Coral Cup Odds: Sa Majeste heads the betting for Willie Mullins

One of the most competitive races of the whole meeting, the Coral Cup has been a graveyard for punters. There’s only been one winning favourite in the last 12 years, and nine the last 12 winners were priced at 12/1 or bigger.

We assess the Coral Cup odds for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, which is a Super Extra Place race. Betfred will pay each-way bets down to SIXTH place.

The Favourites

The Willie Mullins-trained Sa Majeste heads the betting at odds of 5/1 with Betfred. The lightly raced six-year-old has only run twice in Ireland since joining the yard from France and only once this season, a four-and-a-half length win in a Limerick hurdle over Christmas. Rated 140, he’s unexposed and bids to be only Mullins’ second race winner.

Doddiethegreat would bring the house down with a win on Wednesday. Named after Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, the 7/1 shot returned to action in November following 746 days off the track, winning at Ascot. He followed that up with a second place here in December over two miles and a furling before finishing fourth in the Betfair Hurdle last time out.

The Martin Brassil-trained Built By Ballymore, off a rating of 139, is at 15/2. The gelding, another six-year-old, won on his last two starts: a maiden at Limerick over Christmas and a novice hurdle at Punchestown in January. The improver won both of those races by 12 lengths.

A horse that will be on many people’s radar with be last year’s winner, Langer Dan at 8/1. The seven-year-old has been running like a drain all season, but given a favourable nod by trainer Dan Skelton on ITV racing on Saturday, many will think he has a good chance for a repeat off the same mark on Wednesday.

Nicky Henderson saddles 10/1 chance Lucky Place. Aiming to be the first five-year-old to win this race since 2015, he’s run four times this season and not finished outside the first two. His win came at Doncaster in December, and last time out, he was beaten half a length in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on trials day. 

Next Best

First Street is another runner for Nicky Henderson. The 14/1 shot ran in the County Hurdle last season off a mark of 152, finishing 11th beaten nine lengths. He’s now off a mark of 143 as he steps up in trip.

A bit further down the betting is the Padraig Roche-trained Brazil at 14/1. Like Sa Majeste, the eight-year-old is owned by JP McManus, who knows about winning big Cheltenham handicaps. Indeed, this horse won the Fred Winter in 2022 in front of Arkle favourite Gaelic Warrior. He’s been a bit hit-and-miss since then, but if he returns to that form, he could have a few pounds in hand.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Jigoro is a 14/1 chance. Another five-year-old, he won his Maiden in December and has since finished second in a Grade 2 and a Listed contest, both at Punchestown.

Meanwhile, 14/1 chance Might I runs for Harry Fry. The eight-year-old was fourth in Martin Pipe here last year, which would be enough for an each-way place in Wednesday’s renewal.

The top weight and number one on your racecard is the Henry de Bromhead-trained Ballyadam. The 16/1 chance was rated as high as 148 when finishing second in the 2021 Supreme, but he has lost his way since then, recording just one win (over chase fences) in 14 races. He was beaten easily in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle last time out.

Each-way Squeaks

At bigger prices, Willie Mullins saddles Shabally Kid at odds of 20/1, whose one win over hurdles came in January of last year in Navan and was well beaten at the Festival in the Albert Bartlett.

Zanndabad lines up for Tony Martin at a big price of 20/1. The former flat performer is yet to win over hurdles and just gets in off a mark of 121.

Guard Your Dreams is next in the betting at 20/1 with Betfred. He finished seventh in this race three years ago and has not left his mark since returning from an extended layoff.

Western Fold is another runner priced at 20/1. The five-year-old has two wins from five hurdles appearances, the most recent coming last time out at Down Royal in January.

The last of the quintet priced up at 20/1 is Black Bamboo, who can be found towards the bottom of the handicap off an official rating of 121. The Irish-trained seven-year-old finished sixth in a Listed contest at Leopardstown in his last run.

Bar

28/1 Finest Evermore

33/1 Maxxum

33/1 Rambo T

33/1 Beacon Edge

33/1 Mark Of Gold

33/1 Lombron

33/1 Da Capo Glory

40/1 Supreme Gift

66/1 Benson

66/1 Franciscan Rock

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights.