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National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
Race Conditions
The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (4:40pm) is a Class B chase run over four miles. It is open to novices aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £75,000. All horses are ridden by amateur jockeys who have to be Category B (Britain) and Category C (Ireland) to qualify to ride in the race.
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Recent Winners
The longest race at the Festival is also probably the most difficult to predict. Not only is the trip an unknown for many of the competitors, but all horses are novices and have to be ridden by amateurs. Not surprisingly, there has been only one winning favourite in recent times.
On man worth following in the race, though, is Jonjo O’Neill. Incredibly he has trained four of the last seven winners.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Old Benny | 7 | A King | 9/1 |
| 2007 | Butler´s Cabin | 7 | Jonjo O´Neill | 33/1 |
| 2006 | Hot Weld | 7 | F Murphy | 33/1 |
| 2005 | Another Rum | 7 | I Duncan | 40/1 |
| 2004 | Native Emperor | 8 | Jonjo O’Neill | 5/1JF |
| 2003 | Sudden Shock | 8 | Jonjo O’Neill | 25/1 |
| 2002 | Rith Dubh | 10 | Jonjo O’Neill | 10/1 |
| 2000 | Relaxation | 8 | H Daly | 8/1 |
| 1999 | Deejaydee | 7 | M Hourigan | 13/2 |
| 1998 | Wandering Light | 9 | T Forster | 10/1 |
| 1997 | Flimsy Truth | 11 | M Weston | 33/1 |
| 1996 | Loving Around | 8 | E O’Grady | 10/1 |
| 1995 | Front Line | 8 | Jonjo O’Neill | 7/1 |
| 1994 | Christmas Gorse | 8 | N Gaselee | 14/1 |
Key Trends
23 of the last 25 winners finished in the first 4 last time out.
No 6 year-old has won since 1989 and no successful 5 year-old for over 30 years.
Jonjo O'Neill has won 5 renewals - including 4 of the last 6.
Just 1 winning favourite since 1992.
5 of the last 6 winners had won over hurdles.
Watch the 2008 Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
2007 Review
One for the trends experts as Jonjo O’Neill trained his fourth winner of this race in the last six renewals, and it wasn’t as big a shock as the horse’s 33-1 starting price might have suggested, as BUTLER’S CABIN had run a number of good races prior to this event, most notably when a staying on fourth to Exotic Dancer in the Paddy Power here in November.
In fact, it was a trend that we identified on this site ahead of the 2007 Festival: "Jonjo O'Neill trained horses have won 3 of the last 5 runnings of the Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase (Thursday) at odds of 5/1, 10/1 and 25/1 - so it's well worth considering his entries in that race!"
The horse clearly gives his all, and having battled strongly to get the better of his duel with runner up, Character Building on the run in, he needed oxygen after passing the post. However, his victory over this marathon trip has opened up a whole raft of new options for connections, who may now aim the horse at the Irish National.
Character Building has had a excellent season, but he simply couldn’t find as much as the winner on the gruelling run to the line and this trip may just have stretched his stamina. He may need some time to recover from his exertions here.
There was a decent gap back to Countess Trifaldi in third. This was by far the best race this seven year old mare has ever run and a repeat effort should see her losing her maiden tag in no time.
In behind the front three the race was full of incident. Fair Question had led for much of the way before falling in front of the stands prior to going out on the final circuit. Nine De Sivola, Not Left Yet, Bengoand Miko De Beauchene then all departed three out. The first two, in particular, looked unlucky as they had both been patiently ridden and were just starting to deliver their challenges at the time, travelling well. Nine De Sivola is a proven stayer and would surely have been involved in the finish.
As if that wasn’t enough, hot favourite, Gungadu, then crashed out at the second last, when in front. However, he looked to be coming to the end of his tether at the time and probably wouldn’t have lasted home. A drop back to 3 miles will surely be on the cards.
Of the rest, Petertheknot is worth keeping an eye on as he was badly hampered in the melee at the third last. His rider still hadn’t asked him a question and although he lost any amount of ground swerving the stricken horses, he plugged on up the straight to suggest he may have got into contention with a clear passage.
2006 Review
Trainer Ferdy Murphy and jockey Richard Harding were left to celebrate their second big priced winner of the meeting when HOT WELD took the honours in the National Hunt Chase. Harding gave the winner a fine ride, dictating a slow pace in front and then quickening things up on the run for home, leaving a number of his rivals tapped for toe.
The horse relishes decent ground and clearly has an abundance of stamina having stayed on strongly up the run in when challenged on either side by the eventual second and third. Beantown and Far From Trouble both seemed to leave their challenges too late and would surely have got by the winner in another 100 yards.
Wolf Creek looked the winner four out, but his stamina seemed to give way and he faded to finish fourth.
Ardaghey was still travelling okay when coming to grief three out.