*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
Ruby Walsh has taken a close look at the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Our resident jockey-turned-pundit’s first ever race at the festival was actually in the Kim Muir aboard Papillon, who would famously go on to win the 2000 Grand National.
So who better to offer his expert opinion on the 3m2f steeplechase, which will see professionals riding in it this year as opposed to amateurs due to government health restrictions.
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Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth ‘Countdown to Cheltenham’ podcast, Ruby dissected the race and offered his top tip.
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While there are professionals as opposed to amateurs in the race this year, it won’t ride any different – it’s still a handicap chase. The National Hunt Chase you can always narrow down to between four or five horses while this race will just be the ‘lesser’ version of the Ultima Handicap Chase.
RUN WILD FRED has a very similar profile to last year’s winner Milan Native, and had a good run at Gowran Park behind Coko Beach in the Thyestes. That was off a mark of 136, and he is 4lbs higher in the UK so he is off 140. He was second to Longhouse Poet at Punchestown in December and was a long way behind Eklat De Rire in Punchestown but a lot of fences were omitted that day.
He’s run in five races over fences and run in a big handicap so, even though he is technically a novice, he has plenty of experience. He handled really testing ground well at Gowran and you would just be wondering if he will handle the better ground. It was heavy ground when he beat Lord Royal at Punchestown in February 2020, it was soft ground when he beat Joshua Webb over hurdles at Navan in December 2019, he won a bumper in Limerick when he beat Bois De Clamart and that was heavy ground. Drying ground would definitely be a concern.
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PLAN OF ATTACK likes better ground and might get it here but Henry De Bromhead trains him and I think he’s been a bit disappointing. He was eighth in the Paddy Power Chase, having been up there on the pace beside Castlebawn West before fading. He was pulled up in the Troytown, pulled up behind Cabaret Queen in the Kerry National and was fourth in this race last year. That was off a mark of 140 and if he reproduces that run he has some sort of chance, especially because he’s 2lbs lower. But he doesn’t look to have improved over the year from what we have seen in Ireland.
MOUNT IDA is a mare and she’s only a novice. She’s had a few decent runs behind Colreevy, Scarlet And Dove and Yukon Lil so she could be unexposed but I don’t know who the last mare to win a handicap chase at Cheltenham was.
I would be siding with TIME TO GET UP. Joseph O’Brien had him before Jonjo O’Neill and he is going in the right direction.
*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
Ruby Walsh’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.
Read More on Cheltenham 2021
- Cheltenham Festival: Ruby Walsh names the horse he would love to ride at 2021 Festival
- Cheltenham tips: The 12/1 novice hurdler that’s caught Frank Hickey’s eagle eye
- Cheltenham tips: Matt Chapman’s 5 to keep the dream alive at Prestbury Park
- Cheltenham tips: Mares’ Hurdle antepost picks from Frank Hickey
- Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh’s National Hunt Chase antepost picks