National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase

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 The National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase, along with the Grand Annual, are the two most historic races run at the Festival having been staged since 1860 and 1834 respectively. The National Hunt Chase, traditionally contested over 3 miles 6 furlongs (previously 4 miles) on the first day, is a Grade 2 Chase and was nomadic between 1860 and 1910 before forming the foundation stone of the 1911 Cheltenham Festival. Previously it was run at racecourses such as Market Harborough, Bedford, Leicester, Sandown Park, Derby and Bogside, but for the years 1906 to 1910 it was run at Warwick and could have been used by them to form their own Festival. However, Cheltenham grasped the nettle, negotiated with the Steeplechase Committee, reached agreement to permanently stage the race and used it to launch the first Festival in 1911. The very first National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase was held at Market Harborough in 1860 when won by the 8-year-old Bridegroom, trained and ridden by Edward Bruton.
Early history:- The newly formed National Hunt Committee needed a showpiece race and negotiated with 12 different Hunt Groups to donate £500 to fund a race, the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase, later the National Hunt Challenge Cup Steeplechase, to which was added a £10 entry fee from the owners of each horse subscribed in the race. Although the inaugural running of the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase (National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase) took place at Market Harborough in 1860 when won by Bridegroom, it formed the cornerstone of the 1911 Festival on Wednesday 8th March 1911 when won by Sir Halbert (33/1) owned by Captain F D Grissell, trained by Tom Coulthwaite and ridden by Arthur Smith, beating Our Philip (100/8) and Simonstown (7/1 fav) by a neck and 6 lengths.
Over the entire history of the race 24% of favourites have been successful, placing the race 16th of the 28 current races.
Over the entire history of the race a level stake bet of £10 on every favourite would have resulted in a £80 loss, placing the race 12th of the current 28 races.
Over the entire history of the race the Irish have been successful 14% of occasions, placing the race 23rd of the 28 current races.
I am grateful to David Copland for the photo of the inkwell, one of a pair, made from the hooves of Bridegroom.
National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase Grade 2 3 miles 6 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1860 BRIDEGROOM Edmund Burton R Day Mr B J Angell 5/1 fav (Market Harborough)
1861 QUEENSBERRY Edmund Burton R Day Mr B J Angell 3/1 fav (Market Harborough)
1862 FIDGET G Skipworth Oldacre Mr F Oldacre 4/1 (Rugby)
1863 SOCKS Alec Goodman Ben Land Mr F Calthorpe 4/1 (Market Harborough)
1864 GAME CHICKEN Captain Arthur Smith Behren Mr T Behren 20/1 (Burton Lazars)
1865 EMPEROR II Alec Goodman Napier snr Mr H Chaplin 100/6 (Wetherby)
1866 SHANGARRY Alec Goodman J Walters Mr Edward Studd 6/5 fav (Crewkerne)
1867 EMPEROR II Henry Coventry Napier snr Mr H Chaplin 6/1 (Bedford)
1868 TATHWELL William Brockton Welfitt Mr S J Welfitt 4/1 (Bedford)
1869 Race was due to be held at Wetherby Racecourse but was cancelled due to a boating tragedy on the River Ure in February.
1870 SCHIEDAM John Maunsell Richardson Napier snr Mr H Chaplin 4/1 fav (Cottenham)
1871 DAYBREAK Captain Arthur Smith James Ryan Mr J H Houldsworth 7/1 (Burton Lazars)
1872 RED NOB Captain Holyoake R Sly jnr Mr Herbert 3/1 fav (Abergavenny)
1873 PICKLES Captain Arthur Tempest Robertson Mr Robertson 6/1 (Bristol)
1874 LUCELLUM Captain Arthur Smith Cartwright Mr Vyner 100/30 fav (Aylesbury)
1875 GAZELLE Mr Richard Flutter T Smyth Mr T Smyth 10/1 (Sandown Park)
1876 BURFORD Lord Marcus Beresford J Jones Mr G Ballard 5/2 (Bogside)
1877 THE BEAR Ted Wilson Richard Marsh Duke of Hamilton 5/2 (Cottenham)
1878 FILBERT C R Friend Friend Mr C R Friend 3/1 (Hereford)
1879 BELLRINGER Arthur Coventry Cartwright Mr Vyner 2/1 fav (Derby)
1880 NEW GLASGOW Captain Arthur Smith Mr Wadlow Mr A Peel 11/8 fav (Liverpool)
1881 PRIDE OF PRUSSIA Ted P Wilson Garrett Moore Mr Talbot 5/2 jt fav (Four Oaks Park)
1882 LLANTARNAM Ted P Wilson William Jenkins Mr W Jenkins 3/1 (Derby)
1883 SATELLITE Ted P Wilson William Jenkins Mr E W Tritton (Little Dalby, Melton) 5/2 fav
1884 EQUITY Ted P Wilson Skelton Mr R Howett 5/2 fav (Leicester)
1885 LADY TEMPEST Willie Beasley Garrett Moore Mr Saurin 3/1 (Lincoln)
1886 WHY NOT Charles Cunningham Jardine Mr D J Jardine 3/1 jt fav (Malton)
1887 MONKSHOOD Captain Roddy Owen Major Meysey Thompson Major Meysey Thompson 10/1 (Derby)
1888 GLENTHORPE George Lambton Mr Jordan Mr R Jay 4/1 (Sandown Park)
1889 NAP Charles Thompson Clement Mr R Robson 7/1 (Cardiff)
1890 INNISFAIL T G Arthur James Ryan Mr T G Arthur 2/1 (Bogside)
1891 IMPEYAN E Crawley J Swatton Mr W Low 20/1 (Hurst Park)
1892 ROYAL BUCK Mr Yorke Tom Cannon jnr Mr Tom Cannon 2/1 fav (Derby)
1893 VAN DER BERG Sir Cuthbert Slade E A Craddock Captain Crawley (Sandown) 100/14
1894 PHILACTERY Wilfred Ricardo Joe Cannon Sir S Scott 5/1 (Derby)
1895 FIN-MA-COUL II Frank Atkinson J Arnold Mr John Arnold 4/1 fav (Sandown Park)
1896 LUDGERSHALL Harry Ripley John Collins Mr C P Shrubb 6/1 fav (Hurst Park)
1897 NORD OUEST Jules Morand Dick Chaloner Viscount De Buisseret 8/1 (Newmarket)
1898 REAL SHAMROCK E P Gundry A McKie Mr F P Lysaght 7/1 (Gatwick)
1899 GLEN ROYAL John Fergusson John Collins Mr W H Walker 4/1 fav (Hurst Park)
1900 EOOS Arthur Gordon J Hair Mr T Bayden 100/8 (Kempton Park)
1901 FRIAR JOHN Herbert Sidney Mr Sentence Mr Barclay Walker 5/1 (Burton Lazars)
1902 MARPESSA Atty Persse James Maher (Ire) Mr J J Maher 6/1 (Warwick)
1903 COMFIT Captain Robert Collis E Thomas Mr F Bibby 100/7 (Warwick)
1904 TOMOTHY TITUS Ivor Anthony E Morgan Mr W B Partridge 5/1
1905 MISS CLIFDEN II H M Ripley Mr Baker Mr David Faber 8/1
1906 COUNT RUFUS Arthur Gordon R Gordon Mr W Charter 25/1 (Warwick)
1907 RED HALL H G Farrant H G Farrant Mr H G Farrant 25/1 (Warwick)
1908 RORY O'MOORE Percy Whitaker Percy Whitaker Captain J F Laycock 4/1 (Warwick)
1909 WYCHWOOD Peter Roberts Percy Whitaker Mr Cartwright 6/1
1910 NIMBLE KATE Peter Roberts Percy Whitaker Mr B P Steinman 100/6 (Warwick)
1911 SIR HALBERT Arthur Smith Tom Coulthwaite Captain F D Grissell 33/1
1912 THE REJECTED IV Gilbert E Cotton J J Cowap Mr E Platt 100/8
1913 KRANSFUGL R H Hall Gordon Pirie Captain P S Yates 33/1
1914 WAR DUKE Harry Ussher Harry Ussher Mr H F Malcomson 9/1
1915 MARTIAL IV Major J H Purvis Major J H Purvis Major J H Purvis 20/1
1916-19 Race was not staged due to the First World War
1920 PRUDHOMME Cecil Brabazon James Daly Mr J Daly 9/2 co fav
1921 BUGLER Capt Geoffrey Bennet Harry Brown Mr H A Brown 4/1
1922 CONJUROR II Cyril Dewhurst Tom Coulthwaite Major C Dewhurst 8/1 fav
1923 TEMPLESCOBY Harry Brown Tom Coulthwaite Major H C Robinson 7/4 fav
1924 PATSEY V Brian Lemon Robert Gore Mr Lemon 9/1
1925 ARDVASAR Pat Dennis Aubrey Hastings Major S Green 4/1
1926 CLORINGO William Parker Dutton Max Barthropp Mr J C Paterson 25/1
1927 FINE YARN J Stevens C Stevens Mrs C Stevens 33/1
1928 CRYPTICAL Major T F Cavanagh F H Bowcher Mr F H Bowcher 20/1
1929 BIG WONDER Capt Henry Weber G S L Whitelaw Mr G Whitelaw 7/2 fav
1930 SIR LINDSAY Lord Fingall Jack Anthony Mr J H Whitney 5/4 fav
1931 MERRIMENT IV Lord Haddington Stewart Wight Lord Haddington 20/1
1932 ROBIN-A-TIPTOE Frank Furlong Mr Gale Major Noel Furlong 100/6
1933 EGO Perry Harding Lt-Col M Lindsay Lt-Col M Lindsay 100/8
1934 CROWN PRINCE Lord Belper Cliff Beechener Lord Rosebery 100/6
1935 ROD AND GUN Hywell Jones Jack Anthony Mr J H Whitney 100/8
1936 PUCKA BELLE E W W Bailey E W W Bailey Mr E Bailey 6/1
1937 HOPEFUL HERO W L Dawes H A J Silley Mr H A J Silley 100/8
1938 ST GEORGE II Bobby Petre A J G Leveson-Gower Mr A Leveson-Gower 10/1
1939 LITIGANT Richard Black Frank Furlong Major Noel C Furlong 7/1
1940-45 Race was not run due to the Second World War
1946 PRATTLER Dermot Daly Tom Yates Mr E Manners 33/1
1947 MALTESE WANDERER Dermot Daly Tom Yates Major Daly 6/1
1948 BRUNO II Guy Cunard William Anstruther-Grey Major William Anstruther-Grey 20/1
1949 CASTLEDERMOT Lord Mildmay Vincent O'Brien (Ire) Mrs Keogh 6/4 fav
1950 ELLESMERE Atty Corbett Ken Cundell Lord Bicester 100/30 fav
1951 CUSHENDUN Peter Chisman Bobby Renton Mrs L Brotherton 10/1
1952 FROSTY KNIGHT Clive Straker Ian Straker Major Ian Straker 15/2
1953 PONTAGE Bunny Cox Dan Moore (Ire) Lady Honor Svejdar 9/4 fav
1954 QUARE TIMES Bunny Cox Vincent O'Brien (Ire) Mrs W H E Welman 5/2 fav
1955 REVEREND PRINCE C Pocock Peter Dufosee Mr Peter Dufosee 33/1
1956 ROSANNA III Jeremy Everitt Jeremy Everitt Mr Jeremy Everitt 9/1
1957 KARI SOU Alan Lillingston Archie Tomlinson Mr Archie Tomlinson 100/6
1958 SPUD TAMSON Geordie Dun Tommy Dun Mrs T Dunn 13/2
1959 SABARIA John Lawrence Bob Turnell Mr A R Turnell 5/2 fav
1960 PROUD SOCKS H Thompson Vivian Bishop Mr Vivian Bishop 100/6
1961 SUPERFINE Sir William Piggott-Bown Frank Cundell Mr I Kerwood 10/1
1962 GO SLOW George Small Albert Piper Mrs I Millar 10/1
1963 TIME Ian Balding Willie Stephenson Mr J Cheatle 8/1
1964 DORIMONT Charles Vaughan Tom Taaffe Mr M Walsh 4/1
1965 RED VALE George Small Albert Piper Mrs C Smith 100/8
1966 POLARIS MISSILE John Thorne John Thorne Mr M J Thorne 100/6
1967 MASTER TAMMY Brian Fanshawe George Guilding Mr George Guilding 100/7
1968 FASCINTAING FORTIES Michael Dickinson George Owen Lord Leverhulme 9/1
1969 LIZZY THE LIZARD George Cann Tony Hartnoll Mr Anthony R Hartnoll 10/1
1970 DOMASON Robert Alner Harry Dufosee Mr Harry W Dufosee 10/1
1971 DEBLIN'S GREEN Derek Edmunds George Yardley Mr George H Yardley 9/2 fav
1972 CHARLEY WINKING Derrick Scott Leslie Scott Mr Leslie Scott 20/1
1973 FOREMAN Bill Shand Kydd Harry Thomson Jones Mr Robert Dean 11/2 fav
1974 MR MIDLAND Mouse Morris Edward O'Grady (Ire) Mr B Naughton 7/2
1975 Race was not held due to severe flooding
1976 SAGE MERLIN Peter Greenall Jack Hardy Mr J Bingham 5/2 fav
1977 ALPENSTOCK Dick Saunders Stan Mellor Mr H Thomson 14/1
1978 GAY TIE John Fowler Mick O'Toole (Ire) Dr P Morrissey 10/1
1979 ARCTIC ALE John Fowler Dan Moore (Ire) Mr A Robinson 20/1
1980 WAGGONERS WALK Tony Fowler Miss Caroline Mason Mr G Mason 10/1
1981 LUCKY VANE Stephen Bush Toby Balding Miss B Swire 13/1
1982 HAZY DAWN Willie Mullins Paddy Mullins (Ire) Mr R Daniels 8/1
1983 BIT OF A SKITE Frank Codd Edward O'Grady (Ire) Mr John P McManus 5/1 fav
1984 MACKS FRIENDLY Willie Mullins Paddy Mullins (Ire) Mr Willie Mullins 11/4
1985 NORTHERN BAY Tony Fowler Tom Bill Twycross Frozen Food Centre 12/1
1986 OMERTA Lorcan Wyer J Homer Scott Mrs J McMorrow 9/4 fav
1987 MIGHTY MARK Jimmy Walton Frank Walton Mrs Frank Walton 8/1
1988 OVER THE ROAD Tom Costello Terry Casey Mr John Upson 10/1
1989 BORACEVA Seamus Mullins Toby Balding Duke of Atholl 4/1 fav
1990 TOPSHAM BAY Paul Hacking David Barons Mr M L Marsh 40/1
1991 SMOOTH ESCORT Tony Martin Di Haine Mr A F Budge 7/1
1992 KEEP TALKING Marcus Armytage Tim Thomson Jones Mr H J Joel 5/2 fav
1993 USHERS ISLAND Noel Wilson Howard Johnson Mr R W L Bowden 15/2
1994 CHRISTMAS GORSE Marcus Armytage Nick Gaselee Mr D R Stoddart 14/1
1995 FRONT LINE John Berry Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 7/1
1996 LOVING AROUND Philip Fenton Edward O'Grady (Ire) Lord Tavistock 10/1
1997 FLIMSY TRUTH Micky Harris Martin Weston Mr M H Weston 33/1
1998 WANDERING LIGHT Rupert Wakley Tim Forster Anne, Duchess of Westminster 10/1
1999 DEEJAYDEE Tony Martin Michael Hourigan Mrs Mary Devine 13/2
2000 RELAXATION Mark Bradburne Henry Daly Sir P Payne-Gallwey, Mrs M Wiggin 8/1
2001

Race was not held due to foot & mouth crisis
2002 RITH DUBH J T McNamara Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 10/1
2003 SUDDEN SHOCK Denis Cullen Jonjo O'Neill Mr Darren C Mercer 25/1
2004 NATIVE EMPEROR Robert Widger Jonjo O'Neill J C , J R & S R Hitchins 5/1 jt fav
2005 ANOTHER RUM Mark O'Hare Ian Duncan Mr Ronlad Lilley 40/1
2006 HOT WELD Richard Harding Ferdy Murphy (Ire) Mr S Hubbard Rodwell 33/1
2007 BUTLER'S CABIN Alan Berry Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 33/1
2008 OLD BENNY Charlie Huxley Alan King Mr Trevor Hemmings 9/1
2009 TRICKY TRICKSTER Sam Waley-Cohen Nigel Twiston-Davies Million in Mind Partnership 11/1
2010 POKER DE SIVOLA Katie Walsh Ferdy Murphy (Ire) The Johnson Family 14/1
2011 CHICAGO GREY Derek O'Connor Gordon Elliott (Ire) Mr John Earls 5/1 fav
2012 TEAFORTHREE J T McNamara Rebecca Curtis T437 Syndicate 5/1 fav
2013 BACK IN FOCUS Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins (Ire) Andrea & Graham Wylie 9/4 fav
2014 MIDNIGHT PRAYER Joshua Newman Alan King The Legends Partnership 8/1
2015 CAUSE OF CAUSES Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott (Ire) Mr John P McManus 8/1
2016 MINELLA ROCCO Derek O'Connor Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P McManus 8/1
2017 TIGER ROLL Lisa O'Neill Gordon Elliott (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 16/1
2018 RATHVINDEN Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins (Ire) Mr Ronnie A Bartlett 9/2
2019 LE BREUIL Jamie Codd Ben Pauling Mrs Emma Palmer 14/1
2020 RAVENHILL Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott (Ire) Try Ravenhill Syndicate 12/1
2021 GALVIN Jack Kennedy Ian Ferguson Mr Ronnie A Bartlett 7/2
2022 STATTLER Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins (Ire) Mr Ronnie A Bartlett 2/1
2023 GALLIARD DU MESNIL Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins (Ire) Mrs J Donnelly 10/11 fav
2024 CORBETTS CROSS Derek O'Connor Emmet Mullins (Ire) Mr John P McManus 15/8