Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup

The Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase, introduced into the Festival programme in 1938 to commemorate the extraordinary contribution which Frederick Cathcart had made in bringing about the Cheltenham Festival, had run until 1974, but in 1975 it was replaced by the Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup for 3 years, although the 1975 meeting was abandoned. Frederick Cathcart was Chairman of Cheltenham and Clerk of the Course between 1908 and 1934, so it was unfortunate that this new race had to be abandoned in its first year, but the 2 subsequent runnings were won by Mickley Seabright and Rusty Tears, after which the race reverted to its original name in 1978, which was another abandoned meeting.
Early history:- Although the inaugural event was meant to take place at the 1975 Festival, it had to be abandoned, so the first time the race was actually run was on Thursday 18th March 1976 over 3 miles 1 furlong and a few yards, winding up that year's Festival, and was won by Mickley Seabright (6/4 fav) trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by Mr P Brookshaw, beating Stanhope Street (9/1) and Tartan Slave (8/1) by 12 lengths and a neck.
Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup 1977 Handicap 3 miles 1 furlong
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RUSTY TEARS Mr Niall Madden Edward O'Grady (Ire) Mr Robert Coubrey 7/4 fav
2 GUILBURN Mrs J Henbrow G Ham Mr G Ham 12/1
3 DEVON SPIRIT C Pook Mrs D Pook Mrs D Pook 8/1
4 FORSET ROCK P Wates A Wates Lady Wates 9/1
5 BEAU HAWKE J Llewellyn H Lavis Mr H Lavis 9/4
6 TARTAN SLAVE R Brown J Brazil Mr J Brazil 10/1
7 TARTUFFE M Whiteman V Whiteman Mr V Whiteman 16/1
8 DUNANY POINT M Weeden Mrs N Coombe Mrs N Coombe 33/1
9 TEDS LAD C Saunders E Owen jnr Mr E Owen jnr 33/1
        Over round 116%
The second, and final, running of the Cathcart Hunter Chase was on Thursday 17th March 1977 when Rusty Tears beat Guiburn and Devon Spirit by 8 lengths and 30 lengths, the race then reverted back to its origial title.