17:20 Cheltenham Tips: Sa Majeste to seal it for Mullins in Kim Muir Challenge Cup

The final race on day three at Cheltenham is the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, a contest exclusively for amateur riders and run over the three-and-a-quarter-mile Gold Cup trip. 

As always, a strong field has assembled, with 24 runners set to line up. Enda provides us with his Runners Guide and those all-important Kim Muir Challenge Cup Tips...

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Kim Muir Challenge Cup Runners Guide

Fantastic Lady (Nicky Henderson/Jack Hendrick) 20/1 

As good as ever when scoring at Sandown on final start of last season and the mare has run well in three starts in Listed company this time around. Poor in her only start here. 

Yeah Man (Gavin Cromwell/Declan Lavery) 12/1 

Strong stayer, won the Haydock Grand National Trial last season and excellent efforts in the Troytown and Thyestes on home soil this term. Unseated back on Merseyside last time but remains in form. 

Sa Majeste (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins) 8/1 

Disappointed when fancied in the Coral Cup here last season but has made an impact with two wins from four attempts since going chasing and a mark of 142 could be within his compass in a race his top amateur rider still needs to check off. 

Johnnywho (Jonjo & AJ O'Neill/Jonjo O'Neill Jr) 5/1 

Made a winning start over fences at Carlisle (2m4f) in October and has run solid races in defeat since in better company, each of those coming in graded events. Opening mark isn't easy and stamina needs proving but Derek O'Connor a positive jockey booking. 

Gelino Bello (Paul Nicholls/Olive Nicholls) 33/1 

He won his first two over fences in 2022 then fell in the Grade 1 Kauto Stat at Kempton. Missed a chunk of time after and while his Christmas comeback over hurdles was fair, he was pulled up back over fences at Sandown since. 

Mint Boy (Gavin Cromwell/Barry O'Neill) 10/1 

Lightly-raced sort, his best effort in four starts since going chasing came at Galway and Punchestown over 2m6½f and there's a realistic chance he will improve again upped in trip on handicap bow for top trainer who won this last year. 

Weveallbeencaught (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Toby McCain-Mitchell) 22/1 

Switched back to this trainer and duly gained first chasing success at Doncaster (3m) but he was 8lb higher and toiled back on Town Moor for the Grimthorpe this month. Visored for the first time now. 

Cleatus Poolaw (Gordon Elliott/Harry Swan) 20/1 

Faller in a race won by Sa Majeste on chasing bow in November but has shown glimpses of promise in three starts since. Cheekpieces added here but not obviously well handicapped. 

Manothepeople (Fergal O'Brien/Gina Andrews) 33/1 

Course and distance winner last April, he has been a bit in and out in three runs this season but he ran well for a long way in the Edinburgh National last month over a marathon trip. 

Sine Nomine (Fiona Needham/John Dawson) 20/1 

Mare won the Hunters' Chase at this meeting last year, rallying strongly to get the job done. Was in cracking form coming into that but has been betrayed by her jumping in two incompletions this season. 

Git Maker (Jamie Snowden/Will Biddick) 14/1 

Signed off last season by finishing third in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (4m) off a mark of 133 but has been well held in two starts this time around, most recently in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last month. 

Nine Graces (Barry Connell/Finian Maguire) 14/1 

A useful mare who scored over 2m6½f in the Amateur National at Punchestown in January, her first win over fences. 13lb higher in a tougher race now but interesting if stamina holds up. 

Midnight Our Fred (John Flavin/Noel McParlan) 8/1 

Fairly consistent stayer, defied a drop in trip to win over 2m4f at Gowran Park in October and chased home Perceval Legallois over 3m at Leopardstown over Christmas in a hot race. Only 4lb higher now and should relish this test. 

Music Of Tara (Gordon Elliott/Rob James) 14/1 

Ex-Henry De Bromhead mare, won over hurdles at Navan on stable bow for this trainer in January and another good run since at Punchestown back chasing. Tough ask off this mark and stamina to prove. 

Where It All Began (Gordon Elliott/Jamie Lee Scallan) 50/1 

Winner of the Punchestown Grand National Trial last season, but fell in the same race last month and disappointing in all three starts this season. 3lb lower than when a 26-length fourth as Inothewayurthinkin scored. 

Westerninthepark (Olly Murphy/James King) 20/1 

Very lightly-raced seven-year-old, winning stable/chase bow at Stratford (2m5f) in October and has run well in small fields at Cheltenham, Aintree and Leicester since. Up in trip now in this big-field scenario. 

Wiseguy (Nicky Henderson/Joshua Newman) 25/1 

Has run well here before and far from exposed, he won at Newbury over 2m6½f in November after a layoff and shaped well in a valuable Ascot handicap over 3m last time. Could relish the test. 

Daily Present (Paul Nolan/Barry Thomas Stone) 16/1 

Consistent sort, third in the Listed Porterstown over 3m5½f at Fairyhouse in December and another good run at Punchestown since behind Nine Graces. 4lb higher now. 

Galop De Chasse (Venetia Williams/Lucy Turner) 40/1 

Exposed sort, shaped well at Wetherby and Newbury after a year off in November but less convincing since at Ascot and Kempton, all over about 2m4f. Plenty to prove upped in trip. 

Now Where Or When (Stuart Crawford/Stephen Connor) 40/1 

He was on a favourable mark when he won at Down Royal in January, but he's 9lb higher now in a far stronger race. 

Pats Fancy (Rebecca Curtis/Jack Andrews) 28/1 

Trainer on the board here this week already. Useful at his best but recent times have been noted for long absences between runs and hasn't handled heavy ground most recently. Tumbling down the weights. 

Grozni (James Owen/Alex Chadwick) 40/1 

Wetherby winner over hurdles on Boxing Day over shorter, he finished sixth in this last year (beaten 28-lengths) and is now rated 2lb lower sporting first-time blinkers. 

Walking On Air (Gary Brown/Alan O'Sullivan) 5/1 

Ran well when fifth in the Pertemps Final in 2023 over hurdles, his form this season over fences was timid prior to a big effort in Doncaster's Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase in January, looking likely to finish first or second before a fall at the last. On a likeable mark based on that run. 

Dom Of Mary (David Bridgewater/Tom Hutsby) 40/1 

Ran as well as ever when second in the Sussex National at Plumpton last month over 3m4½f, a race she won in 2024. Finished eighth in this a year ago and may find a few too classy again. 

Verdict 

Sa Majeste @ 8/1 & Mint Boy @ 10/1 

Patrick Mullins is a fine amateur rider and this prize remains on his wish-list at the Cheltenham Festival. He could tick it off on SA MAJESTE for his father in the JP McManus hoops. The pace of the Coral Cup didn't suit him here last year but he has shown genuine promise in his chases, winning two from four and running well in them all. If he sees this trip out, a mark of 142 isn't beyond him in the slightest. 

The Irish may dominate, with MINT BOY one to consider for Gavin Cromwell after shaping nicely upped in the trip in a beginners' contest at Punchestown last month. Westerninthepark could be one of the Brits to go well for Olly Murphy alongside Nicky Henderson's Wiseguy.