The Terry Biddlecombe Challenge Trophy was a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which was open to horses aged five years or older. It was run at Wincanton over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,224 metres), and was scheduled to take place each year in November.
The race was named in honour of the jockey Terry Biddlecombe and was last run in 2004. It was won by some of the great names in steeplechasing during the eighties, but the races were often uncompetitive with the winner starting long odds-on.
The race was awarded Grade 2 status in 1990, and the following year was renamed the Desert Orchid South Western Pattern Chase. In 1994 the race became a Limited Handicap, although it maintained its Grade 2 status.
In its final year it was run as the Desert Orchid Silver Cup, a Class C Handicap, with the Grade 2 status being transferred to the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, run on the same day. There is still a race at Wincanton, now sponsored, where the winning owner receives the Desert Orchid Silver Cup. Run in October it is now run over a distance of just less than 3 miles 3 furlongs.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1974 Clarification7Lord OakseyRoddy Armytage1975Rough House9John BurkeFred Rimell1976April Seventh10Andy TurnellBob Turnell1977Border Incident7John FrancomeRichard Head1978Kininvie9Philip HobbsA Dunn1979Silver Buck7Tommy CarmodyTony Dickinson1980Diamond Edge9Bill SmithFulke Walwyn1981Silver Buck9Robert EarnshawMichael Dickinson1982Silver Buck10Robert EarnshawMichael Dickinson1983Brown Chamberlin8Ben de HaanFred Winter1984Wayward Lad9Robert EarnshawMichael Dickinson1985The Tsarevich9John WhiteNicky Henderson 1986 Half Free 10 Peter Scudamore Fred Winter 1987 Desert Orchid 8 Colin Brown David Elsworth 1988 Desert Orchid 9 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth 1989 Panto Prince 8 Brendan Powell Snr Chris Popham 1990 Panto Prince 9 Brendan Powell Snr Chris Popham 1991 Sabin Du Loir 12 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Remittance Man 8 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1993 Panto Prince 12 Simon McNeill Chris Popham 1994 Givus A Buck 11 Paul Holley David Elsworth 1995 Coulton 8 Richard Dunwoody Oliver Sherwood 1996 Coulton 9 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1997 Gales Cavalier 9 Adrian Maguire David Gandolfo 1998 Super Tactics 10 Andrew Thornton Robert Alner 1999 No Retreat 6 Tony Dobbin Steve Brookshaw 2000 Fadalko 7 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls 2001 Celibate 10 Noel Fehily Charlie Mann 2002 Valley Henry 7 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls 2003 Edredon Bleu 11 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight 2004 Cameron Bridge 8 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
References
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