The Coral Cup offers one of the most compeetive handicaps of the week as a number of intriguing prospects take to the tapes, including our selection, Arbe De Vie.
There have been a number of real classy sorts who have landed the race, including Aux Ptits Soins who scored on his British debut in the race last year. This year it may be worth chancing Arbre De Vie to bounce back to form after a disappointing performance last time out.
He finished a close third behind Aux Ptits Soins in a race at Auteil in March two years ago before moving from Philip Peltier to Willie Mullins. He notched up two wide-margin victories on is first two starts for the man from Closutton and was then given a chance at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett.
After being slightly outpaced, he made smooth headway from the rear under a confident looking Paul Townend before he stayed on gamely on the flat to take fourth.
He was subsequently given a chance to tackle a handicap hurdle at Punchestown, where he ran a huge race off top weight to finish a close second.
Afterwards Arbre De Vie was given a decent break before reappearing in January on heavy ground at Thurles and although he failed to land the spoils after going off 4/11 fav, he still caught the eye.
Having made a massive error six out, he managed to find a second wind to make up the ground on the long-time leader before another mistake three from home.
Arbre De Vie closed again when going well before a slight mistake at the last hindered momentum and he had to settle for a close second behind Montys Meadow, as the pair pulled 40l clear of the third-place horse.
The form he already has in the book suggests he will be a major player and having a nice weight 11-2, he can go very well at a nice each-way price of 12/1.
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Odds subject to change.
