2023 Kim Muir: must-know stats, trends, replays and history
We share the facts and stats you need to know for the day-three finale, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase for the amateur riders. Enjoy all the action live on Racing TV!
What Grade? Class 2 What course? New Course What distance? 3m 2f (21 fences).
Prize-money? £55,000 Ages: For 5yo+ Weights and Allowances: 0-145 Handicap
Key statistics and trends:
Class tends to come to the fore:
Since 2009, every winner has carried more than 11st and six of those carried at least 11st 9lb. Chambord carried 11st 1lb for a big 40-1 shock last year.
Stayers:
Nineteen of the past 22 winners ran over around three miles or more in their last race. Milan Native (2020) and Mount Ida (2021) were rare exceptions and could suggest a training knack for this race from trainer Gordon Elliott.
Headgear watch:
Eight of the last 12 winners wore headgear.
Betting:
Ten of the last 12 winners came from the top six in the market but Chambard struck at 40-1 last season. However, it should be noted that six others started at bigger prices in that 20-runner field and that half of the contenders were priced at 25-1 or bigger.
The Codd father:
Jamie Codd has ridden the winner four times since 2009 and from a total of 16 rides in the race, registering in excess of £20 in level stakes profit.
Last Run:
Only two of the last 19 winners won on their previous run before Cheltenham. Chambard was the latest last year after connections elected to run at Huntingdon just 10 days earlier to try and get a penalty to sneak into this race.
The Elliott factor:
Keep an eye out for Gordon Elliott’s runners - his 20 runners in the last 17 years have yielded three winners and six places. Mount Ida won the race two seasons ago for Denise Foster, the temporary licence-holder at Cullentra House Stables while Elliott was serving a six-month suspension.
Older brigades tend to struggle:
Since 1992, only four horses older than nine have won the race - In Truth (1998), Maximise (2004), The Package (2015) and Chambard (2022). Seven-year-olds and eight-year-olds have mostly dominated in recent years.
Recent renewals:
Venetia Williams saddled 40-1 winner Chambard as well as 66-1 Didero Vallis in third in a memorable triumph for the trainer at the Cheltenham Festival.
While this was the yard's second winner of the week, this was a first Festival triumph for 29-year-old Lucy Turner - the daughter of Philip Turner who was Williams' head lad for 24 years before his recent retirement.
"Absolutely unbelievable," said the winning rider. "To ride any winner at Cheltenham - it's what you dream of but to win at the Festival is amazing.
"You dream about it from when you're a little girl but in the past few years after getting some better opportunities you hope maybe 'on day'.
"I'd have been happy for it to be at the hunter chase meeting - this definitely tops that!"
