Cheltenham 2018 Day 2: The Coral Cup

With a field of 26 likely to go to post, this race is something of a lottery. However, with torrential rain forecast to fall on already soft ground this weekend on The Cotswolds, the ground could be testing for this race on Wednesday. One horse that won’t mind a deterioration in underfoot conditions is Limited Reserve, a horse I tipped up for Mybettingbonus when 2nd earlier this season at Ascot (15.5f gd).

There could be lots more to come from Limited Reserve.

He stayed on well that day, and he simply got outpaced by a faster horse. Stepped up to 19f on heavy ground next time out at Haydock he made no mistake, hacking up by 8L off a mark of 125 with James Bowen claiming 5lb. It was a further 20L back to the 3rd home so it really was a dominant display from the 6yo son of Court Cave.

Christian Williams obviously subscribes to the old saying ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, and he kept Limited Reserve to identical conditions on his next start off his revised mark of 133. This time he was made to work a lot harder to prevail by a neck from Zalvados, form that has subsequently been franked by the runner up. Again, the front two pulled some way clear of the rest so a 5lb rise was lenient in hindsight, in my opinion.

So, now rated 138, Christian Williams has put Limited Reserve away since that December 23rd win at Haydock obviously with a trip to Cheltenham in mind. His current mark would have been sufficient to get into the race for four of the last five years, but at the time of writing he does need 32 horses to come out. And, hopefully with young Bowen’s claim (if he rides) he will have a nice low racing weight.

After his last win at Haydock Christian Williams was adamant there was more to come from Limited Reserve. Post race he commented ‘I think Limited Reserve is better with a low weight in a better race where they go a strong gallop and he doesn't want this ground.' That sounds exactly like what he is likely to encounter at Cheltenham, and though he may not want testing ground, there is no doubting his ability to handle it. 

A friend informed me today that it has been an awfully long time since a favourite has scored in a handicap at the festival. In fact, the last jolly to oblige was Fingal Bay who scored at 9/2 in the Pertemps all the way back in 2014. Log may that run continue I say!! Limited Reserve can be backed at odds of 25/1 with William Hill, and I am willing to chance him ante-post because I believe he will get in to the race. He is 20/1 with other firms who are offering non runner no bet, but I am going to be greedy! If he runs, he has outstanding each way claims. 

STEVOS’ SELECTION: LIMITED RESERVE E/W 25/1 (CORAL CUP)