2024 Kim Muir Handicap Chase Tips - Key trends and tips for Thursday's finale

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 07 Mar 2024

Jon Vine 07 Mar 2024

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Free guide to the 2024 Kim Muir Handicap Chase
This handicap takes place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March
Where It All Began and Forward Plan feature in our verdict

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General view of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase. (Getty)

The seventh and final race on St Patrick's day at Cheltenham is the Kim Muir Handicap Chase. This grueling 26-furlong handicap chase is open to horses rated 145 or below, and only amateur and conditional jockeys are allowed to ride.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Kim Muir, which includes some key ten-year trends and our best betting tips in the verdict.

2024 Kim Muir Key Ten-Year Trends

10 of the last 10 had run in a Graded race
9 of the last 10 winners had no more than 10 previous chase starts
8 of the last 10 winners had run on or after January 27th
8 of the last 10 winners returned an SP of 12/1 or shorter

2024 Kim Muir Tips

Four of the last five renewals of the Kim Muir have gone the way of Irish novices. Gavin Cromwell's first-season chaser, Inothewayurthinkin has been backed into favouritism, despite having never run over further than two-and-a-half miles. Good Time Jonny remains near the head of the betting, but a mark of 142 should prove too much for a horse who's never finished within 20 lengths of the winner in any of his chase starts.

Angels Dawn edged out Stumptown to claim victory in the Kim Muir 12 months ago and should be a big player off an 11-pound higher mark. Course winner, Whacker Clan warmed up for his return to Cheltenham with a spin over hurdles last month and he has to be respected. As does Gordon Elliott's second-season novice Where It All Began, who was last running away with the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February.

Forward Plan was produced perfectly by Ben Godfrey to win the Coral Trophy at Kempton last month and he's eligible to ride in the Kim Muir. Bowtogreatness ran a cracker to finish third in the Grade Three at Kempton and he too looks likely to take up his Kim Muir entry.

Git Maker had looked progressive before his defeat at Ascot in December and Jamie Snowden's strong stayer will relish softer ground on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. Gavin Cromwell has also handed an entry to La Malmason, who won around Cheltenham earlier in the season and mares have a decent recent record in the Kim Muir.

There are others at longer prices who could come into the reckoning too, but it's hard to know who will get into the final field at this stage.

Verdict

Kim Muir 2024

Having won the Grand National Trial at Punchestown, Gordon Elliott could have one eye on the Irish National - which takes place just 19 days after the Kim Muir - for Where It All Began.

However, this second-season novice ticks plenty of boxes for the Kim Muir. Elliott's eight-year-old was only beaten narrowly on his penultimate start at Fairyhouse by 140-rated Intense Raffles, who was getting five pounds at the weights, and put 15 lengths between himself and hot-favourite We'llhavewan on the closing stages of that 27-furlong contest at Punchestown. If declared, Where It All Began would have a massive chance.

I'm also quite keen on Forward Plan, following his decisive victory at Kempton last month. Anthony Honeyball is a master with staying chasers and Forward Plan has stacks of good form in the book. Honeyball's eight-year-old has only been raised three pounds for that victory at Kempton and regular rider Ben Godfrey, being a conditional, will retain his place in the saddle.

They're the two at the forefront of my thinking at the moment. Angels Dawn, Whacker Clan, Bowtogreatness and Git Maker are also on the shortlist.

Where It All Began

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