Heaven Help us has won the 14:30 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle from Craigneiche and Tea Clipper.
It was seen as a tie-up between the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Guard Your Dreams (6/1), Nicky Henderson’s Craigneiche (7/1) and Mrs Denise Foster’s Grand Roi (7/1), with the three favourites having reasonable success in recent meetings prior to Cheltenham festival.
Heaven Help Us romps to victory in the Grade 3 @Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Richard Condon for trainer Paul Hennessy #GreenCorner 🇮🇪 #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/ZkLh7CYqcj
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 17, 2021
But it was Heaven Help Us who stormed to victory after a mix up at the start line, where the riders were made to do a standing start.
The Paul Hennessy trained horse powered into the lead at the start and held a healthy advantage and despite pressure from Witness Protection, Heaven Help Us breezed away to win for the first time in Cheltenham and also give Paul Hennessy his first Cheltenham win.
“But Heaven Help Us what a ride for young Richard Condon, he dictated and now salutes the ‘crowd’ at the finish line!” screamed Richard Hoiles as Heaven Help Us crossed the line.
Cheltenham Festival 2021 Live Blog: Day Two
Next up is the Coral Cup, and we are Paying on a massive SEVEN places for this one #CheltenhamFestival
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) March 17, 2021
Bet here: https://t.co/pweHAX7M3C pic.twitter.com/tHiDhQCt3S
Here were the odds from Paddy Power prior to the race!