The Foxhunters Chase is run over the same gruelling three-mile two-furlong distance as the Gold Cup and is effectively the amateur’s very own version of the race. It’s open to qualifying amateur riders and horses aged five and over.
In fact its full name is actually the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters Chase.
For a horse to be eligible for the race, it must have: finished first or second twice in hunter chases, won two open point-to-point races or won one open point-to-point race and finished second or first in a hunter chase.
Trainer Paul Nicholls has won the race four times whilst Roger Sweeney and Enda Bolger have saddled the winner twice each.
| Race Details | |
|---|---|
| When: | Friday 18th March, 3.40pm |
| Prize: | £45,000 |
| Distance: | Three-miles, 2-and-a-half furlongs |
| Race Type | Hunter Chase |
| Age: | 5-Years+ |
| Course | New Course |
| Weights: | 11st 12lbs (5yo), 12st 0lb (6yo+), 7lb allowance for mares |
| Where to watch? | ITV, Racing UK, Bookmaker Streams |
| Key Betting Stats: | To a £1 level stake the most profitable jockeys in recent years are as follows: |
Known as the Gold Cup for amateurs, the Foxhunters Chase is a great race to put on immediately after the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The race will have its fair share of bigger names, in terms of horses, jockeys and trainers, and this is often a path that many punters like to go down as they try and search out the winner of this contest.
As the Cheltenham Festival draws closer, we will update this page with our full betting preview, the latest odds for the race and any other key info that punters need before they place their bets.
What Happened in the Foxhunters Chase 2021?
The 2021 Foxhunters Chase was won by Porlock Bay at odds of 16/1. He just held on to get the better of the 2/1 favourite Billaway in an epic finish up the Cheltenham hill. After 3 miles 2 ½ furlongs Porlock Bay the winning distance was a short head to give jockey Lorcan Williams his first Cheltenham Festival winner. It was also a first success for Will Biddick as a trainer.
Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase Winners
2021 – Porlock Bay
2020 – It Came To Pass
2019 – Hazel Hill
2018 – Pacha Du Polder
2017 – Pacha Du Polder
* Betting odds correct at the time of writing
Foxhunter Chase Odds
The first three horses in last year’s race look likely to line up again for another crack at this valuable Hunter Chase in 2022. Last year’s winner Porlock Bay is rated a 10/1 chance with bet365 to make it two in a row.
Billaway (6/1 bet365), who narrowly missed last year is the bookies early favourite to make amends with last year’s third Staker Wallace available at 14/1 with Unibet. Other fancied runners are Winged Leader (13/2 bet365), Bob And Co (8/1) and Latenightpass (14/1) but these odds could all change come race day.
Foxhunter Chase Tips
This race is sometimes referred to as the Gold Cup for amateur riders as it’s run immediately after the Gold Cup and over the same course and distance. Nine horses have won this race more than once, so it’s a good idea to look back a few years before making any Hunter Chase picks.
Billaway (6/1 at bet365) is a good consistent type, having been second in this race twice before and, although he should run another big race, maybe he has missed his chance. Marginal preference is for last year’s winner Porlock Bay who has been entered again in 2022 and looks a better value bet at odds of 10/1 with bet365.
There have been winners at 66/1, 25/1 and 16/1 (twice) in the last five years so it pays to look at the bigger priced horses in the Foxhunters. Joe O’Shea’s Cousin Pascal (25/1 bet365) won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year. He followed that up with a 66/1 shock win in the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase at the Aintree Festival a month later and will be a fascinating contender if he takes part in this.
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