Camprond

For the second year in a row, the ground turned against Camprond in the Coral Cup. Very weak in the market beforehand, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s horse was prominent from early. Second jumping the third last flight, he landed in front over the second last, and he kicked into a clear lead around the home turn. But he was just run down half way up the run-in by Langer Dan and An Epic Song. Even so, he only went down by a head and a neck, with the first three clear.

It was a big run by JP McManus’ horse on ground that should have been softer than ideal for him. He was even better than he was in the race last year, when he finished fourth off a mark of 140, 2lb higher than this year’s mark. The handicapper raised him by 5lb to a mark of 143, but that mark should be workable, especially when he can get back on better ground. He won a valuable handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last year, so he will be of obvious interest if he goes there again this year.
Cheltenham, 15^th March 2023