Coral Cup
Coral Cup
The Coral Cup is a handicap hurdle and the first major betting race on Day Two of the Festival. Introduced in 1993, it’s one of the most fiercely contested handicaps of the week, often turning into a full-scale sprint to the line.
The race tends to favour lightly raced hurdlers less exposed to Irish and British handicappers. Sky’s The Limit is the only horse to win carrying top weight, though Wicklow Brave was narrowly beaten in 2019. Big-priced winners are common — Heaven Help Us landed it at 33/1 in 2021, and Commander Of Fleet paid 50/1 in 2022 — both aided by claiming jockeys reducing their weight by 7lb and 5lb respectively.
Top trainers often run multiple contenders, and it isn’t always the fancied horse that prevails. Nicky Henderson has won four times from 45 entries over the last 16 renewals, with all four winners having previous Cheltenham success.
Wednesday 14.40 | 4yo+ | Grade 3
2 miles 5 furlongs | 10 hurdles | Old Course
Weight: 10st – 11st 12lb (handicap)
Prize money: £100,000 | 1st: £56,270
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | WINNER | SP |
| 2025 | Jimmy Di Seuil | 16/1 |
| 2024 | Langer Dan | 13/2 |
| 2023 | Langer Dan | 9/1 |
| 2022 | Commander Of Fleet | 50/1 |
| 2021 | Heaven Help Us | 33/1 |
| 2020 | Dame De Compagnie | 5/1f |
| 2019 | William Henry | 28/1 |
| 2018 | Bleu Berry | 20/1 |
| 2017 | Supasundae | 16/1 |
| 2016 | Diamond King | 12/1 |
| 2015 | Aux Ptits Soins | 9/1 |
| 2014 | Whisper | 14/1 |
| 2013 | Medinas | 33/1 |
| 2012 | Son Of Flicka | 16/1 |
| 2011 | Carlo Brigante | 16/1 |
| 2010 | Spirit River | 14/1 |
| 2009 | Ninetieth Minute | 14/1 |
| 2008 | Naiad du Misselot | 7/1 |
| 2007 | Burntoakboy | 10/1 |
| 2006 | Sky’s The Limit | 11/1 |
| 2005 | Idole First | 33/1 |
| 2004 | Monkerhostin | 13/2 |
| 2003 | Xenophon | 4/1 |
| 2002 | Linamar | 25/1 |
| 2001 | FESTIVAL CANCELLED | N/A |
| 2000 | What’s Up Boys | 33/1 |
