Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Connections think the time is right for Coffey
MISTER Coffey will begin his journey back to the Grand National today when he attempts to finally break his duck over fences in the From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting.
Although second to L’Homme Presse in a Grade One over fences in February 2022, Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old is still a novice over the larger obstacles, despite a respectable overall record that has seen him make the podium in seven of his nine chasing appearances.
Having run with credit at Prestbury Park at the last two Festivals here, connections now hope they have picked out a suitable option to kickstart the gelding’s new campaign.
“He’s been third and second at the track but the most significant thing is he has never won a race over fences and hopefully this is the perfect opportunity,” said Charlie GordonWatson, racing manager to owner Lady Bamford. “It’s left-handed on soft ground, the distance is right, everything is right. It looks like the right race for him.”
Mister Coffey was last seen when jumping with real gusto on the frontend at Aintree in April in the Grand National. Only stamina could stop
Mister Coffey’s fun on that occasion and his team are now keen to return to Merseyside in the spring, providing their charge improves his rating sufficiently to make the line-up.
Gordon-Watson added: “Nicky was concerned about the new limit on numbers and that he needs to get up the weights a bit, so he needs to go up quite a few pounds to be guaranteed to get in. He’s 142 at the moment, so he has work to do.”
The Listed event, which was won last year by The Real Whacker and has the likes of Thistlecrack on its roll of honour, has attracted a fine field of six, with Nigel Twiston-Davies responsible for Weveallbeencaught and Broadway Boy, who both bring course-winning form to the table.
However, it is Good Risk At All that could pose the biggest threat to Mister Coffey, judged on his taking chasing bow at Carlisle.