The St James’s Place Festival Hunter 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 HUNTER 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.
2021 winner, Porlock Bay, was one of only three French-breds in a field of 18.
And in both 2017 & 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.
There was only one French-bred runner in 2024 (D'Jango), who finished fourth at odds of 66/1.
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
Sine Nomine 2024
Sine Nomine - Festival Hunters’ Chase 2024#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/43QkHnfFIN
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) September 21, 2024
Premier Magic 2023
Premier Magic - Festival Hunters’ Chase 2023#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/3JmBsB6KME
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) September 17, 2023
It was third time lucky in this race for Billaway in 2022, having finished second in the last two renewals.
The 10-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, produced a devastating late finish to snatch victory from Winged Leader in the shadow of the post:
Billaway - Festival Hunters’ Chase 2022#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/RXCMBeTLtk
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 2, 2023
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:
Porlock Bay - Festival Hunters’ Chase 2021#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/iwL5aF1d1z
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 19, 2023
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:
It Came To Pass - Foxhunters' Chase 2020#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/drX68JEoFs
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 6, 2023
Hazel Hill, winner of 14 of his previous 15 races, stormed clear to win in 2019:
Hazel Hill - Foxhunters' Chase 2019#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/6GRCJeCW5w
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 6, 2023
Pacha Du Polder secured back-to-back wins in 2018, despite jockey Harriet Tucker dislocating her shoulder during the race:
Pacha Du Polder - Foxhunters’ Chase 2018#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/ZpvTpPpZ0c
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 19, 2023
Pacha Du Polder had held off stablemate Wonderful Charm in a 1-2 for Paul Nicholls in 2017:
Pacha Du Polder - Foxhunters’ Chase 2017#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/dA39QSutzB
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 19, 2023
On The Fringe was another back-to-back winner of the Foxhunters' Chase in 2016:
On The Fringe - Foxhunters’ Chase 2016#CheltenhamFestival
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 9, 2021
pic.twitter.com/RJvzch2UFm
On The Fringe 2015
On The Fringe - Foxhunters’ Chase 2015#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/dtEpL4EIQf
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) December 4, 2022
Tammys Hill 2014
Tammys Hill - Foxhunters’ Chase 2014#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/roEFIs7jOe
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) December 4, 2022
There was a dramatic finish back in 2013, with Oscar Delta jinking and unseating Jane Mangan on the run-in to allow Salsify to land his second successive Foxhunters' Chase.
That gave jockey Colman Sweeney his third victory in the race following their success the previous year, plus on Sleeping Night in 2005.
Salsify - Foxhunters’ Chase 2013#CheltenhamFestival
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 25, 2022
pic.twitter.com/WTaSNzW4uU
Cappa Bleu (twice placed in the Grand National subsequently) won the 2009 Foxhunters' on his Rules debut.
He was thus the first chaser since Rushing Wild in 1992 to win this race on his first start outside the point-to-point field.
Cappa Bleu - Foxhunters’ Chase 2009#CheltenhamFestival
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 25, 2022
pic.twitter.com/a7DCHKKDgP
Cavalero 2000
Cavalero - Foxhunters’ Chase 2000#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Zl5lrqkqst
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) January 24, 2023
PREVIOUS WINNERS
