the scruff of the neck and beat both Caldwell Potter and Personal Ambition with ease. He was only 9/2 for an Albert Bartlett last season on heavy ground but showed he’s just as much speed as stamina with this effort but he’s now risen from 138 to 149 so I’m not sure where they’d go with him next. Possibly the Scilly isles would suit but I’m not sure he would turn around that quickly, and if they kept him at 2 miles, they will have to face Sir Gino sooner rather than later. There’s the middle distance novices’ chase at Aintree that might suit but that’s still a way away.

Nemean Lion took the Grade 2 hurdle over 2m4f and he looks as good as ever this season and those last two runs coming up in trip might have unlocked the improvement but there’s a chance he could be a livewire for a place in the Stayers Hurdle for which he’s a top price 66/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral. Could be worth a free bet or small account rounder on him considering he is only an 8-year-old and everything that confirms for that race will shorten behind Teahupoo.

Saturday at Ascot saw a phenomenal performance from the Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba who was weak enough in the market, but runner up and well backed Mondo Man was far too keen throughout the race. Take nothing away from the winner though who did things on the bridal and in what appeared to be a reasonable time in comparison to the Grade 2 Warfield and the Clarence House. In that Warfield Hurdle we saw Kargese beaten at 2/5 by Take No Chances who had race fitness on her side. Still, it was disappointing to see Kargese beaten and in turn she’s drifted a bit for the Mares’ Hurdle in March, which she’s no chance of winning if either Lossiemouth or Brighterdaysahead line up in my opinion. Jonbon slammed Energumene and there’s not much more to say about it than that. He did what was expected of him, and for all that people made a case for Energumene, time waits for no man and he’s always wanted cut in the ground so he ran with credit in defeat.

Up at Haydock we saw that no horse is devoid of a bad run no matter how you try and spin it, with Royale Pagaille pulled up in the Peter Marsh. More surprisingly according to the betting was 1/3 shot Royal Infantry being beaten in the Rossington Main. I’ve said it before, but it’s not a vintage year for novices by the looks of it and this adds weight to that argument.

Over at Navan, James’s Gate took the opener and the scalps of C’est Ta Chance, Taponthego, Ballygunner Castle and Casheldale Lad. The entire field look like they’ll make into half decent race winners in the right conditions and as touched on in my ante-post suggestion, I think the winner is ready to land a big one very soon. Three Card Brag took the 3-mile Beginners Chase and he looks the type to progress into a National Horse. Captain Cody was back in third and he looks like he could run well in something like a National Hunt Chase. He’s had the 3 runs now and his mark of 135 should see him in the race if they go down that route, he’s as big as 33/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.

Windsor on Sunday saw Jingko Blue take the rearranged Hampton Novices Chase and he and the runner-up Lowry’s Bar look like horses with good futures over staying chase trips. Jubilee Alpha took the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle straight after and booked her ticket for Cheltenham. She looked much more polished in this run but there’s still a nagging doubt her flamboyancy might get her beat in a better race.

I suggested last season that Matata was a great EW bet in the Arkle, and while he just fell out of the places back in 4th, he’s now put up two 160’s RPR’s in his last two runs and his performance in the 2m handicap under JJ Slevin put in him not miles out the Champion Chase picture. Etalon was strange in the market as was backed early, then drifted then settled at around 5/1 but he fell at the 7th. Stable-mate Unexpected Party finished in second, but I think plenty have expected him to be bidding for another Grand Annual, and Crebilly was third who looks to be en route to make amends in the Plate from last season. He just finished like a horse who needed the run but surprised me back at 2-miles. In the Fleur De Lys I was keen to take on Djelo who won well last time out but when everything was in his favour, and this time round Protektorat had things his way and slammed the field. I’m sure he’ll run well in a Ryanair, but this years’ could be stronger than ever and he’s a 10-year-old now. Anyone who is already on should feel happy, I’m just in no rush to think about him at his current top price of 10/1.

At Thurles we saw Appreciate It back in the winner’s enclosure after plenty of time between drinks and the race prior saw Nara win again in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Chase. With no Only By Night, the balance of the form is difficult to be too bullish about and she made plenty of mistakes. That helps to upgrade the performance, but she won’t win in that company against better horses with jumping like that.

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COMING UP THIS WEEK

Plenty to look forward to but I’ll address a couple of races out of order as Maughreen doesn’t hold a Solerina entry on Saturday and Lucky Place doesn’t hold and entry in the Cleeve Hurdle. I’m hoping the former just wants an ordinary start to proceedings and the latter might be going fresh to Cheltenham as they may have decided that’s the key to him.

Back in order now and on Thursday the big money Palladium makes his debut for Nicky Henderson in a Maiden Hurdle. He’s a German Derby winner with a hefty price tag but you’d wonder what they’re plan is this season with Lulamba looking a standout triumph contender, although the yard have never been shy of running there’s against each other if needed. Another Seven Barrows inmate catches the eye with Shanagh Bob in the Pertemps qualifier having not really taken to fences this season. He also has the cheek-pieces on for the first time.

Thursdays feature card though comes from Gowran Park where the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle houses the likes of Hiddenvalley Lake, Asterion Forlonge and Buddy One. That’s before the Grade 3 Thystes Chase which has a full field headed in the betting by Where It All Began for Gordon Elliott. Quai De Bourbon is in another Beginners Chase with stable-mate Chapeau De Soliel again. That looks a race that’ll take some winning with 14 runners and plenty who have promised more than they’ve shown in the past.

Friday at Sandown, we have the Grand Military Gold Cup and on the card Diva Luna holds and entry in the Novices’ Hurdle. In the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase we have the likes of Rare Edition, Helnwein, Vincenzo and Booster Bob. That could be an informative race going forward.

Saturday hosts no less than 7 British Grade 2’s with 5 coming from Cheltenham Trials Day. There’s plenty to be excited about there but nothing more than Constitution Hill lining up in The International where Lossiemouth might try and see what it feels like to be beaten again. Doncaster holds the Grade 2 River Don over 3 miles which looks a competitive renewal at entry stage, They also run the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle, another Grade 2, after where Katiera, Jetara and Wyenot could face off.

At Fairyhouse there’s the Solerina Novices’ Hurdle I mentioned before but it’s Sunday at Naas where were hopefully going to see Anzadam take in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle as he bids to confirm his promise shown last time out and confirm his quotes of around 12/1 for a Champion Hurdle as a horse with just 3 runs to his name so far. Looks a penalty kick, which makes me think he’ll be here and not going to the DRF. There’s a Grade 3 Novices’ Chase after where Better Days Ahead is entered but potentially up against Bioluminescence, Dancing City and Shannon Royale. A Dream To Share could be on in the maiden hurdle and I think he’s a winner in waiting so if the ground stays soft I’ll be looking to play him this week.

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