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Frank Hickey has given his take on the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Our expert trader has run through the likely main contenders for the 3m2f contest around the New Course at Prestbury Park, which traditionally only saw amateur riders compete but will exclusively feature professional jockeys this year.
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Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth ‘Countdown to Cheltenham’ podcast, Frank gave his take on the final race of Thursday’s card.
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TIME TO GET UP has been very well backed, and is Jonjo O’Neill’s main hope if the betting is to be believed. He was initially 14/1 but is back down to 11/2 so is our worst result and quite a big loser. RUN WILD FRED is another chunky loser and he is now 5/1 from an opening 10/1.
Time To Get Up is trained by Jonjo, who hasn’t won this since Sunnyhillboy in 2012. He is very lightly raced and unexposed, with only six career starts and three over fences. He was with Joseph O’Brien up to this season and the best run for him was a second to Monkfish at Fairyhouse, but that race worked out – Braeside was third and is now rated 133, Atlantic Shore was fourth and he has won a few times this season and he rated 137, Ballyshannon Rose was fifth and she went from 87 to 129 over hurdles this season.
His three runs this season were a third at Aintree, fourth at Wetherby and an impressive win at Wincanton at the start of February off 130. He is bred to handle better ground being by Presenting so there is plenty to like about him.
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JERRYSBACK is very lightly raced for a nine-year-old with only 11 career starts. He made a nice reappearance at Ascot over 2m5f but pulled up when favourite for the Swinley Chase at Ascot last month and has a bit to prove now.
LE BREUIL won the National Hunt Chase in 2019 but was disappointing in last year’s Kim Muir when a 5/1 favourite. He has been running okay this season, finishing third in the Becher off 141 and the Classic Chase at Warwick off 140, but was disappointing last time at Musselburgh. I can see him running well but not screaming out to me as a big handicap winner waiting to happen.
KILFILUM CROSS was second in the last two editions of the race off marks of 139 and 138, and he goes back again here off 135. The only thing I would say is that he hasn’t really shown enough this year. He showed a little bit of form before coming to Cheltenham the previous two years, but it’s likely he’s been lined up for this again and could have a ‘season peak’. Whether that is good enough to win, I’m not sure.
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VINTAGE CLOUDS is also worth a mention, if he takes his place. He is pushing on a bit now and was a bit disappointing this season but he has dropped 6lbs as a result and was a bit better when third at Kelso last time over just shy of 3m. He was third in the 2018 Ultima off 141, second in the 2019 Ultima off 144 and eighth last year off 151. He is down to 143 and could have an each-way squeak. Sue Smith has had a poor season by her standards but is back having a few winners and it would be no shock were Vintage Clouds to run well at a price.
DEISE ABA is only eight and has only had 11 starts under rules. He won at Sandown last year off 135 before running in this off 142 when fifth, where he travelled really well into it. He pulled up on his first two starts this season but won the same Sandown race as last year – off 137 this time (135 last year) – and was quite impressive. A 5lb rise for that isn’t excessive and I think he has got strong each claims.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey’s Kim Muir bet summary
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES
March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 16 – 15.40 – Mares’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips
March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips
March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips
March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips
March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY THREE SCHEDULE
13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 168y
13.55 – Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y
14.30 – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
15.40 – Paddy Power Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y
16.15 – Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y
16.50 – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup 3m 2f
*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.
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