The National Hunt Challenge Cup is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles 6 furlongs (3 miles 5 furlongs and 201 yards, or 6,018 metres), and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. The race is a handicap race for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

History Now in its year, the National Hunt Chase has been run more times than any other event at the Cheltenham Festival. The Grand Annual is older, but that race was absent for much of the late 19th century.

During the early part of its history it was held at various venues, including its present home in 1904 and 1905. It was transferred more permanently to Cheltenham in 1911, when it became part of the new two-day National Hunt Meeting. Until the 1930s it was the second most important jumps race in the calendar after the Grand National.

At 3 miles and 7½ furlongs prior to 2020, the distance of the National Hunt Chase was longer than that of any other event at the Festival. It is now the second-longest after the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. The race was contested on Cheltenham's New Course from 2005 to 2007, and during this period its length was 4 miles and 1 furlong (). The 2008 running was titled the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase in celebration of the 90th birthday of Peter O'Sullevan, a retired racing commentator and the 2012 running was titled the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The 2013 race was run as the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase in memory of John Oaksey, a notable amateur National Hunt jockey and racing journalist who died in September 2012. The National Hunt Chase was given Listed status by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running and included the name of former champion jockey Terry Biddlecombe, who died in January 2014, in its title. The 2015 race name commemorated trainer Toby Balding. The race was upgraded to Grade 2 status from the 2017 running.

The race distance was reduced to about 3 miles and 6 furlongs from the 2020 running after a controversy in 2019. Only four of 18 runners finished the 2019 race. Three jockeys were banned by the racecourse stewards for continuing to ride on tired horses, although the bans were subsequently overturned on appeal. The British Horseracing Authority conducted a review of the race which led to a cut in its distance and the number of fences jumped, along with some other changes relating to the eligibility of horses and jockeys to take part. Only professional jockeys competed in the 2021 running as amateur riders were excluded from the Cheltenham Festival due to restrictions on grassroots sport for the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

From 2025 the race will be run as a handicap race and be open to professional riders.

Records Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins): Patrick Mullins - Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023)

Leading trainer since 1946 (6 wins): Jonjo O'Neill – Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler's Cabin (2007), Minella Rocco (2016)

Winners since 1860 All amateur jockeys except in 2021. Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Course 1860 Bridegroom 8 Edmund Burton Mr Burton Market Harborough 1861 The Freshman 7 George Ede Cheltenham 1861 Queensferry 5 Edmund Burton Mr Burton Market Harborough 1862 Fidget aged Thomas Skipworth Rugby 1863 Socks 7 Alec Goodman Ben Land Market Harborough 1864 Game Chicken 6 Capt. Arthur Smith Burton Lazars 1865 Emperor II 7 Alec Goodman Wetherby 1866 Shangarry 5 Alec Goodman Crewkerne 1867 Emperor III 6 Henry Coventry Bedford 1868 Tathwell 6 William Brockton Bedford 1869 no race 1869 1870 Schiedam 5 John Maunsell Richardson Cottenham 1871 Daybreak 5 Capt. Arthur Smith Burton Lazars 1872 Red Nob 6 Capt. Francis Holyoake Abergavenny 1873 Pickles 6 Capt. Arthur Tempest Bristol 1874 Lucellum 5 Capt. Arthur Smith Aylesbury 1875 Gazelle 4 Mr Richard Flutter Sandown Park 1876 Burford 5 Lord Marcus Beresford J. Jones Bogside 1877 The Bear 4 Ted Wilson Richard Marsh Cottenham 1878 Filbert 9 C.R. Friend Hereford 1879 Bellringer 7 Arthur Coventry Derby 1880 New Glasgow 7 Capt. Arthur Smith Mr. Wadlow Liverpool 1881 Pride of Prussia 4 Ted Wilson Garrett Moore Four Oaks Park 1882 Llantarnam 4 Ted Wilson William Jenkins Derby 1883 Satellite 4 Ted Wilson William Jenkins Little Dalby 1884 Equity 4 Ted Wilson Leicester 1885 Lady Tempest 5 Willie Beasley Garrett Moore Lincoln 1886 Why Not 5 Charles Cunningham Malton 1887 Monkshood 6 Roddy Owen Major Meysey Thompson Derby 1888 Glen Thorpe 4 George Lambton Mr. Jordan Sandown Park 1889 Nap 4 Charles Thompson Cardiff 1890 Innisfail 5 T.G. Arthur James Ryan Bogside 1891 Impeyan 4 Capt. Eustace Crawley J. Swatton Hurst Park 1892 Royal Buck 5 Lord Royston Tom Cannon Derby 1893 Van der Berg 7 Sir Cuthbert Slade E.A. Craddock Sandown Park 1894 Philactery 6 Wilfred Ricardo Joe Cannon Derby 1895 Fin-ma-Coul II 6 Frank Atkinson J. Arnold Sandown Park 1896 Ludgershall 5 Harry Ripley John Collins Hurst Park 1897 Nord Ouest 4 Jules Morand Dick Chaloner Newmarket 1898 Real Shamrock 4 Edward P. Gundry A. McKie Gatwick 1899 Glen Royal 5 John Fergusson John Collins Hurst Park 1900 Eoos 5 Arthur Gordon Mr. Shanahan Kempton Park 1901 Friar John 5 Herbert Sidney Mr. Sentence Burton Lazars 1902 Marpessa 5 Atty Persse James Maher Warwick 1903 Comfit 5 Capt. Robert Collis E. Thomas Warwick 1904 Timothy Titus 6 Ivor Anthony E. Morgan Cheltenham 1905 Miss Clifden II 8 Harry M. Ripley Mr. Baker Cheltenham 1906 Count Rufus 7 Arthur Gordon R. Gordon Warwick 1907 Red Hall 10 Henry G. Farrant Henry G. Farrant Warwick 1908 Rory O'Moore 7 Percy Whitaker Percy Whitaker Warwick 1909 Wychwood 11 Peter Roberts Percy Whitaker Warwick 1910 Nimble Kate 9 Peter Roberts Percy Whitaker Warwick 1911 Sir Halbert 8 Arthur Smith Tom Coulthwaite Cheltenham 1912 The Rejected IV aged Gilbert Cotton J.J. Cowap 1913 Kransfugl 11 Robert H. Hall G. Pirie 1914 War Duke aged Harry Ussher Harry Ussher 1915 Martial IV 7 Major J.H. Purvis Major J.H. Purvis 1915 no race 1915–1919 1920 Prudhomme 6 Cecil Brabazon James Daly 1921 Bugler 7 Capt. Geoffrey Bennet Harry Brown 1922 Conjuror II 10 Cyril Dewhurst Tom Coulthwaite 1923 Templescoby 8 Harry Brown Tom Coulthwaite 1924 Patsey V 11 Brian Lemon Robert Gore 1925 Ardvasar 12 Pat Dennis Aubrey Hastings 1926 Cloringo 5 William Parker Dutton Max Barthropp 1927 Fine Yarn 7 J. Stevens C. Stevens 1928 Cryptical 13 Major T.F. Cavenagh F.H. Bowcher 1929 Big Wonder 9 Capt. Henry Weber G.S.L. Whitelaw 1930 Sir Lindsay 9 Lord Fingall Jack Anthony 1931 Merriment IV 9 Lord Haddington Stewart Wight 1932 Robin-a-Tiptoe 11 Frank Furlong Mr. Gale 1933 Ego 6 Perry Harding Lt.-Col. M. Lindsay 1934 Crown Prince 9 Lord Belper Cliff Beechener 1935 Rod and Gun 8 Hywell Jones Jack Anthony 1936 Pucka Belle 10 Eric W.W. Bailey Eric W.W. Bailey 1937 Hopeful Hero 9 W.L. Dawes H.A.J. Silley 1938 St George II 9 Bobby Petre A.J.G. Leveson-Gower 1939 Litigant 8 Richard Black Frank Furlong 1940 no race 1940–1945 1946 Prattler 11 Dermot Daly Tom Yates 1947 Maltese Wanderer 8 Dermot Daly Tom Yates 1948 Bruno II 8 Guy Cunard William Anstruther-Gray 1949 Castledermot 7 Lord Mildmay Vincent O'Brien 1950 Ellesmere 7 Atty Corbett Ken Cundell 1951 Cushendun 6 Peter Chisman Bobby Renton 1952 Frosty Knight 6 Charles Straker Ian Straker 1953 Pontage 7 Bunny Cox Dan Moore 1954 Quare Times 8 Bunny Cox Vincent O'Brien 1955 Reverend Prince 9 C. Pocock Peter Dufosee 1956 Rosana III 9 Jeremy Everitt Jeremy Everitt 1957 Kari Sou 8 Alan Lillingston Archie Thomlinson 1958 Spud Tamson 7 Geordie Dun Tommy Dun 1959 Sabaria 8 John Lawrence Bob Turnell 1960 Proud Socks 8 H. Thompson Vivian Bishop 1961 Superfine 8 Sir William Pigott-Brown Frank Cundell 1962 Go Slow 7 George Small Albert Piper 1963 Time 8 Ian Balding Willie Stephenson 1964 Dorimont 10 Charles Vaughan Tom Taaffe 1965 Red Vale 11 George Small Albert Piper 1966 Polaris Missile 7 John Thorne John Thorne 1967 Master Tammy 9 Brian Fanshawe George Guilding 1968 Fascinating Forties 9 Michael Dickinson George Owen 1969 Lizzy the Lizard 10 Grant Cann Tony Hartnoll 1970 Domason 7 Robert Alner Harry Dufosee 1971 Deblin's Green 8 Derek Edmunds George Yardley 1972 Charley Winking 7 Derrick Scott Leslie Scott 1973 Foreman 7 Bill Shand Kydd Harry Thomson Jones 1974 Mr Midland 7 Mouse Morris Edward O'Grady 1975 no race 1975 1976 Sage Merlin 8 Peter Greenall Jack Hardy 1977 Alpenstock 10 Dick Saunders Stan Mellor 1978 Gay Tie 5 John Fowler Mick O'Toole 1979 Arctic Ale 8 John Fowler Dan Moore 1980 Waggoners Walk 11 Tony Fowler Caroline Mason 1981 Lucky Vane 6 Stephen Bush Toby Balding 1982 Hazy Dawn 7 Willie Mullins Paddy Mullins 1983 Bit of a Skite 7 Frank Codd Edward O'Grady 1984 Macks Friendly 7 Willie Mullins Paddy Mullins 1985 Northern Bay 9 Tony Fowler Tom Bill 1986 Omerta 6 Lorcan Wyer Homer Scott 1987 Mighty Mark 8 Jimmy Walton Frank Walton 1988 Over the Road 7 Tom Costello Terry Casey 1989 Boraceva 6 Seamus Mullins Toby Balding 1990 Topsham Bay 7 Paul Hacking David Barons 1991 Smooth Escort 7 Tony Martin Di Haine 1992 Keep Talking 7 Marcus Armytage Tim Thomson Jones 1993 Ushers Island 7 Noel Wilson Howard Johnson 1994 Christmas Gorse 8 Marcus Armytage Nick Gaselee 1995 Front Line 8 John Berry Jonjo O'Neill 1996 Loving Around 8 Philip Fenton Edward O'Grady 1997 Flimsy Truth 11 Micky Harris Martin Weston 1998 Wandering Light 9 Rupert Wakley Tim Forster 1999 Deejaydee 7 Tony Martin Michael Hourigan 2000 Relaxation 8 Mark Bradburne Henry Daly 2001 no race 2001 2002 Rith Dubh 10 JT McNamara Jonjo O'Neill 2003 Sudden Shock 8 Denis Cullen Jonjo O'Neill 2004 Native Emperor 8 Robert Widger Jonjo O'Neill 2005 Another Rum 7 Mark O'Hare Ian Duncan 2006 Hot Weld 7 Richard Harding Ferdy Murphy 2007 Butler's Cabin 7 Alan Berry Jonjo O'Neill 2008 Old Benny 7 Charlie Huxley Alan King 2009 Tricky Trickster 6 Sam Waley-Cohen Nigel Twiston-Davies 2010 Poker de Sivola 7 Katie Walsh Ferdy Murphy 2011 Chicago Grey 8 Derek O'Connor Gordon Elliott 2012 Teaforthree 8 JT McNamara Rebecca Curtis 2013 Back in Focus 8 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2014 Midnight Prayer 9 Joshua Newman Alan King 2015 Cause of Causes 7 Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott 2016 Minella Rocco 6 Derek O'Connor Jonjo O'Neill 2017 Tiger Roll 7 Lisa O'Neill Gordon Elliott 2018 Rathvinden 10 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2019 Le Breuil 7 Jamie Codd Ben Pauling 2020 Ravenhill 10 Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott 2021 Galvin 7 Jack Kennedy Ian Ferguson 2022 Stattler 7 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2023 Gaillard Du Mesnil 7 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2024 Corbetts Cross 7 Derek O'Connor Emmet Mullins 2025 Haiti Couleurs 8 Ben Jones Rebecca Curtis 2026 Holloway Queen 6 James Bowen Nicky Henderson

See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

References

Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

cheltenham.co.uk – Media information pack (2010). pedigreequery.com – National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup – Cheltenham.

History of the National Hunt Chase 1860–2010. Peter Stevens. 2010. .