11 st 10 lb (5yo); 12 st 0 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares
Purse
£50,000 (2023) 1st: £24,445
Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
2024
Sine Nomine
Its On The Line
Time Leader
Previous years
2023
Premier Magic
Its On The Line
Shantou Flyer
2022
Billaway
Winged Leader
Mighty Stowaway
2021
Porlock Bay
Billaway
Staker Wallace
2020-2011
2020
It Came To Pass
Billaway
Shantou Flyer
2019
Hazel Hill
Shantou Flyer
Top Wood
2018
Pacha Du Polder
Top Wood
Barel Of Laughs
2017
Pacha Du Polder
Wonderful Charm
Barel of Laughs
2016
On The Fringe
Marito
Paint The Clouds
2015
On The Fringe
Following Dreams
Paint The Clouds
2014
Tammys Hill
Carsonstown Boy
On The Fringe
2013
Salsify
Divine Intavention
Cottage Oak
2012
Salsify
Chapoturgeon
Oscar Delta
2011
Zemsky
Mid Div And Creep
Oscar Delta
2010-2001
2010
Baby Run
Kilty Storm
Reach for the Top
2009
Cappa Bleu
Turthen
Baby Run
2008
Amicelli
Bon Accord
Arctic Times
2007
Drombeag
Whyso Mayo
Ned Kelly
2006
Whyso Mayo
First Down Jets
Joe Blake
2005
Sleeping Night
Foly Pleasant
Placid Man
2004
Earthmover
Never Compromise
County Derry
2003
Kingscliff
Bright Approach
Last Option
2002
Last Option
Gunner Welburn
Torduff Express
2000-1991
2000
Cavalero
Real Value
Trade Dispute
1999
Castle Mane
Elegant Lord
Last Option
1998
Earthmover
Stay in Touch
Flashing Steel
1997
Fantus
Cab on Target
What A Hand
1996
Elegant Lord
Cool Dawn
Kerry Orchid
1995
Fantus
Holland House
Elegant Lord
1994
Double Silk
Teaplanter
Once Stung
1993
Double Silk
Kerry Orchid
Once Stung
1992
Rushing Wild
Ardesee
Federal Trooper
1991
Lovely Citizen
Dun Gay Lass
Crammer
1990-1988
1990
Call Collect
Old Nick
West Tip
1989
Three Counties
Kelly's Honor
Call Collect
1988
Certain Light
Three Counties
Acarine
The St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase is a National Huntsteeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs (3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards, or 5,294 metres), and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The event is contested over the same course and distance as the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it is sometimes referred to as the "amateur Gold Cup". It was established in 1904, and the inaugural running was won by Palmy Boy. It was backed by the insurance company Sun Alliance and London in 1972 and 1973, and for the following five years it was run without a sponsor. The art auctioneers Christie's supported the race from 1979 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2015 it was sponsored by the Country Gentleman's Association.[1] Since 2016 it has been sponsored by St. James's Place plc. The race's full title is the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase. Until 2020 the race was known as the St James's Place Foxhunters' Chase - the word "fox" was removed from the title prior to the 2021 running.
Qualification for entry in the Festival Hunter Chase is based on a horse's previous performances in certain types of race within a specific period. To be eligible a horse must have finished first or second twice in hunter chases, or have won two open point-to-point races, or have won one open point-to-point race and finished first or second in a hunter chase.
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.[2]
Records
Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):
The Callant – 1956, 1957
Whinstone Hill – 1958, 1960
College Master – 1961, 1962
Double Silk – 1993, 1994
Fantus – 1995, 1997
Earthmover – 1998, 2004
Salsify – 2012, 2013
On The Fringe – 2015, 2016
Pacha du Polder – 2017, 2018
Leading jockey since 1946 (3 wins):
Colman Sweeney – Sleeping Night (2005), Salsify (2012, 2013),