Day Two - 14:40
Coral Cup
Coral Cup Betting Odds
Day two of Cheltenham has more than earned the name ‘Style Wednesday’ with races like the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle taking centre stage.
The Coral Cup is a prestigious Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race held on the historic Old Course at Cheltenham and is open to horses aged four years and older. The race is run over a 2m 5f stretch with 10 hurdles between the start and the finish.
The Coral Cup is one of the most popular races at Cheltenham and certainly one of the most competitive handicaps in the sport. Horse racing fans should expect another thrilling contest in 2025.
Check out our Coral Cup betting odds to see how each horse measures up against the competition.
Cheltenham Blog & Expert Betting Tips
History of the Coral Cup
The Coral Cup was first introduced in 1993, making it one of the youngest races to grace the festival compared to the likes of the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase which takes place on the same day.
Olympian and his jockey, Peter Scudamore, lifted the first Coral Cup at Cheltenham, the duo edging out the 20/1 priced Sillars Stalker by just over two lengths. As well as earning them £36,546, the victory cemented the duo’s place in racing history.
There have been many other outstanding winners over the years – such as Naiad du Misselot, What’s Up Boys and Dame De Compagnie – but only one horse has been able to win this illustrious prize more than once: 2023 and 2024 winner Langer Dan.
Jockeys are a different story. Davy Russell (2008, 2011 and 2016) and Barry Geraghty (2006, 2010 and 2020) currently share the record for most wins in the Coral Cup with three.
Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer in Coral Cup history having overseen four winners. They are:
- Spirit River (2010)
- Whisper (2014)
- William Henry (2019)
- Dame De Compagnie (2020)
There have been a few changes to the race over the years, most notably in 1999 when it was promoted to Grade 3 status. Back in 2008, the race was also held on the new course due to high winds.
When is the Coral Cup at Cheltenham?
The Coral Cup is scheduled to take place at 14:40 on 12th March, making it the third race of Style Wednesday in between the 14:00 Novices’ Chase and before the 15:20 Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase.
See our Coral Cup betting odds for the latest prices and check out our Cheltenham betting tips to find out who we think will come out on top throughout the festival.
Get ready for the greatest show on turf with BetMGM!