Kim Muir Chase Tips

Kim Muir Chase Ante-Post Tips – 2022 Cheltenham Festival – Will Smith

Mr Mister, the American rock band, were in their pomp at far too early a stage in my life for me to recall them and their music personally, but I do have an affinity for their hit song ‘Broken Wings.’ Many of you will feel similar, as it has been featured in many movies, TV shows and elsewhere.

You may wonder why I have begun as if writing for the NME – well it is because the two horses I am going to recommend backing for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, run as the last race at 5.30 on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival, both have the prefix ‘Mister’ in them, and if landing the exacta on the day, I shall certainly be exclaiming ‘Mister Mister!’

Hopefully, ‘broken wings’ won’t be how you would be describing your punting come this late stage on the penultimate day of the Festival, and if either of these land the Kim Muir, you can approach Gold Cup day in a manner that lets you ‘learn to fly again, and live so free.’

Sorry, enough music puns. You may by now have figured out which two I am recommending backing in the Kim Muir – Mister Fogpatches and Mister Coffey.

Long time ante-post favourite Frontal Assault has been handed the ceiling mark of 145, which will relieve punters on him already.

But is he really worthy of that rating, and is his form as strong as others in the race? I’d suggest perhaps not, but of course, prevalent will be the Gordon Elliott factor, as time and time again, he has peaked horses at this meeting, irrespective of handicap marks.

Mister Fogpatches represents Pat Fahy, who I’m hoping is on for a notable Cheltenham Festival double, after recommending his Drop The Anchor to land the Coral Cup. There is a chance that Mister Fogpatches takes up his entry in the Ultima, but surely the 3m2f of the New Course would be much more suitable.

He could also wait for the Scottish National, a race he was third in last year, which is why backing him at 14/1 each-way for the Kim Muir with Sky Bet or Betfred, who both offer 5 places and NRNB, is advisable.

There is a strong argument to suggest that Mister Fogpatches has improved this season – 3rd in the Cork Grand National, 3rd in the Troytown, 2nd at Cheltenham over this exact C&D to a running loose Commodore who was at the peak of his powers, and then 3rd in the Thyestes at the end of January.

All of that is quite some seasonal CV, and it was his Thyestes run, on ground softer than ideal, in the hottest handicap chase of the season, and while racing on an unfavoured part of the track for a large chunk of the race, that makes me think he is peaking.

At 14/1 each-way with Sky Bet or Betfred now, for 5 places and with NRNB, if he were to line up he surely would be shorter on the day.

Jockeyship is all important in the Kim Muir of course, as it is exclusively for amateur jockeys, and Pat Fahy has enlisted the likes of Patrick Mullins, Derek O’Connor, Finian Maguire, Tom Hamilton and Maxime O’Sullivan in Ireland this season – hopefully one of these leading amateurs will be lined up.

Mister Coffey is a horse that many will crab with the ‘fruitcake’ label, as he has looked to have certain foibles, but what is not in question for me is just how talented he is.

At 16/1 each-way with William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook and Betfred, Mister Coffey is also worth backing now for 5 places and NRNB – he may not be much shorter on the day, but if I was pricing it up, assuming no major defections, he would be single figures for sure.

It is an extreme step up in trip, but on the occasions Mister Coffey has tried 2m4f – at Aintree over hurdles last April, at Kempton at Christmas, and then in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park behind the brilliant L’Homme Presse – he has hit the line with plenty of gusto.

Consider his form from that Scilly Isles, he ran on past the mid-150’s rated Pic D’Orhy (who has since won a Grade 2 at Kempton Park.)

Plus, using the section of the race from the last fence in the back straight (where races often develop) – on that card, Mister Coffey was 2 seconds quicker than the winner of the 3m handicap chase, fought out between horses rated around 140. He was also virtually identical on the clock from that point to Dolos, the mid 140’s-rated winner of the 2m handicap chase on the card.

Not only that, but looking at his run at Kempton Park on Boxing Day when contesting the 2m4½f novices’ handicap chase, despite racing wide and close to a strong pace (evidenced as Jacamar came from off that pace to win,) Mister Coffey ran the final circuit of the race in a time 3.4 seconds quicker than the winner of the King George, Tornado Flyer.

Granted, they went quick in the King George, and over further, but it still gives you a good idea of the talent that Mister Coffey possesses – and all the while he’s been doing so at a trip potentially shy of his best, and the wrong way round.

16/1 each-way about him could be a steal if he puts it all together!