The St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs (3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards, or 5,294 metres), and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
| Ungraded race | |
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1904 |
| Race type | Hunter chase |
| Sponsor | St. James's Place plc |
| Website | Cheltenham |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 2f 70y (5,294 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 10 lb (5yo); 12 st 0 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | £50,000 (2023) 1st: £24,445 |
| 2024 | ||
| Sine Nomine | Its On The Line | Time Leader |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
| Premier Magic | Its On The Line | Shantou Flyer |
| 2022 | ||
| Billaway | Winged Leader | Mighty Stowaway |
| 2021 | ||
| Porlock Bay | Billaway | Staker Wallace |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
| It Came To Pass | Billaway | Shantou Flyer |
| 2019 | ||
| Hazel Hill | Shantou Flyer | Top Wood |
| 2018 | ||
| Pacha Du Polder | Top Wood | Barel Of Laughs |
| 2017 | ||
| Pacha Du Polder | Wonderful Charm | Barel of Laughs |
| 2016 | ||
| On The Fringe | Marito | Paint The Clouds |
| 2015 | ||
| On The Fringe | Following Dreams | Paint The Clouds |
| 2014 | ||
| Tammys Hill | Carsonstown Boy | On The Fringe |
| 2013 | ||
| Salsify | Divine Intavention | Cottage Oak |
| 2012 | ||
| Salsify | Chapoturgeon | Oscar Delta |
| 2011 | ||
| Zemsky | Mid Div And Creep | Oscar Delta |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| Baby Run | Kilty Storm | Reach for the Top |
| 2009 | ||
| Cappa Bleu | Turthen | Baby Run |
| 2008 | ||
| Amicelli | Bon Accord | Arctic Times |
| 2007 | ||
| Drombeag | Whyso Mayo | Ned Kelly |
| 2006 | ||
| Whyso Mayo | First Down Jets | Joe Blake |
| 2005 | ||
| Sleeping Night | Foly Pleasant | Placid Man |
| 2004 | ||
| Earthmover | Never Compromise | County Derry |
| 2003 | ||
| Kingscliff | Bright Approach | Last Option |
| 2002 | ||
| Last Option | Gunner Welburn | Torduff Express |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Cavalero | Real Value | Trade Dispute |
| 1999 | ||
| Castle Mane | Elegant Lord | Last Option |
| 1998 | ||
| Earthmover | Stay in Touch | Flashing Steel |
| 1997 | ||
| Fantus | Cab on Target | What A Hand |
| 1996 | ||
| Elegant Lord | Cool Dawn | Kerry Orchid |
| 1995 | ||
| Fantus | Holland House | Elegant Lord |
| 1994 | ||
| Double Silk | Teaplanter | Once Stung |
| 1993 | ||
| Double Silk | Kerry Orchid | Once Stung |
| 1992 | ||
| Rushing Wild | Ardesee | Federal Trooper |
| 1991 | ||
| Lovely Citizen | Dun Gay Lass | Crammer |
| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
| Call Collect | Old Nick | West Tip |
| 1989 | ||
| Three Counties | Kelly's Honor | Call Collect |
| 1988 | ||
| Certain Light | Three Counties | Acarine |
The event is contested over the same course and distance as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it is sometimes referred to as the "amateur Gold Cup". It was established in 1904, and the inaugural running was won by Palmy Boy. It was backed by the insurance company Sun Alliance and London in 1972 and 1973, and for the following five years it was run without a sponsor. The art auctioneers Christie's supported the race from 1979 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2015 it was sponsored by the Country Gentleman's Association.[1] Since 2016 it has been sponsored by St. James's Place plc. The race's full title is the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase. Until 2020 the race was known as the St James's Place Foxhunters' Chase - the word "fox" was removed from the title prior to the 2021 running.
Qualification for entry in the Festival Hunter Chase is based on a horse's previous performances in certain types of race within a specific period. To be eligible a horse must have finished first or second twice in hunter chases, or have won two open point-to-point races, or have won one open point-to-point race and finished first or second in a hunter chase.
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.[2]
Records
editMost successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):
- The Callant – 1956, 1957
- Whinstone Hill – 1958, 1960
- College Master – 1961, 1962
- Double Silk – 1993, 1994
- Fantus – 1995, 1997
- Earthmover – 1998, 2004
- Salsify – 2012, 2013
- On The Fringe – 2015, 2016
- Pacha du Polder – 2017, 2018
Leading jockey since 1946 (3 wins):
- Colman Sweeney – Sleeping Night (2005), Salsify (2012, 2013),
Leading trainer since 1946 (4 wins):
- Richard Barber – Rushing Wild (1992), Fantus (1995, 1997), Earthmover (1998)
- Paul Nicholls – Earthmover (2004), Sleeping Night (2005), Pacha du Polder (2017, 2018)
Winners since 1946
edit- All amateur jockeys except in 2021.
- ^ a b The race was abandoned in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow
- ^ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis
See also
edit- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1904 – this race is included under the title Foxhunter Chase.
References
edit- ^ Marcus Armytage. "Country Gentleman's Association unveiled as new sponsor for Cheltenham Foxhunter". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ 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.
- Racing Post:
- pedigreequery.com – Foxhunter Chase – Cheltenham.
- pointtopoint.co.uk – Point-to-Point and Hunter Chase Race Planner 2009/10.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (28 February 2008).
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 62. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
External links
edit- Race Recordings (1980, 1983-2004) youtube.com