Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo targets G1 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on 31st May

Article 15th May 2019 Epsom Downs

Top filly Magical is one of 18 entries going forward for the G1 Investec Coronation Cup, worth £425,000, at Epsom Downs on Friday 31st May, Investec Ladies' Day, details of which are revealed today.

The four-year-old progressed when stepped up to 12 furlongs at the backend of 2018, landing the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October before pushing Enable all the way in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, USA in November.

Magical, a 5/1 chance with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, has returned this season with easy victories in the G3 Alleged Stakes at Naas on April 13 and G2 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on May 6, both over 10 furlongs.

Magical's trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the Investec Coronation Cup, run over the same 12 furlongs and six yards as the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, a record eight times and Ireland's 21-time champion Flat handler accounts for seven of the 18 entries.

The septet also includes Unibet's 5/2 favourite Kew Gardens and Flag Of Honour (33/1), respective winners of last year's English and Irish St Legers, plus 2017 G1 Irish Derby and St Leger victor Capri (20/1), Cypress Creek (80/1), Hunting Horn (50/1) and Southern France (25/1), third behind Kew Gardens at Doncaster.

Europe's champion stayer Stradivarius (12/1) is one of three remaining entries for Newmarket-based handler John Gosden, who has taken out Enable.

The five-year-old Sea The Stars horse is set to reappear in Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup at York. Gosden's trio is completed by multiple G1 runner-up Coronet (10/1) and G1 St Leger second Lah Ti Dar (3/1), who are both by Dubawi and finished second and third to Magical in the 2018 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. Lah Ti Dar is the year-older full sister to unbeaten Too Darn Hot, last year's champion European two-year-old. 

Salouen, trained by the in-form Sylvester Kirk in Lambourn, almost pulled off a 33/1 shock in last year's Investec Coronation Cup, when going down by a head to Cracksman, who ended 2018 as the joint highest-rated horse in the world.The five-year-old Canford Cliffs horse, often a front-runner, is set for a repeat bid after an impressive seven-length success in the Listed Buckhounds Stakes at Ascot on 11th May. Unibet make him an 8/1 chance.

The 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo (16/1) is going for the Investec Coronation Cup following a pleasing comeback victory in the G3 John Porter Stakes over 12 furlongs at Newbury on 13th April. The six-year-old entire is best known as a stayer, with all three of his Group victories prior to Newbury having come over a mile and three quarters or further.

His trainer, Berkshire-based Hughie Morrison, commented: “The Investec Coronation Cup is the plan for Marmelo. We gave him a couple of easy weeks after the John Porter and now we are revving him up for Epsom. We felt it was worth having a go over a mile and a half, just to try something different more than anything, especially now he has fully matured. It might be that he is better over further, but we can always go up in trip later on.

“I always thought the Coronation Cup could present a decent opportunity and we are keen to have a go. I have never had a runner in the race and it will be great to be there, provided the ground isn’t too quick.”

Mark Johnston, the most successful British trainer ever, has two contenders in Communique (25/1) and Mildenberger (33/1), who finished first and third in the G2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on 4th May.

That 12-furlong contest also featured second Defoe (Roger Varian, 25/1), fourth Coronet, fifth Red Verdon (Ed Dunlop, 80/1) and sixth Young Rascal (William Haggas, 20/1), who is owned by Investec’s former managing director Bernard Kantor. Completing the 18 remaining Investec Coronation Cup contenders is the King Power Racing-owned Morando (Andrew Balding, 12/1), who relished the testing ground when posting a wide margin victory in the G3 Ormonde Stakes over 12 furlongs at Chester on 9th May.

The Investec Coronation Cup is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Investec Coronation Cup

Group 1, £425,000 total prize fund. 1m 4f 6y, 3.10pm, Epsom Downs, Friday, 31st May. For four-year-olds and upwards; Weights: colts and geldings 9st, fillies 8st 11lb. Horses will only be eligible to run provided they have attained a BHA rating of 80 or higher. Horses who do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or more. Horses who have not run will not be eligible. Entries closed 9th April, entries revealed 10th April (26 entries), scratchings deadline 14th May (18 remain), six-day confirmations & £25,000 supplementary stage 25th May, final declarations 10am 29th May.

Horse

Age

Owner

Trainer

CAPRI (IRE)

5

Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor

Aidan O'Brien IRE

COMMUNIQUE (IRE)

4

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

Mark Johnston 

CORONET

5

Denford Stud

John Gosden 

CYPRESS CREEK (IRE)

4

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier

Aidan O'Brien IRE

DEFOE (IRE)

5

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum

Roger Varian 

FLAG OF HONOUR (IRE)

4

Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith

Aidan O'Brien IRE

HUNTING HORN (IRE)

4

Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith

Aidan O'Brien IRE

KEW GARDENS (IRE)

4

Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor

Aidan O'Brien IRE

LAH TI DAR

4

Lord Lloyd Webber

John Gosden 

MAGICAL (IRE)

4

Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor

Aidan O'Brien IRE

MARMELO

6

The Fairy Story Partnership & Aziz Kheir

Hughie Morrison 

MILDENBERGER

4

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

Mark Johnston 

MORANDO (FR)

6

King Power Racing Co Ltd

Andrew Balding 

RED VERDON (USA)

6

The Hon Ronnie Arculli

Ed Dunlop 

SALOUEN (IRE)

5

H Balasuriya

Sylvester Kirk 

SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE)

4

Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor

Aidan O'Brien IRE

STRADIVARIUS (IRE)

5

Bjorn Nielsen

John Gosden 

YOUNG RASCAL (FR)

4

Bernard Kantor

William Haggas 

18 horses remain following May 14 scratchings deadline
7 Irish-trained

THE FOLLOWING 8 HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:

CIMEARA (IRE), DEE EX BEE, ENABLE, FOLAMOUR, LARAAIB (IRE), LATROBE (IRE), WALDGEIST, WISSAHICKON (USA)

Investec Coronation Cup – Unibet prices: 5/2 Kew Gardens; 3/1 Lah Ti Dar; 5/1 Magical; 8/1 Salouen; 10/1 Coronet; 12/1 Morando, Stradivarius; 16/1 Marmelo; 20/1 Capri, Young Rascal; 25/1 Communique, Defoe, Southern France; 33/1 Flag Of Honour, Mildenberger; 50/1 Hunting Horn; 80/1 Cypress Creek, Red Verdon. Each-way 1/5 1, 2, 3

47 go forward for Investec 'Dash' Handicap

All bar one of the initial 48 entries remain engaged in the £100,000 Investec 'Dash' Handicap, staged over the world's fastest five furlongs (record time 53.69s) at Epsom Downs on Saturday, 1st June 1, Investec Derby Day, day two of the Investec Derby Festival.

Rapidly improving three-year-old Leodis Dream (David O’Meara) is the 8/1 favourite with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, following successive handicap victories at Thirsk, Sandown Park and Chester.

Investec 'Dash' Handicap – Unibet prices: 
8/1 Leodis Dream
10/1 Tanasoq
12/1 Muthmir, Just That Lord, Dark Shot, Hathiq
14/1 Kick On Kick On
16/1 Caspian Prince, Tarboosh, Stake Acclaim, Ornate, Open Wide, Cowboy Soldier, Blue de Vega, Boom The Groom, Recon Mission, Merry Banter
20/1 Copper Knight, Line of Reason, Fool For You, Mokaatil, Duke of Firenze, Harry Hurricane
25/1 A Momentofmadness, Lord Riddiford, Harome, Daschas, Shamshon
33/1 Storm Over, Eeh Bah Gum, Poyle Vinnie, Pettochside, Equimou, Alfie Solomons
40/1 Quench Dolly, Consequences, Primo's Comet, Doc Sportello, Venturous
50/1 Just Glamorous, Desert Ace
66/1 Harrogate, Mutafarrid
100/1 Glamorous Rocket, Our Oystercatcher, Angel Force, Lathom

Investec 'Dash' Handicap

£100,000 Total Prize Fund. Epsom Downs, 3.45pm, Saturday, 1st June, five furlongs. For three-year-olds and upwards. Lowest weight 8st, highest weight 9st 10lb. Penalties: after 4th May, a winner of a race 4lb, a winner of two races 7lb. Entries closed 30th April, entries revealed 1st May (48 entries), scratchings deadline 14th May (47 remain), five-day confirmations 27th May, final declarations 31st May. Maximum number of runners – 20.

Horse

Age

Wgt

Owner

Trainer

CASPIAN PRINCE (IRE)

10

9-10

Stephen Louch

Michael Appleby 

STAKE ACCLAIM (IRE)

7

9-04

M J Yarrow

Dean Ivory 

TARBOOSH

6

9-03

The Guys & Dolls & Sandfield Racing

Paul Midgley 

MUTHMIR (IRE)

9

9-01

Hamdan Al Maktoum

William Haggas 

A MOMENTOFMADNESS

6

8-13

Tony Wechsler & Ann Plummer

Charles Hills 

COPPER KNIGHT (IRE)

5

8-10

Ventura Racing (Copper) & Partner

Tim Easterby 

ORNATE

6

8-09

Kings Road Racing Partnership

David Griffiths 

TANASOQ (IRE)

6

8-08

F Brady & J S Morrison

Paul Midgley 

KICK ON KICK ON

4

8-03

Paul & Clare Rooney

Clive Cox 

OPEN WIDE (USA)

5

8-03

George Materna & John McInerney

Amanda Perrett 

COWBOY SOLDIER (IRE)

4

8-03

Mrs Fitri Hay

Robert Cowell 

STORM OVER (IRE)

5

8-02

Abdulla Al Mansoori

George Scott 

LINE OF REASON (IRE)

9

8-02

Taylor's Bloodstock Ltd

Paul Midgley 

LORD RIDDIFORD (IRE)

4

8-02

The JAM Partnership

John Quinn 

BLUE DE VEGA (GER)

6

8-01

Mrs J Morley

Robert Cowell 

FOOL FOR YOU (IRE)

4

8-00

John Dance

Richard Fahey 

EEH BAH GUM (IRE)

4

7-12

Nick Rhodes

Tim Easterby 

HAROME (IRE)

5

7-12

Middleham Park Racing LXXI & Partner

Roger Fell 

RECON MISSION (IRE)

3

7-12

B J Millen

Tony Carroll 

BOOM THE GROOM (IRE)

8

7-12

B J Millen

Tony Carroll 

LEODIS DREAM (IRE)

3

7-11

Andrew Kendall-Jones I

David O'Meara 

MOKAATIL

4

7-11

Midtech

Ian Williams 

JUST THAT LORD

6

7-11

Mrs M S Teversham

Michael Attwater 

DARK SHOT

6

7-10

Chappell Rose & Radford

Scott Dixon 

JUST GLAMOROUS (IRE)

6

7-10

Robert & Nina Bailey

Grace Harris 

MERRY BANTER

5

7-08

H Thornton & P T Midgley

Paul Midgley 

POYLE VINNIE

9

7-08

Formulated Polymer Products Ltd

Ruth Carr 

HATHIQ (IRE)

5

7-08

James McAuley

Denis Hogan IRE

HARRY HURRICANE

7

7-07

Dare To Dream Racing

George Baker 

EQUIMOU

5

7-07

Edwin S Phillips

Robert Eddery 

QUENCH DOLLY

5

7-07

Quench Racing Partnership

John Gallagher 

DUKE OF FIRENZE

10

7-06

Adlam, Damary-Thompson, Wilson, Griffiths

David Griffiths 

CONSEQUENCES (IRE)

4

7-06

Nick Bradley Racing 15 & Sohi

Ian Williams 

DASCHAS

5

7-06

T W Morley

Stuart Williams 

PETTOCHSIDE

10

7-05

P Cook

John Bridger 

SHAMSHON (IRE)

8

7-05

T W Morley & Regents Racing

Stuart Williams 

PRIMO'S COMET

4

7-04

The Reluctant Suitor's

Jim Goldie 

DOC SPORTELLO (IRE)

7

7-04

George Nixon

Tony Carroll 

VENTUROUS (IRE)

6

7-04

Laurence O'Kane/Harrowgate Bloodstock Ltd

David Barron 

ALFIE SOLOMONS (IRE)

3

7-03

Rebel Racing Premier

Richard Spencer 

HARROGATE (IRE)

4

7-02

Goff, Walsh & Zerdin

Jim Boyle 

MUTAFARRID (IRE)

4

7-02

J S Morrison & Frank Brady

Paul Midgley 

GLAMOROUS ROCKET (IRE)

4

7-01

Robert & Nina Bailey

Christopher Mason 

OUR OYSTERCATCHER

5

6-11

Mrs F A Veasey & G B Partnership

Mark Pattinson 

ANGEL FORCE (IRE)

4

6-11

Pete Baker

David Griffiths 

DESERT ACE (IRE)

8

6-11

M Hammond, Mad for Fun & Partners

Paul Midgley 

LATHOM

6

6-06

David W Armstrong

Paul Midgley 

 47 entries remain following May 14 scratchings deadline (GLOBAL TANGO (IRE) scratched)
1 Irish-trained

the Investec Derby Festival

Epsom Downs Racecourse is situated on the North Downs in Surrey, some 15 miles from central London. The racecourse is the venue for the Greatest Flat Race in the World, the Group One Investec Derby, run for the 240th time in 2019, which takes place on the first Saturday in June and is Britain's richest race.

The Investec Derby Festival also features the Investec Oaks and the Investec Coronation Cup, both also run over the Derby course of one mile and four furlongs for three-year-old fillies and older horses respectively, on Investec Ladies' Day. The Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, two of the five British Classics, are for three-year-olds, with the former open to colts and fillies and the latter to fillies.

The 2019 Investec Derby Festival takes place on Friday and Saturday, 31st May & 1st June. More information and tickets can be found here.

MORE LIKE THIS

Cookie Policy

We use “cookies” to help enhance your experience and improve the functionality of our website. You can find out more in our cookie policy. We also serve cookies, some with chocolate chips, on our racecourses.

Loading