National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

National Hunt Chase

2016
Minella Rocco	Native River	Measureofmydreams

Previous years
2015
Cause Of Causes	Broadway Buffalo	The Job Is Right
2014
Midnight Prayer	Shotgun Paddy	Suntiep
2013
Back In Focus	Tofino Bay	Godsmejudge
2012
Teaforthree	Harry The Viking	Four Commanders
2011
Chicago Grey	Beshabar	Be There In Five

2010-2001
2010
Poker De Sivola	Becauseicouldntsee	Prudent Honour
2009
Tricky Trickster	Drumconvis	Nine De Sivola
2008
Old Benny	Over The Creek	Back On Line
2007
Butler's Cabin	Character Building	Countess Trifaldi
2006
Hot Weld	Beantown	Far From Trouble
2005
Another Rum	Caislean Ui Cuain	Control Man
2004
Native Emperor	Celestial Gold	Drombeag
2003
Sudden Shock	Stormez	Young Ottoman
2002
Rith Dubh	Timbera	Silver Steel

2000-1995
2000
Relaxation	Inch Rose	Mister One
1999
Deejaydee	Riot Leader	Spot Thedifference
1998
Wandering Light	Thatswhatithought	Torduff Express
1997
Flimsy Truth	Vol Par Nuit	Robsand
1996
Loving Around	Fellow Countryman	Class Of Ninetytwo
1995
Front Line	Keano	Lacken Cross

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase 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 4 miles (6.4 km), and during its running there are twenty-four 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.

History

Now in its 156th 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 4 miles, the distance of the National Hunt Chase is longer than that of any other event at the Festival. 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^[2] 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.^[3]

Records

Most successful horse since 1946:

• no horse has won this race more than once

Leading jockey since 1946 (2 wins):

• Dermot Daly – Prattler (1946), Maltese Wanderer (1947)
• Bunny Cox – Pontage (1953), Quare Times (1954)
• George Small – Go Slow (1962), Red Vale (1965)
• John Fowler – Gay Tie (1978), Arctic Ale (1979)
• Tony Fowler – Waggoners Walk (1980), Northern Bay (1985)
• Willie Mullins – Hazy Dawn (1982), Macks Friendly (1984)
• Tony Martin – Smooth Escort (1991), Deejaydee (1999)
• Marcus Armytage – Keep Talking (1992), Christmas Gorse (1994)
• JT McNamara - Rith Dubh (2002), Teaforthree (2012)
• Derek O'Connor – Chicago Grey (2011), Minella Rocco (2016)

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

• All amateur jockeys.

¹ The 1869 running at Wetherby was cancelled due to a ferry tragedy at the River Ure in February.
² The race was not held between 1915 and 1919 as Cheltenham was occupied by the military authorities.
³ The race was not held between 1940 and 1945 on account of the Second World War.
⁴ The 1975 edition was abandoned due to waterlogging.
⁵ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races

References

• Racing Post:
  • "1988". , "1989". , "1990". , "1991". , "1992". , "1993". , "1994". , "1995". , "1996". , "1997". 
  • "1998". , "1999". , "2000". , "2002". , "2003". , "2004". , "2005". , "2006". , "2007". , "2008". 
  • "2009". , "2010". , "2011". , "2012". , "2013". , "2014". , "2015". , "2016". 

• 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.