The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup is a handicap chase for amateur riders only.
Originally called the Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Steeplechase, Fulke Walwyn’s name was added to the race’s title in 1991.
Walwyn trained 40 Festival winners during his illustrious training career.
It is currently sponsored by the JRL Group.
The race has featured various future Grand National contenders and Ballabriggs won the National the year after winning in 2010.
Sunnyhillboy was then beaten by a nose in the National, just a month after winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase in 2011.
Cause of Causes also finished second in the National - 12 months after winning this race in 2016, while Any Second Now won in 2019 and was third in the National in 2021.
Famously, HRH Prince Charles participated in the 1981 renewal and was unseated from his horse Good Prospect, who had won the race 12 months earlier.
KIM MUIR CHASE TRENDS
Recent winning form isn't a prerequisite for this race, but 3 of the last 4 winners did finish runner-up on their previous outing.
Jockey bookings are often key and for in-running punters it's worth noting the race tends to favour hold-up horses, with some amateur jockeys going off a little too hard.
The last two renewals have gone to horses fitted with a tongue-tie, a notable trend in the longest staying handicap hurdle of the week, the Pertemps, run earlier in the day.
There is a ceiling for ratings of 145 and the last three winners have been rated 141+.
Gordon Elliott trained the 2016 and 2020 Kim Muir Chase winners and was training the 2021 winner before his suspension.
That winner, Mount Ida, was the third seven-year-old in a row to win the race - from only 3 horses that age in a field of 21.
By contrast, neither Willie Mullins or Paul Nicholls have won the race, while Nicky Henderson’s last success was in 2005.
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
RECENT WINNERS
Mount Ida won in 2021 despite the mare trailing the field by some way on the first circuit and trading at 999/1 in-running.
Professional jockeys took over from the amateurs due to Covid restrictions and the winner was ridden by Jack Kennedy:
Milan Native won on his first outing beyond 2 miles 6 furlongs in 2020.
It was also the seven-year-old's first win over fences and a first Festival winner for jockey Rob James, who was claiming 7lb:
Any Second Now stayed on strongly under a superb ride by Derek O'Connor in 2019.
Winning trainer Ted Walsh had won the race twice as a jockey back in the 1970's:
Missed Approach, runner-up to Tiger Roll in the National Hunt Chase 12 months earlier, went one better in the 2018 Kim Muir.
Showing the benefit of a recent wind op, he held on doggedly under a brave front-running ride from Noel McParlan, who won his first Festival race after 3 second places:
