16:40 Cheltenham: Vesper Bell has stamina to take Kim Muir
Published:Stamina could prove the biggest asset in the Kim Muir an given that Vesper Bell was being seriously considered for the National Hunt Chase over 4m, he should be there or thereabouts at 16/1.
It is common that horses often go too quick in the Kim Muir and as a result, it is the best stayers that come to the fore in the latter stages.
In fact, all of the last 12 winners had warmed up for the stamina test by running over a distance of at least 3m in their final preparation contest before Cheltenham.
Vesper Bell never truly got home over 3m5f last time, but he was an easy winner of a 3m race before that and this distance of 3m1f looks ideal.
The obvious obstacle for the Willie Mullins seven-year-old is the depressing record of Irish runners in the Kim Muir, as it has been 30 years since they last celebrated a winner.
Of the home challenge, 5/1 favourite Super Duty looks the one to beat.
He has been out of the each-way places just once in 10 career starts and three of the last four Kim Muir winners have either run off top weight or just 1lb off of it.
Super Duty is top weight here and has one of the better amateurs on board in the contest in the shape of Mr Derek O’Connor.
Furthermore, Donald McCain has celebrated the winner twice in the last six years and four of his six total runners have at worst finished in the top five.
Meanwhile, Sam Waley-Cohen has already celebrated one handicap Festival success with the relatively unfancied Rajdhani Express and he looks to have similar claims again here with Frisco Depot.
Frisco Depot is currently 16/1 and he would have place claims if he can improve on failing to finish on three of his last five starts.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
