The National Hunt Challenge Cup is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles 6 furlongs (3 miles 5 furlongs and 201 yards, or 6,018 metres), and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
| Grade 2 race | |
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1860 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Website | Cheltenham |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 5f 201y |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 3 lb (157 lb; 71 kg) (5yo); 11 st 7 lb (161 lb; 73 kg) (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb (3.2 kg) for mares |
| Purse | £125,000 (2024) 1st: £60,388 |
| 2024 | ||
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| Corbetts Cross | Embassy Gardens | Mr Vango |
| Previous years | ||
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| 2023 | ||
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| Gaillard Du Mesnil | Chemical Energy | Mister Coffey |
| 2022 | ||
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| Stattler | Run Wild Fred | Vanillier |
| 2021 | ||
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| Galvin | Next Destination | Escaria Ten |
| 2020-2011 | ||
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| 2020 | ||
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| Ravenhill | Lord Du Mesnil | Lamanver Pippin |
| 2019 | ||
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| Le Breuil | Discorama | Jerrysback |
| 2018 | ||
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| Rathvinden | Ms Parfois | Sizing Tennessee |
| 2017 | ||
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| Tiger Roll | Missed Approach | Haymount |
| 2016 | ||
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| Minella Rocco | Native River | Measureofmydreams |
| 2015 | ||
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| Cause of Causes | Broadway Buffalo | The Job Is Right |
| 2014 | ||
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| Midnight Prayer | Shotgun Paddy | Suntiep |
| 2013 | ||
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| Back in Focus | Tofino Bay | Godsmejudge |
| 2012 | ||
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| Teaforthree | Harry The Viking | Four Commanders |
| 2011 | ||
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| Chicago Grey | Beshabar | Be There in Five |
| 2010-2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Poker De Sivola | Becauseicouldntsee | Prudent Honour |
| 2009 | ||
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| Tricky Trickster | Drumconvis | Nine De Sivola |
| 2008 | ||
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| Old Benny | Over The Creek | Back on Line |
| 2007 | ||
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| Butler's Cabin | Character Building | Countess Trifaldi |
| 2006 | ||
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| Hot Weld | Beantown | Far From Trouble |
| 2005 | ||
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| Another Rum | Caislean Ui Cuain | Control Man |
| 2004 | ||
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| Native Emperor | Celestial Gold | Drombeag |
| 2003 | ||
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| Sudden Shock | Stormez | Young Ottoman |
| 2002 | ||
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| Rith Dubh | Timbera | Silver Steel |
| 2000-1991 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Relaxation | Inch Rose | Mister One |
| 1999 | ||
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| Deejaydee | Riot Leader | Spot Thedifference |
| 1998 | ||
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| Wandering Light | Thatswhatithought | Torduff Express |
| 1997 | ||
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| Flimsy Truth | Vol Par Nuit | Robsand |
| 1996 | ||
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| Loving Around | Fellow Countryman | Class of Ninetytwo |
| 1995 | ||
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| Front Line | Keano | Lacken Cross |
| 1994 | ||
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| Christmas Gorse | Extra Special | Nearly Splendid |
| 1993 | ||
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| Ushers Island | Claxton Greene | Travelling Wrong |
| 1992 | ||
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| Keep Talking | High Peak | Belmount Captain |
| 1991 | ||
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| Smooth Escort | Windy Ways | Bit Of A Clown |
| 1990-1988 | ||
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| 1990 | ||
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| Topsham Bay | Royal Battery | Ballinhassig |
| 1989 | ||
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| Boraceva | Gallic Prince | Leagaune |
| 1988 | ||
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| Over The Road | Caspar Carrot | Good Waters |
History
editNow in its 164th year, the National Hunt Chase has been run more times than any other event at the Cheltenham Festival. The Grand Annual is older, but that race was absent for much of the late 19th century.
During the early part of its history it was held at various venues, including its present home in 1904 and 1905. It was transferred more permanently to Cheltenham in 1911, when it became part of the new two-day National Hunt Meeting. Until the 1930s it was the second most important jumps race in the calendar after the Grand National.
At 3 miles and 7½ furlongs prior to 2020, the distance of the National Hunt Chase was longer than that of any other event at the Festival. It is now the second-longest after the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. The race was contested on Cheltenham's New Course from 2005 to 2007, and during this period its length was 4 miles and 1 furlong (6.6 km). The 2008 running was titled the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase in celebration of the 90th birthday of Peter O'Sullevan, a retired racing commentator and the 2012 running was titled the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The 2013 race was run as the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase in memory of John Oaksey, a notable amateur National Hunt jockey and racing journalist who died in September 2012. The National Hunt Chase was given Listed status by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running[1] and included the name of former champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe, who died in January 2014, in its title. The 2015 race name commemorated trainer Toby Balding. The race was upgraded to Grade 2 status from the 2017 running.[2]
The race distance was reduced to about 3 miles and 6 furlongs from the 2020 running after a controversy in 2019. Only four of 18 runners finished the 2019 race. Three jockeys were banned by the racecourse stewards for continuing to ride on tired horses, although the bans were subsequently overturned on appeal.[3] The British Horseracing Authority conducted a review of the race which led to a cut in its distance and the number of fences jumped, along with some other changes relating to the eligibility of horses and jockeys to take part.[4] Only professional jockeys competed in the 2021 running as amateur riders were excluded from the Cheltenham Festival due to restrictions on grassroots sport for the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[5]
Records
editLeading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):
- Patrick Mullins - Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023) [6]
Leading trainer since 1946 (6 wins):
- Jonjo O'Neill – Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler's Cabin (2007), Minella Rocco (2016)
Winners since 1860
edit- All amateur jockeys except in 2021.
- ^ The 1869 race at Wetherby was cancelled due to a ferry tragedy on the River Ure in February
- ^ The race was not held between 1915 and 1919 as Cheltenham was occupied by the military authorities
- ^ The race was not held between 1940 and 1945 due to the Second World War
- ^ The 1975 edition was cancelled as the course was waterlogged
- ^ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "British Horseracing Authority Announces Upgrades to Jump Pattern Races for 2013/14". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ^ "BHA's Jump Pattern Committee announces race upgrades for 2016/17 season". British Horseracing. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ Keogh, Frank (21 March 2019). "Declan Lavery: Amateur jockey's 10-day ban from Cheltenham Festival overturned". BBC Sport.
- ^ Keogh, Frank (12 August 2019). "Cheltenham Festival: Fences & distance cut in National Hunt Chase after riding row". BBC Sport.
- ^ Scargill, Peter; Boylan, Mark (24 February 2021). "Star riders forced to miss Cheltenham as amateurs are barred from festival". Racing Post. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ https://www.horseracing.net/cheltenham/national-hunt-steeple-chase [bare URL]
- cheltenham.co.uk – Media information pack (2010).
- pedigreequery.com – National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup – Cheltenham.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 61. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
- History of the National Hunt Chase 1860–2010. Peter Stevens. 2010. ISBN 978-0-9567250-0-4.