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William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase
Race Conditions
The William Hill Trophy (4:00pm) is the first big handicap of the meeting and is, therefore, a very popular betting heat. It is a Class A Grade 3 chase run over three miles and about half a furlong. It is open to horses aged five years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £85,000.
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Recent Winners
As with all the handicaps run at the Festival, the race often features a large field and is fiercely competitive. Antonin, in 1994, was the last favourite to justify his position at the head of the market, and it is crucial to find an improving well handicapped sort.
Stamina is often also a key characteristic to look for in potential winners as another fast gallop ensures that that runners need to get every inch of the three mile trip. Not surprisingly, therefore, the race has become a steeping stone to the Grand National, although only Rough Quest has done the double in recent years.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | An Accordion | 7 | D Pipe | 7/1 |
| 2007 | Joes Edge | 10 | F Murphy | 50/1 |
| 2006 | Dun Doire | 7 | A Martin | 7/1 |
| 2005 | Kelami | 7 | F Doumen | 8/1 |
| 2004 | Fork Lightening | 8 | A King | 7/1 |
| 2003 | Youlneverwalkalone | 9 | C Roche | 7/1 |
| 2002 | Frenchman’s Creek | 8 | H Morrison | 8/1 |
| 2000 | Marlborough | 8 | N Henderson | 11/2 |
| 1999 | Betty’s Boy | 10 | K Bailey | 25/1 |
| 1998 | Unguided Missile | 10 | G Richards | 10/1 |
| 1997 | Flyer’s Nap | 11 | R Alner | 20/1 |
| 1996 | Maamur | 8 | T Forster | 13/2 |
| 1995 | Rough Quest | 9 | T Casey | 16/1 |
| 1994 | Antonin | 6 | Mrs S Bramall | 4/1F |
Key Trends
Only one favourite has won since 1977.
The last 9 winners carried less than 11 stone.
No horse aged 11+ has been placed since 1997 - from 27 runners.
Watch the 2008 William Hill Trophy:
2007 Review
Ferdy Murphy’s remarkable run with staying chasers at recent Festivals continued in thrilling fashion in the William Hill Trophy as formerly top class novice, JOES EDGE, returned to form with a bang in a dramatic finale to this valuable handicap.
The first three home were separated by less than a neck, with the winner coming from well off the pace to get his head in front on the line. Both the runner up and the third, Juveingeur and Distant Thunder, had looked the likely winner at different times on the run in, but neither could quite resistant the powerful late surge of the winner.
Joe Edge’s return to form could probably best be explained by the drying ground, as decent underfoot conditions have always suited this horse and whilst he has been in the doldrums somewhat since his victory in the 2005 Scottish National, a lot of his runs since then have been on unfavourable going. He is also very much a spring horse
Juveingeur is becoming something of a Cheltenham specialist in general and Festival specialist in particular. He won the Kim Muir in 2005 and was second in this race in 2006. Given that the margin of defeat was so small, his mistake at the last probably cost him dear. He is ultra consistent in these big races, but that may be his downfall as the handicapper is unlikely to relent.
Distant Thunder looked to have stolen the race when kicking clear of the field after being left in front two out by the departure of Heltornic. However, he just couldn’t quite sustain his effort up the punishing Cheltenham hill, although he finished well clear of the fourth. The move to Noel Chance has clearly reinvigorated the horse and compensation surely awaits.
Heltornic was the unlucky horse of the race as she was still travelling well when making a terrible hash of the notorious second last. She has been in such good form recently that it would be hard to say with any confidence that she wouldn’t have been able to hang on to her lead.
New Alco was a much more fancied stablemate of the winner, but could never get in a blow on ground that was probably quicker than he likes.
Very sadly, another of the fancied runners, Little Brick fractured a shoulder when making a bad mistake at the final ditch. He was still very much in contention at the time.
2006 Review
A typical renewal of this competitive handicap, with a fierce end to end gallop and a well strung out field by the end of the stamina sapping trip.
DUN DOIRE has had an amazing season by any standards, having gone up 50lbs since his first win of the year, and this was an amazing performance. His cause looked hopeless as the field turned to race downhill for the final time. He was over 20 lengths off the pace, with only a couple of horses behind him, and it appeared that his trainer’s concerns over the quickness of the ground were going to be realised.
However, he virtually sprouted wings after the home turn, and having passed thirteen rivals in the process, he flew up the hill to win going away.
The jockeys aboard Juveigneur (second) and Irish Hussar (third) must have thought they had the race between them after the last and they were surely horrified when the winner, with Ruby Walsh on board, left them for dead on the agonising run to the line. Both ran well, however, and Juveigneur, being lightly raced, could still be improving.
Given the fierce gallop throughout the contest, it probably did DUN DORIE no harm to come from off pace, but very few other horses managed to make up ground from the back to get into a challenging position. Those out with the washing from an early stage included the well supported Moulin Riche (who was let down by his jumping) and Korelo (from the out of form Pipe yard). Both were pulled up.
Novices Model Son (fourth), Bob The Builder (fifth) and Alderburn (seventh) all ran well, although they were all let down by their jumping to some degree or another. Model Son also looked as though he would be better suited by further.
Veterans Desailly and Seebald both plugged on gamely, and whilst neither ever really threatened to land a blow, they both suggested that they may still have a race or two in them.
Steam rises from horses and jockeys after the 2006 William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase