Horses must be at least five years old to compete in the St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase, a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders. There are 22 obstacles to be jumped throughout the race, which is contested on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of around 3 miles and 212 furlongs (3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards, or 5,294 meters). Every year, it is planned to occur in March at the Cheltenham Festival.
The course, which is also known as the “amateur Gold Cup,” is run over the same terrain and distance as the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was founded in 1904, and Palmy Boy took first place in the inaugural race.
The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase is the full name of the competition. Prior to the 2021 running, the term “fox” was dropped from the title of the race, which had been known as the St. James’s Place Foxhunters’ Chase up until 2020.
The Festival Hunter Chase entry requirements are based on a horse’s prior results in particular race types over a given time span. A horse must have won two open point-to-point races, finished first or second in two hunter chases, finished first or second in one hunter chase and won one open point-to-point race in order to be eligible.
Table of Contents
Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Winner List 1946-2022
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1946 | Iloilo | 9 | Harry Freeman-Jackson | Harry Freeman-Jackson |
| 1947 | Lucky Purchase | 9 | John Nichols | Sidney Banks |
| 1948 | State Control | 8 | Harry Llewellyn | Harry Llewellyn |
| 1950 | Greenwood | 13 | John Stuart-Evans | J. T. Evans |
| 1951 | Halloween | 6 | Dickie Smalley | Bill Wightman |
| 1952 | Parasol II | 7 | Ivor Kerwood | A. Walton |
| 1953 | Dunboy II (DH) | 9 | Charlie Scott | P. Bruce |
| 1953 | Merry (DH) | 13 | Gay Kindersley | Alec Kerr |
| 1954 | Happymint | 9 | Danny Moralee | Stewart Wight |
| 1956 | The Callant | 8 | John Scott-Aiton | Stewart Wight |
| 1957 | The Callant | 9 | John Scott-Aiton | Stewart Wight |
| 1958 | Whinstone Hill | 9 | Bobby Brewis | Bobby Brewis |
| 1959 | Some Baby | 10 | John Thorne | Tim Rootes |
| 1960 | Whinstone Hill | 11 | Bobby Brewis | Bobby Brewis |
| 1961 | College Master | 11 | Laurie Morgan | Laurie Morgan |
| 1962 | College Master | 12 | Laurie Morgan | Laurie Morgan |
| 1963 | Grand Morn II | 9 | R. Bloomfield | G. Shepheard |
| 1964 | Freddie | 7 | Alan Mactaggart | Reg Tweedie |
| 1965 | Woodside Terrace | 12 | Dick Woodhouse | Dick Woodhouse |
| 1966 | Straight Lady | 10 | Richard Shepherd | William Shepherd |
| 1967 | Mulbarton | 11 | Nick Gaselee | Ian Pattullo |
| 1968 | Bright Beach | 8 | Charlie Macmillan | Geordie Dun |
| 1969 | Queens Guide | 8 | G. Wade | Willie Wade |
| 1970 | Highworth | 11 | Dick Woodhouse | Dick Woodhouse |
| 1971 | Hope Again | 9 | Richard Smith | Denis Windell |
| 1972 | Credit Call | 8 | Chris Collins | Arthur Stephenson |
| 1973 | Bullocks Horn | 10 | Lord Oaksey | Bob Turnell |
| 1974 | Corrie Burn | 8 | Ian Williams | George Fairbairn |
| 1975 | Real Rascal | 12 | George Hyatt | Barbara Surman |
| 1976 | False Note | 10 | Bryan Smart | John Horton |
| 1977 | Long Lane | 9 | Richard Shepherd | Richard Shepherd |
| 1978 | Timmie’s Battle | 7 | Peter Grenall | Arthur Stephenson |
| 1979 | Spartan Missile | 7 | John Thorne | John Thorne |
| 1980 | Rolls Rambler | 9 | Oliver Sherwood | Fred Winter |
| 1981 | Grittar | 8 | Dick Saunders | Frank Gilman |
| 1982 | The Drunken Duck | 9 | Brod Munro-Wilson | Brod Munro-Wilson |
| 1983 | Eliogarty | 8 | Caroline Beasley | Barry Kelly |
| 1984 | Venture to Cognac | 11 | Oliver Sherwood | Fred Winter |
| 1985 | Elmboy | 7 | Alan Hill | Norman Mawle |
| 1986 | Attitude Adjuster | 6 | Ted Walsh | Mouse Morris |
| 1987 | Observe | 11 | Charlie Brooks | Fred Winter |
| 1988 | Certain Light | 10 | Paul Hacking | Jean Campbell |
| 1989 | Three Counties | 12 | Katie Rimell | Mercy Rimell |
| 1990 | Call Collect | 9 | Ray Martin | John Parkes |
| 1991 | Lovely Citizen | 8 | Willie O’Sullivan | Eugene M. O’Sullivan |
| 1992 | Rushing Wild | 7 | Justin Farthing | Richard Barber |
| 1993 | Double Silk | 9 | Ron Treloggen | Reg Wilkins |
| 1994 | Double Silk | 10 | Ron Treloggen | Reg Wilkins |
| 1995 | Fantus | 8 | Polly Curling | Richard Barber |
| 1996 | Elegant Lord | 8 | Enda Bolger | Enda Bolger |
| 1997 | Fantus | 10 | Tim Mitchell | Richard Barber |
| 1998 | Earthmover | 7 | Joe Tizzard | Richard Barber |
| 1999 | Castle Mane | 7 | Ben Pollock | Caroline Bailey |
| 2000 | Cavalero | 11 | Alex Charles-Jones | John Manners |
| 2002 | Last Option | 10 | Fiona Needham | Robin Tate |
| 2003 | Kingscliff | 6 | Richard Young | Sally Alner |
| 2004 | Earthmover | 13 | Rilly Goschen | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | Sleeping Night | 9 | Colman Sweeney | Paul Nicholls |
| 2006 | Whyso Mayo | 9 | Damien Murphy | Raymond Hurley |
| 2007 | Drombeag | 9 | J. T. McNamara | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2008 | Amicelli | 9 | Oliver Greenall | Cherry Coward |
| 2009 | Cappa Bleu | 7 | Richard Burton | Sheila Crow |
| 2010 | Baby Run | 10 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2011 | Zemsky | 8 | Derek O’Connor | Ian Ferguson |
| 2012 | Salsify | 7 | Colman Sweeney | Roger Sweeney |
| 2013 | Salsify | 8 | Colman Sweeney | Roger Sweeney |
| 2014 | Tammys Hill | 9 | James Smyth | Liam Lennon |
| 2015 | On The Fringe | 10 | Nina Carberry | Enda Bolger |
| 2016 | On The Fringe | 11 | Nina Carberry | Enda Bolger |
| 2017 | Pacha Du Polder | 10 | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls |
| 2018 | Pacha Du Polder | 11 | Harriet Tucker | Paul Nicholls |
| 2019 | Hazel Hill | 11 | Alex Edwards | Philip Rowley |
| 2020 | It Came to Pass | 10 | Maxine O’Sullivan | Eugene O’Sullivan |
| 2021 | Porlock Bay | 10 | Lorcan Williams | Will Biddick |
| 2022 | Billaway | 10 | Patrick Mullins | Willie Mullins |
What is the total Distance to be covered in Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase?
3m 2f 70y (5,294 meters)
What is the Surface of Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase?
Turf
What is the Minimum Age Requirement for Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 2023?
5-years-old and up.
What Channel is Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 2023 on?
Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup 2023 will be broadcasted on iTV1 and Racing TV. Besides this you can approach various online streaming media services to watch the race live.
When is Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 2023?
Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup 2023 is scheduled to be happen on the day 4 of Cheltenham Festival 2023 which is 17th March, 2023.
What Time will Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup Begin?
Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup 2023 will begin at 16:10 UK time.
Where will be Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 2023?
Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup is to be happen on the Old Course at Cheltenham.
What is the Purse for Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase 2023?
The purse for Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase Cup 2023 is expected to somewhat near £100,000. In 2021, the winner, took home £21,114 from the total prize pool of £33,750.
Who are the Successful Jockey in Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase History?
Colman Sweeney – Sleeping Night (2005), Salsify (2012, 2013)
Who are the leading trainer in Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase History?
- Richard Barber – Rushing Wild (1992), Fantus (1995, 1997), Earthmover (1998)
- Paul Nicholls – Earthmover (2004), Sleeping Night (2005), Pacha du Polder (2017, 2018)