The final race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup. This three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase was first run at the meeting way back in 1946. The Kim Muir is open only to horses rated 145 or below, and only amateur jockeys are eligible to ride in the race.
The Kim Muir Challenge Cup has closed the curtain on day three of the Cheltenham Festival for over half a century. First run in 1946, the Kim Muir is named in honour of a cavalry officer who lost his life during World War II.
In 1991, the name of Fulke Walwyn was added to the title of the race. Walwyn was a successful jockey and trainer, saddling 40 winners at the Festival during his lifetime.
The Kim Muir is a handicap chase, run over the same 3m 2f trip as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The race is open only to chasers rated 145 or below, and only amateur jockies are eligible to ride in the race.
Fulke Walwyn trained the winner of the Kim Muir twice, his first win coming with Jack Tatters in 1949. Fred Winter, who's name also adorns a race at the Cheltenham Festival trained the second back-to-back Kim Muir winners, when Glyde Court won and retained his crown in 1985 and '86.
Fred Rimmell is the most successful trainer in this handicap, having saddled the winner on four occasions. Rimell's third winner, Nicolaus Silver became the first horse to complete the Kim Muir, Aintree Grand National double in 1961.
Cool Ground won the Kim Muir Challenge Cup in 1989. Richard Mitchell's charge would go on to win the Welsh Grand National the following year, before landing the Gold Cup in 1992.
Another Aintree hero to win the Kim Muir was Ballabriggs. Donald McCain's star won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010, before scoring in the Grand National the following season.
The Package became the joint-oldest horse to win the Kim Muir when he won as a 12-year-old in 2015. 12 months later, Cause Of Causes won the second of his three Cheltenham Festival titles in the Kim Muir.
Derek O'Connor guided Any Second Now to victory in the 2019 Kim Muir Challenge Cup. In 2020, Gordon Elliott celebrated his second win in the race, as Milan Native scored under young jockey, Reece James.
Jack Kennedy then gave Mount Ida a sensational ride, guiding the favourite from last to first to win the 2021 Kim Muir.
Kim Muir Challenge Cup Winners
Year
Winner
2023
Angels Dawn
2022
Chambard
2021
Mount Ida
2020
Milan Native
2019
Any Second Now
2018
Missed Approach
2017
Domesday Book
2016
Cause Of Causes
2015
The Package
2014
Spring Heeled
2013
Same Difference
2012
Sunnyhillboy
2011
Junior
2010
Ballabriggs
2009
Character Building
2008
High Chimes
2007
Cloudy Lane
2006
You're Special
2005
Juveigneur
2004
Maximise
2003
Royal Predica
2002
The Bushkeeper
Kim Muir FAQs
What is the Kim Muir?
The Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a handicap chase staged during the Cheltenham Festival. The Kim Muir is open to chasers rated 145 and under, it's run over the same trip as the Gold Cup and only amateur jockeys are able to ride in the race.
Who was Kim Muir?
The Kim Muir Challenge Cup is named in honour of Kim Muir, a cavalry officer who died during World War II.
When is the Kim Muir?
The 2024 Kim Muir Challenge Cup will take place at 5:30pm on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March.
Where can I watch the Kim Muir?
The 2024 Kim Muir Challenge Cup will be shown live on ITV Racing. If you want to stream the race live on your mobile or tablet then visit our Live Streaming page for more details.
