Coral Hurdle Guide 2021

Probably one of the most talked about Nicky Henderson horses going into the new season, The fantastic Cesarewitch winner at Newmarket last month comes into the new season with a weight of expectation for connections, already being a pretty short priced favourite for the Stayers Hurdle in March at the Cheltenham Festival, and this is a good place to start.

As we mentioned earlier, he was a Cesarewitch winner at the start of October, with not much preparation going into the race according to the trainer, so he does have race fitness on his side, and does look a thorough stayer in the making.

Buzz won a handicap at Ascot last season over 2 miles, then finished 2nd behind a course specialist in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy in December last year, before coming 2nd in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle behind Abacadabras beating some top-class horses in behind, making it look like he is a Graded winner in the making for the Seven Barrows team.

It will be interesting to see how he gets on in this, with some top aspirations going into the new season for him.
Cesarewitch winner when really showing his staying traits last time out, has race fitness on his side as well as 6lb of 2nd favourite, if he reproduces his Aintree 2nd, he will be the one to beat.

A horse that promised so much going into last season after his unfortunate tumble in the Triumph when looking to win the season before at the Cheltenham Festival.

He was always fancied by punters and trainer to be a Champion Hurdle horse, but we soon realised going left-handed was not really his thing, therefore Cheltenham was not a track to run him at going forward with top class races.

He has put in some electric performances however in his career gathering a decent following with his erratic front running displays, He was a 22-length winner in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and has hacked up at Ascot in 2020 on his way to the Triumph, but that was only in Class 3 company.

He takes the step up in trip for the first time today, at a track that probably suits his running style the best, but there might just be question marks on whether the trip and ground will suit this horse, and what his long-term plans are after this.

An interesting runner for the inform Gary Moore Team but might be outstayed by Buzz who he has to give 6lb’s to.

Loves going right-handed, winner at Ascot in 2020 and hacked up in a Grade 2 at Wincanton last season, steps up in trip for the first time in this. Interesting runner.

The only mare in the field, therefore she gets plenty of weight from the boys (3lb better off than Buzz, 9lb better off than the rest) and she is a very interesting runner for champion trainer chasing Dan Skelton who is aiming to win these bigger races this season.

She was fantastic last time out at Wetherby when winning a listed mare’s hurdle by just over 5 lengths, after a splendid jumping display and stayed on superbly to the line.

The step back up in trip in this weekend’s Coral Hurdle looks set to bring more out of her and she is a fascinating runner in this for the inform Skelton team, with the race fitness edge certainly in her favour.

Was a brilliant winner last time out in a listed contest, is better of than all of these in the weights and certainly has a great chance stepping back up in trip. Big Chance.

The winner of this race last season when only contesting up against two other rivals, this is considerably harder, but this horse has some good form to boast, winning the international Hurdle at Cheltenham in December last year, and a second-place finish behind Goshen in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

The trip obviously won’t be an issue as he is the winner in this last year, but he is up against some unexposed rivals who could improve past him in this, plus carrying the top weight with Goshen may not be ideal.

Last year’s race winner but was well beaten by Goshen last season and this race is harder than the one he won; Others are race fit. Others preferred.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies horse Guard Your Dreams is the outsider of the field but is not without a chance in this, he was a winner on seasonal debut at Cheltenham last time out, winning by just over 2 lengths after travelling nicely into the race before staying on all the way to the line.

He was a two-time winner last season before running some very creditable races in Graded contests, including a 3rd place finish behind My Drogo in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices Hurdle.

His seasonal debut was over 2m3f so a further step up in trip might be imminent after this weekend, but it will be very interesting to see how he gets on in this race stepping up in class.

A multiple winner over hurdles over this trip, Creditable 3rd in Grade 1 at the venue last season and has the fitness edge on some of these. Not out of it despite being the outsider of the field.