National Hunt Chase

Currently scheduled as the final race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, the National Hunt Chase – strictly, the National Hunt Challenge Cup – has the distinction of being run at the March showpiece more frequently than any other. However, what was the traditional ‘four miler’ has undergone significant changes in the last decade, having been shortened to its current distance of three and three-quarter miles in 2020 and, more recently, downgraded to a 0-145 novices’ handicap and no longer be confined to amateur jockeys.

The decision to allow professional jockeys to ride in the race attracted criticism from the most successful trainer of all time at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins. He said, “I thought that was a backwards move. They’ve been messing around with the race for years and have not made it any better.”

Patrick Mullins, son of Willie, has won the National Hunt four times, on Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022), and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023), and is the leading jockey since World War II. Jackdaws Castle handler Jonjo O’Neill, who nowadays shares a licence with his youngest son, A.J., saddled Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler’s Cabin (2007) and Minella Rocco (2016) for a total of six wins and is the leading trainer. The aforementioned Gaillard Du Mesnil was the last winning favourite, but there have been just four in the last 20 renewals; that situation is unlikely to improve now that the race has lost its previous Grade 2 status.