The St James’s Place Festival Hunters' Chase is often referred to as the amateur riders’ Gold Cup, as it is run over the same course and distance as the big race.
Until 2020 it was known as the Foxhunters' Chase - "fox" was removed from the title prior to the 2021 running.
Rushing Wild went on from his 1992 win in this to finish second in the Gold Cup, while Grittar won the Grand National 13 months after taking this prize.
Although the race is usually only open to amateur riders, professional jockeys took part in 2021 due to Covid restrictions.
To qualify, a horse must have finished 1st or 2nd twice in hunter chases, or have won two open point-to-point races, or have won one open point-to-point race and finished 1st or 2nd in a hunter chase.
FESTIVAL HUNTERS’ CHASE TRENDS
There have been a number of repeat winners of this race, with Salsify, On The Fringe and Pacha Du Polder all enjoying back-to-back success since 2012 alone.
Remarkably, Earthmover won in 1998 at the age of seven and again in 2004 at thirteen!
Whilst the majority of fields are made up of Irish-bred horses, it is worth noting the recent success of French-breds.
Last year's winner, Porlock Bay, was one of only three French-breds in a field of 18.
And in 2017 and 2018, Pacha Du Polder led home a French-bred 1-2 (from 12 of the 47 runners in those two renewals).
Top Wood was runner-up in 2018 at 50/1 and third in 2019 at 33/1, before going on to win the Aintree equivalent of this race.
Female jockeys have come to the fore in this race recently, with Nina Carberry (twice), Bryony Frost, Harriet Tucker and Maxine O'Sullivan all successful since 2015.
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
RECENT WINNERS
The 2021 winner, Porlock Bay, was trained by Will Biddick, who would also have been riding until the covid protocols - handing over the reins to Lorcan Williams:
It Came To Pass caused a huge shock at 66/1 in 2020, with Maxine O'Sullivan riding for her father Eugene, who had also trained the winner of this race in 1991:
Hazel Hill, winner of 14 of his previous 15 races, stormed clear to win in 2019:
Pacha Du Polder secured back-to-back wins in 2018, despite jockey Harriet Tucker dislocating her shoulder during the race:
Pacha Du Polder held off Wonderful Charm in a 1-2 for Paul Nicholls in 2017:
On The Fringe was another back-to-back winner of the Foxhunters' Chase in 2016: