I’ve backed IBERICO LORD at 16/1 non-runner no bet for the Coral Cup as I’ve got a strong view he’s been gagging to go up in trip. Connections must know it and haven’t tried yet, with the 2m Betfair Hurdle next up. There’s no way this horse will miss Cheltenham after gobbling up the hill in the Greatwood Hurdle and he could scrape into a Coral Cup off his current mark of 134, but going up a few lbs with a good run at Newbury wouldn’t hurt. The Greatwood form is working out really well with the second placing in a Grade 1, the third winning the Betfair Exchange Trophy, the fifth second in the Lanzarote and the fourth and sixth winning handicaps on their next run. Iberico Lord ran a disappointing race at Ascot but it was effectively a furlong shorter than the Greatwood and on better ground, so he couldn’t get involved with speedier horses. Whilst he won’t have much in hand with the handicapper over 2m, with natural progression he could easily be a high 140s to low 150s horse at the intermediate trip and that’s the perfect profile for a Coral Cup winner. I reckon connections know exactly what they’re doing with a view to revealing his hand in March at a course he loves.
1pt ante-post win Iberico Lord @16/1 NRNB, Coral Cup, 13th March
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