Coral sponsored Racing Post previews the weekend action
Published:
David Metcalf | November 13, 2015
It’s the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, Sprinter Sacre is in action on Sunday and Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen returns at Punchestown.
In the latest edition of the Racing Post podcast “Postcast”, proudly sponsored by Coral, Sam Lawrie is joined by Racing Post betting editor Paul Kealy, Irish tipster Johnny Ward and our very own John Hill to preview the action.
There are also updates from trainers Dr Richard Newland and Rebecca Curtis on their Paddy Power Gold Cup candidates, with both handlers hopeful of a big run.
The team kick off by looking at the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the feature race on a super seven-race card at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Kings Palace currently heads the market at 7/1 with Coral, and the David Pipe trained gelding is a classy performer who could be well-treated.
However, he does like to race at the head of affairs and Kealy feels his jumping will come under pressure as he drops back in trip to 2m 4f for the first time in two and a half years.
Boondooma is next in the betting at 8/1 followed by Irish Cavalier on 10s.
Johns Spirit, who won the race in 2013 and finished a head runner-up in last year’s renewal, is a big contender at 11/1 whilst Hills believes there is a 20/1 outsider in the contest capable of running a huge race.
The team also take a close look at an excellent supporting card, and two very interesting runners for shrewd Irish trainer Charles Byrnes whose cross channel raiders always command the utmost respect.
Attention is then switched to Sunday’s action at Prestbury Park, the feature of which is the Greatwood Hurdle.
Micks Jazz and Nabucco are the 7/1 joint-favourites with Coral, but there has been plenty of strong each-way support for the Nicky Henderson trained Days Of Heaven (11/1).
The other big race on the card is the Shloer Chase, in which former superstar 2m chaser Sprinter Sacre is 9/4 with Coral to make a winning return to action.
Is the horse once regarded as one of the best ever seen capable of bouncing back to anything like his brilliant best, or are his glory days well and truly behind him?
There is also a top class card at Punhestown on Sunday which comes under the spotlight, with reigning Champion hurdler Faugheen “the machine” longs odds-on to make a winning reappearance in the Morgiana Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins trained gelding faces a simple task on paper, and is currently evens with Coral to retain his crown next March.
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