United Hunts Challenge Cup

The United Hunts Challenge Cup Chase over 3 and a half miles was a very popular event first held at the 1923 Festival, and continued to be part of the Festival card until 1973. Although it did not become part of the Festival programme until 1923, it was launched in April 1912 when won by Our Philip (100/30) owned, trained and ridden by Mr J H Purvis. The Cup, valued at £50 in 1912, stood 16 inches high and contained some fine workmanship, modelling foxes masks, foxhounds and hunters heads fashioned into handles. It was designed and manufactured by Messrs Simmons to the orders of Messrs Pratt & Co, London. It was run again in 1914, but at a different time than the Festival, when won by Mr J Eccles' Chatburn (2/1 fav), and after 1973 it was moved to the special Hunter Chase meeting staged at Cheltenham each April. During its half-century history it has been won in consecutive years by Cheerful Marcus in 1935 and 1936, but 2 other horses have notched up doubles in the race, Uppergrange in 1926 and 1928, and Mr Teddy in 1959 and 1962. However, the most famous horse to contest the race was Baulking Green who won it 4 times, including a trio of consecutive victories between 1963 and 1965.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the United Hunts Challenge Cup Chase took place on Wednesday 7th March 1923 over 3 and a half miles and was won by Palm Ring (7/2) trained by Pease and ridden by Mr C Kurk, beating Lucy's Brother (100/8) and Ionian Ferry (7/1) by 20 lengths and 3 lengths.
United Hunts Challenge Cup 1923 Handicap 3 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 PALM RING Mr C Kirk E Pease Mr E Pease 7/2 jt fav
2 LUCY'S BROTHER Mr J Hall Hay Mrs Hay 100/8
3 IONIAN FERRY Mr Stedall Alf Stedall Mr Alf Stedall 7/1
4 PRIME DUTCH Mr Chillingworth Chillingworth Mr Chillingworth 4/1
5 PERFECT II Vicomte de Hemdecourt Lambert Mr Lambert 100/8
6 KALULA Mr A Knowles Bletsoe Mr J Thomson 7/2 jt fav
7 MYRA Mr Lyster Yates Major Yates 5/1
8 ROCKMEADOW Mr Gibson Creed Mr Creed 4/1
        Over round 128%
This race was run on Wednesday 7th March 1923 when Palm Ring beat Lucy's Brother and Ionian Ferry by 20 lengths and 3 lengths