2m5f (Old) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Not the best renewal of my favourite betting race of the Festival, and the looming rain makes this tough to call at the time of writing. One horse who is on my shortlist who won’t want the going to deteriorate is Camprond, so I’ll play him late, if at all. The two most unexposed horses in this race – both making their handicap debuts – are SAINT FELICIEN and INDIGO BREEZE, from Gordon Elliott’s yard. The former has only run three times but has been competitive in graded company and steps up in trip for the first time. He ticks a lot of the boxes, looks a worthy favourite and fits the profile of potential Grade 1 horse lurking in a handicap. Indigo Breeze has done all his running at 2m with the exception of a well beaten effort behind Galliard Du Mesnil last Christmas. His jumping went to pieces that day so the winning margin isn’t relevant to his stamina, and he seems to have tidied up in that department this season, looking like he needs to go back up in trip. Jockey bookings are a little muddling with Jordan Gainford claiming 3lb on Indigo Breeze and regular partner Davy Russell riding Grand Roi for the Morans, but I’m not reading anything into that as Russell is said to have an agreement to ride their horses.
1pt win Saint Felicien @8/1, 14:50 Cheltenham, Wednesday
1pt win Indigo Breeze @16/1, 14:50 Cheltenham, Wednesday