Festival Hunters Chase Tips – Preview, Odds & Trends (Cheltenham Day 4 4.10pm)

The Festival Hunters Chase (Foxhunters Chase) is run over 3 miles 2½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham or, in other words, the same course and distance as the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Traditionally restricted to amateur riders, the race is often known, colloquially, as the ‘Amateurs’ Gold Cup’.

 

Festival Hunters Chase Tips

On Friday at 4.10, with Prestbury Park still on a high from Minella Indo winning back to back Gold Cups (Bonus Tip), we turn our attention to the Race that stops a nation……from wanting to have a 5th day at the Cheltenham Festival. Billaway, for the 3rd year in a row, is the favourite but I would be concerned that he has found one too good on his last 2 attempts. Winged Leader beat him easily in Thurles and I think the only reason he’s not outright favourite is because Willie has said that Billaway would come on from the run. This may also be true for David Christie’s horse who was having his first start of the season under rules.

However, another horse in the race who I believe would be half its odds bar one noticeable concern, is my selection BOB AND CO (8/1). It is easy to mock Owner/Jockey David Maxwell, who once pulled up this classy French recruit because he himself was cramping. However, the likeable Maxwell has actually had 7 winners this year for a £16.38 profit to level stakes. The horse was travelling well in last year’s race before coming down 3 out and if the Jockey can get enough electrolytes on board in the lead up to the race, I fancy him to go very close.

Selection: BOB AND CO 8/1 with William Hill.

 

Hunters Chase Trends

Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged 8 or older.

Price – 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites/joint favourites, 7/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.

Last Run – 7/12 winners won on their last run before the Foxhunters Chase, 9/12 winners won or placed on their last run before Cheltenham, 9/12 winners had their last run within the last 41 days.

Previous Course Form – 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 3/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham.

Previous Distance Form – 7/12 winners had at least 1 previous run over 26/27 furlongs, 3 of the 7 had at least 1 win over 26/27 furlongs.

Previous Chase Form – 10/12 winners had at least 6 previous chase runs, 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous chase win
Rating – 9/12 winners had a rating of 134 or higher.

Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous run that season, 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous win that season.

 

St James’ Palace Foxhunters Recent Winners

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
2009	Cappa Bleu	R Burton	Sheila Crow
2010	Baby Run	Sam Twiston-Davies	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2011	Zemsky	Derek O’Connor	I R Ferguson
2012	Salsify	C J Sweeney	Rodger Sweeney
2013	Salsify	C J Sweeney	Rodger Sweeney
2014	Tammys Hill	J J Smyth	Liam Lennon
2015	On The Fringe	N Carberry	E Bolger
2016	On The Fringe	N Carberry	E Bolger
2017	Pacha Du Polder	Bryony Frost	Paul Nicholls
2018	Pacha Du Polder	Harriet Tucker	Paul Nicholls
2019	Hazel Hill	Alex Edwards	Philip Rowley
2020	It Came To Pass	M O’Sullivan	Eugene O’Sullivan

 

Foxhunters Chase 2020 Result

1st – It Came To Pass (66/1)

2nd – Billaway (11/4)

3rd – Shantou Flyer (3/1)

4th – Staker Wallace (15/2)

 

Cheltenham Day 4 Tips

The last day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival includes the Gold Cup on Friday 19th March 2021.

Race	Tip	Bet
1.30pm - Triumph Hurdle	Majborough	9/2
2.10pm - County Hurdle	King of Kingsfield	5/1
	So Scottish (ew)	14/1
2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle	Gidleigh Park	7/1
3.30pm - Cheltenham Gold Cup	Galopin Des Champs	11/10
4.10pm - Festival Challenge Cup Hunters Chase	It's on the Line	9/4
	Premier Magic	13/2
4.50pm - Paddy Power Mares Chase	Riviere D’Etel (each-way)	20/1
5.30pm - Martin Pipe Hurdle	Better Days Ahead	10/1