Foxhunter Chase

The Christie's Foxhunter Chase is one of the oldest Cheltenham Festival races on the schedule. It is run on the new course at Cheltenham and is exactly the same distance in length as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and three miles two and a half furlongs.

The race is open to five-year-old horses and older and there is a weight requirement of 12 stones dead for any horse six-years-old or older entering the race. Some of the oldest Cheltenham Festival races have been used to follow the bigger races over the four days.

Christie's Foxhunter Chase History

Christie's Foxhunter Chase history started in 1904 and has been sponsored by auction firm Christie's since 1979. The race is run over the exact same ground as the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Throughout Christie’s Foxhunter Chase history the race has become known as the Amateur Gold Cup because horses of lower quality and amateur jockeys often compete in the race.

Christie's Foxhunter Chase Qualifying

There are various Christie's Foxhunter Chase qualifying restrictions which horses must meet if they want to compete for the £40,000 prize purse. A horse has to have finished first or second in at least two Hunter Chases.

Alternatively horses may enter if they have won two point-to-point races or if they have won one point-to-point race and finished first or second in one Hunter Chase.

Foxhunter Chase Record

A Foxhunter Chase record may not be the most prestigious from the whole Cheltenham Festival but the race is one of the few with many holding the same Foxhunter Chase record.

Six horses hold the Foxhunter Chase record for most wins; The Callant, Whinstone Hill, College Master, Double Silk, Fantus and Earthmover.

Eight jockeys hold the Foxhunter Chase record for having ridden the most winners in the race; John Scott-Aiton, Bobby Brewis, John Thorne, Laurie Morgan, Dick Woodhouse, Richard Shepherd, Oliver Sherwood and Ron Treloggen.

Richard Barber holds the Foxhunter Chase record for leading trainer with a combined total of four winners from the race.

Best Value Cheltenham Festival Betting

The Christie's Foxhunter Chase offers some of the best value Cheltenham Festival betting because despite the lower quality of the race all round, it's just as difficult to get round as the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The sheer length of the race and the number of fences to be jumped means there is ample opportunity for horses to make mistakes. This has produced some lengthy prices in the past and it’s one of the best value Cheltenham Festival betting races over the four days.

Famous Cheltenham Trainers and Jockeys

The Christie's Foxhunter Chase has been a race where some of the most famous Cheltenham trainers and jockeys have all had success. Traditionally amateur jockeys are given a ride in the race because of its reduced importance.

The likes of Enda Bolger, Joe Tizzard and Richard Burton have all ridden winners in this race. Enda Bolger is one of the most famous Cheltenham trainers and jockeys because his win in 1996 came on Elegant Lord, a horse he also trained.