Royal Ascot: Royal Hunt Cup
The Royal Hunt Cup was established in 1843, originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards, although the race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, but was then extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course on the second day of the Royal meeting, and usually features a large field. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners. |
| Royal Hunt Cup 1856 | Handicap | 7 furlongs 166 yards | ||
| Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Age/weight | Owner |
| 1 | FORBIDDEN FRUIT | Cresswell | 3-6st 0lbs | Mr Murland 4/1 fav |
| 2 | SARABAND | Wells | 4-7st 10lbs | Mr Howard 100/8 |
| 3 | SLY FELLOW | Sanwell | 3-6st 6lbs | Mr Hope 33/1 |
| 4 | FURIOSO | Salter | 3-6st 6lbs | Duke of Beaufort 100/6 |
| 5 | FLACROW | Jem Goater | 4-9st 4lbs | Mr Y King 33/1 |
| 6 | VINDEX | Bartholomew | 6-8st 10lbs | Sir C Momck 33/1 |
| 7 | LORD OF THE ISLES | J Prince | 4-8st 8lbs | Mr Merry 33/1 |
| 8 | FLATTERER | Yates | 4-8st 1lbs | Mr Adkins 10/1 |
| 9 | VENGEANCE | J Mann | 4-8st 0lbs | Mr Edward 33/1 |
| 10 | CAPUCINE | Midgley | 4-7st 9lbs | Mr Hope 33/1 |
| 11 | BRACKEN | G Mann | 5-7st 6lbs | Lord Derby 33/1 |
| 12 | THE MOSQUITO | Ashmall | 4-7st 4lbs | Mr Rudston Read 33/1 |
| 13 | BLOOMING HEATHER | Charlton | 4-7st 4lbs | Baron Rothschild 33/1 |
| 14 | ALEMBIC | J Quinton | 5-7st 4lbs | Lord Clifden 100/8 |
| 15 | DEFIANCE | Pratt | 6-7st 4lbs | Captain Christie 25/1 |
| 16 | MICHAELMASS MAID | Bray | 6-7st 2lbs | Mr Elwes 33/1 |
| 17 | STANHOPE | Judd | 3-7st 2lbs | Mr H Hill 33/1 |
| 18 | MELISSA | Crouch | 3-7st 0lbs | Lord Clifden 33/1 |
| 19 | WELHAM | J Steggles | 5-7st 0lbs | Mr C Capel 8/1 |
| 20 | DUKE OF LANCASTER | T Cliff | 5-6st 12lbs | Count Batthyany 33/1 |
| 21 | KATERFELTO | Covey | 4-6st 10lbs | Mr Drinkald 100/8 |
| 22 | FALCON | Heffer | 5-6st 8lbs | Mr Edward 25/1 |
| 23 | BOER | Plumb | 5-6st 0lbs | Mr John Payne 33/1 |
| 24 | PETER FLAT | George Fordham | 3-6st 0lbs | Lord Chesterfield 10/1 |
| 25 | KESTREL | J Walters | 2-5st 12lbs | Captain Christie 33/1 |
| 26 | TUG 'O WAR | Bullock | 3-5st 9lbs | Captain D Lane 33/1 |
| 27 | DISRAELI | Dear | 3-5st 4lbs | Mr Isaac Day 33/1 |
| 28 | THE SPANIARD | Edgerton | 3-5st 0lbs | Colonel Martyn 33/1 |
| This race took place on Wednesday 11th June 1856 and was won by a brown colt by Birdcatcher out of Touch-me-Not, winning a first prize of 740 sovereigns from 44 subscriptions (equivalent to £80,000 in 2020), which included a piece of plate valued at 200 sovereigns which was kept by the owner. | Over round 141% | |||
| Royal Hunt Cup | Handicap | 1 mile | 1843 | ||||||
| 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | |||
| 1850 | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | |||