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.
I am grateful to David Copland for the trophy shown below, presented to the owner and rider, Mr E W Paterson, of second placed Merriell on Thursday 16th April 1914, although the race was not part of the Festival at that stage. The winner was Chatburn (2/1 fav) owned and ridden by Mr J G L Eccles.
United Hunts Challenge Cup Handicap 3 miles 4 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1923 PALM RING Mr C Kirk E Pease Mr E Pease 7/2 co fav
1924 GOLDEN BALLOT Mr P Wood Gresson Mr Gresson 100/6
1925 SUNNY WOOD Mr Rayson Hatt Captain Rushton 8/1
1926 UPPERGRANGE Mr Norris E Pease Mr E Pease 7/2
1927 ALFREDO Mr Unwin Unwin Mr Unwin 4/1
1928 UPPERGRANGE Mr R Gubbins E Pease Mrs E Pease 5/2 fav
1929 BOOMLET Mr L Whitfield Hastings Mr Large 7/2 jt fav
1930 FEAR NOTHING Mr Thackray A Stubbs Sir J Grey 100/6
1931 Race not held due to severe frost causing postponment of entire Festival
1932 SWAN OF AVON Mr R Bennett R Bennett (Ire) Mr Honour 100/8
1933 LOPPY LAD Mr G Russell Jack Anthony Mr G Weaving 11/2 jt fav
1934 BRAVE GIRL Mr R Harding Tom Rimell Mr A Taylor 100/8
1935 CHEERFUL MARCUS Mr E Martin E Martin Mr E Holland-Martin 11/10 fav
1936 CHEERFUL MARCUS Mr E Martin E Martin Mr E Holland-Martin 11/4
1937 MARCH BROWN IV Mr W Scott-Plummer Murless Mr W Scott-Plummer 100/8
1938 TITHE ALARM Mr J Gordon Cottrill Mr Cottrill 4/1
1939 TAPINETTE Mr H Llewellyn Llewellyn Sir David Llewellyn 2/1 fav
1940 A reduced Festival card meant that the United Hunts Cup was not run
1941-45 Race not staged due to World War II
1946 REARMAMENT Mr J Spencer Hobbs Mr W W Hobbs 100/8
1947 Race was not held due to frost and snow
1948 BAY MARBLE Mr H Llewellyn Llewellyn Mrs Llewellyn 11/4 fav
1949 COMPTON ABDALE Mr J Spencer Mrs Jackie Brutton Mrs Jackie Brutton 2/1 fav
1950 MONKS CREST Mr A Corbett Rushton Major H P Rushton 7/2
1951 CORAL BOY Mr R McReery Bob McCreery Mr Bob McCreery 10/1
1952 JURY STAR Mr B Mullins B Mullins Mr B Mullins 6/1
1953 TIGER TIM III Captain S Wright S Wright Captain S Wright 100/8
1954 OLD GLORY Mr Martin Tate W Tate Mrs E J Tate 7/1
1955 ST COLEMAN Mr H Hutsby F Hutsby Mr F Hutsby 7/2 fav
1956 SOLBAY Mr S Maundrell S L Maundrell Mr S Muandrell 5/1
1957 GAY ROGER Mr J Daniell Miss L Jones Miss L Jones 6/1
1958 DARK ISLAND Mr W Jones Williams Miss D Williams 5/1
1959 MR TEDDY Mr D Oseman Rushton Major H P Rushton 7/1
1960 MASTER COPPER Mr C H Davies C Davies Mr C H Davies 11/4
1961 CHAOS Mr A Frank A Frank Mr W Shepherd 4/1 fav
1962 MR TEDDY Mr T Biddlecombe Rushton Major H P Rushton 7/2
1963 BAULKING GREEN Mr G Small Tim Forster Mr J Reade 5/2
1964 BAULKING GREEN Mr A Frank Tim Forster Mr J Reade 11/8 fav
1965 BAULKING GREEN Mr G Small Tim Forster Mr J Reade 15/8 fav
1966 SNOWDRA QUEEN Mr H Oliver Mrs Jackie Brutton Mrs Jackie Brutton 5/2
1967 BAULKING GREEN Mr G Small Tim Forster Mr J Reade 5/4 fav
1968 SNOWDRA QUEEN Mr D Edmunds Mrs Jackie Brutton Mrs Jackie Brutton 13/2
1969 BRIGHT WILLOW Mr R Chugg G Gore Mr G A Gore 7/2
1970 GREY SOMBRERO Mr C Candy David Gamdolfo Mr W Caudwell 33/1
1971 SALLY FURLONG Mr T Holland-Martin E H Bomford Mr T Holland-Martin 6/4 fav
1972 REAL RASCAL Mr G Hyatt D Surman Mr D Surman 11/4
1973 LORD FORTUNE J Edmunds Mrs Jackie Brutton Mrs Jackie Brutton 5/1