National Hunt Challenge Cup tips 2023

FREE professional horse racing tips for the Cheltenham Festival

Want tips for all 28 Cheltenham races via email each morning?

Join now to make sure you get them!

Get our FREE guide to the Cheltenham Festival

Home » Cheltenham » National Hunt Challenge Cup

Cheltenham

Day One Tips

Cheltenham

Day Two Tips

Cheltenham

Day Three Tips

Cheltenham

Day Four Tips

Cheltenham

Bookie Offers

View Our tips for the National Hunt Challenge Cup

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup TipsWhen is the National Hunt Challenge Cup 2023?

Cheltenham Tuesday 14th March 5.30pm

National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+)

Distance: 4 miles

Weights – 11st 4lbs (5yo), 11st 6lbs (6yo+), 7lb allowance for mares

The final race on day one is the National Hunt Challenge Cup for amateur riders, it is a novice chase over four miles, and they jump 25 fences.

It is a true test of stamina and it takes a lot of these staying chasers out of their comfort zones.

As the race is confined to amateur riders and Cheltenham is a tricky track to ride, it is worth siding with riders who have a bit of experience on their side.

Despite the competitive nature of the race, no winner has returned at higher than 16/1 in the last twelve years.

National Hunt Challenge Cup Trends and Statistics

12 Year Trends and Statistics 

  • Age – 8 of the last 12 winners were aged between 7 and 8.
  • Sex – All of the last 12 winners were geldings.
  • Trainer – Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins are the only trainers to saddle more than 1 winner in the last 12 years with 4 and 2 wins respectively.
  • Country – 8 of the last 12 winners were bred in Ireland, 2 in France, 1 in Great Britain and 1 in the USA.
  • Colour – 9 of the last 12 winners were bay..
  • Weight CarriedAll of the last of the last twelve winners carried 11st 6lbs.
  • Starting Price (SP) – 11 of the last 12 winners returned a SP of between 8/1 and 16/1.
  • Starting Price Rank – 3 of the last 12 winners started as favourite and 10 were in the first 5 in the betting.
  • Headgear – 10 of the last 12 winners were without headgear
  • Days Since Last Run – 7 of the last 12 winners had run between 16 and 60 days ago. 
  • Last Run Form –5 of the last 12 winners had won last time out. 10 finished in the first 5.
  • Official Rating – 11 of the last 12 winners had an OR between 139 and 152

Who are the National Hunt Challenge Cup Leading Contenders?

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE remains a chaser to be kept on the right side of with Paul Nicholls’ charge progressing with every run and already a four-time winner over the larger obstacles.

The Shantou gelding has Festival form already in the book having finished sixth in last season’s Albert Bartlett Hurdle and he’s taken really well to chasing this campaign, scoring at Cheltenham in November before landing a brace of Grade Two wins at Doncaster and Warwick latterly where he ran out an impressive victor from Doyen Breed, jumping well throughout at the head of affairs.

There’s surely better to come from him on that evidence and he shapes as if he’ll be even better faced with a greater test of stamina. This would certainly represent a step up in that department but the way he jumps and travels in his races then there’d be no surprise in seeing him find another chunk of improvement.

A bigger field also shouldn’t cause an issue given he’s won in a big field over hurdles while he’s proven also to be versatile with regards to ground conditions so there’s every chance of a big performance here if this race proves to be his preference.

ANTE-POST SELECTION: THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE

Here's what Keith wrote ahead of the National Hunt Challenge Cup:

GALVIN – Gordon Elliot trained, unbeaten since finishing runner up to Imperial Aura in the Listed Novices Handicap Chase at last years festival.

LATEST EXHIBITION – Runner up in the Albert Bartlet Novices hurdle in 2020, Has taken well to fences.

ROYALE PAGAAILLE – Won his last 3 chases including the Grade 2 Peter Marsh at Haydock.

NEXT DESINATION – Grade 1 winning hurdler for Willie Mullins who has notched up a pair of Grade 2 chases since joining Paul Nicholls.

What’s Our National Hunt Challenge Cup Tips?

We will update this box with our tips for the National Hunt Challenge Cup when they are finalised

59 entered at this stage and a mazimum of 16 will line up on the day. Gordon Elliott's GALVIN ticks plenty of boxes and has to go on the short list. LATEST EXHIBITION has stamina to prove. ROYALE PAGILLE will love it if the going turns up heavy but he has a full book of Cheltenham entries and connections may have other targets in mind. NEXT DESTINATION is progressing well and joins GALVIN on the shortlist.

On the day, Keith tipped:

REMASTERED 16:50 Cheltenham 13/2 each way – Unbeaten over fences and can continue to progress, some are concerned about the better going but he ran well enough when he encountered similar over hurdles.

How did he do?

REMASTERED – led, hit 4 out, headed after 3 out, lost 4th and weakened from last to finish in 5th place.

FRT Tipster Keith’s wrote this for the 2020 Narional Hunt Challege Cup Chase:

Try as I might I can’t get away from the ante-post favourite CAREFULLY SELECTED for this race. His trainer, Willie Mullins knows exactly what is needed to win this race, having won it four times – twice as a trainer, and twice as a jockey.

First of all I will eliminate his rivals. CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC is passed over on being too old at nine and lacks a recent run, whilst DANNY WHIZZBANG is inexperienced having only run twice over fences. BATTLEOVERDOYAN was struggling and beaten when falling last time. SAM BROWN is likely to find this trip too far. TWO FOR GOLD possibly definitely (hedging my bets there!) has place claims based on the way he refused to give up last time and he should see the trip out.  So as you can see I’ve carefully selected (see what I did there?) my tip for this race and CAREFULLY SELECTED is the stand out choice – he is likely to be even better than he has shown before he stepped up to this marathon trip.

Result: CAREFULLY SELECTED looked like getting at least a place in the National Hunt Challenge Cup when unseating at the last.

National Hunt Challenge Cup Results

Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys Novices Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Distance: 3m6f (6581 yards) Prize (winner): £60388 Dir: Left Handed
Runners: 6    Going: Good To Soft    Class: Class 1 Grade 2    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 7 mins 37.80s   Avg OR: 146     Median OR: 148     Fences: 22

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds
6 1st Stattler (IRE) 7 11-6 153 Mullins, W P Mullins, Mr P W 2/1
held up behind leaders, went 2nd 12th, challenged going well 3 out, led 2 out, drawing clear when ridden flat, pricked ears and well in control, comfortably BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 4.2 Owner: Mr R A Bartlett
5 2nd 8 Run Wild Fred (IRE) 8 11-6 158 Elliott, Gordon Codd, Mr J J 15/8 (Fav)
prominent, reached at 3rd and led, headed 5th, led 7th, hit 18th, ridden and headed 2 out, well held by winner flat, kept on BF IP MIN 1.61 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
7 3rd 22 Vanillier (FR) 7 11-6 148 Cromwell, Gavin Patrick OConnor, Derek 11/4
led until 2nd, soon lost place, hit 7th, pushed along briefly after 10th, closed 16th, 3rd and outpaced from 3 out, weakened before 2 out, blundered last BF IP MIN 3 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Mrs H M Keaveney
1 4th 24 Beatthebullet (IRE) 8 11-6 126 Curtis, Miss Rebecca King, Mr James 100/1
prominent, led 2nd until 3rd, led 5th, headed 7th, stayed handy, lost place after 4 out, well behind after 3 out, went narrow 4th from 2 out, tailed off BF IP MIN 60 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Conyers, OReilly, Roddis, Zeffman
4 5th SH Pats Fancy (IRE) 7 11-6 143 Curtis, Miss Rebecca ONeill, Mr B 11/1
held up in touch in rear, closed on outside 12th, not fluent 16th, pushed along 19th, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten 4th 3 out, soon behind, blundered 2 out and lost narrow 4th, tailed off BF IP MIN 10.5 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: Hydes,mcdermott,spencer,frobisher & Le
2 PU Braeside (IRE) 8 11-6 148 Elliott, Gordon James, Mr R 20/1
not fluent in rear, blundered badly 11th then soon pulled up BF IP MIN 18.5 BF IP MAX 1000 Owner: KTDA Racing

Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
Distance: 3m6f (6581 yards +19 yards rails adjustment) Prize (winner): £52753 Dir: Left Handed
Runners: 12    Going: Good To Soft    Class: Class 1 Grade 2    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 7 mins 57.84s   Avg OR: 140     Median OR: 141.5

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age Weight OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
3 1st Galvin (IRE) 7 11-6 152 Ferguson, I R Kennedy, J W 7/2
held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd and 7th, closed gradually from 18th, tracking leaders 3 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well
8 2nd 1.5 Next Destination (IRE) 9 11-6 153 Nicholls, P F Cobden, Harry 3/1
tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, close 3rd last, went and stayed on flat, not able to trouble winner
2 3rd 1.5 Escaria Ten (FR) 7 11-6 147 Foster, Mrs Denise Heskin, A P 11/4 (Fav)
chased leaders, mistake 7th, dived at 15th, challenged after 3 out, led next, pressed last, soon headed, held by winner and faded into 3rd flat
13 4th 14 Snow Leopardess 9 10-13 138 Longsdon, C E Coleman, A 16/1
chased leaders on inside, outpaced in 5th when switched right before 2 out, went 4th from last, kept on but no impression
10 5th 6 Remastered 8 11-6 146 Pipe, D E Scudamore, Tom 11/2
led, hit 4 out, headed after 3 out, lost 4th and weakened from last
12 6th 1.75 The Mighty Don (IRE) 9 11-6 140 Gifford, N J Davies, James 40/1
mid-division, not fluent 12th, headway 17th, mistake 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten 2 out
5 7th 1.5 Lord Royal (FR) 6 11-6 148 Mullins, W P Townend, P 10/1
held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, some headway before 3 out, 7th and ridden bend before 2 out, no impression
1 8th 5 Eden Du Houx (FR) 7 11-6 125 Pipe, D E Noonan, David G 200/1
held up towards rear, pecked 15th, tried to close on downhill run to 3 out, made no impression and well beaten after 3 out
9 PU Ofalltheginjoints (IRE) 7 11-6 143 Tizzard, C L Power, R M 33/1
held up towards rear, not fluent 17th, tried to close after 4 out, no impression, not fluent and weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
7 PU Nestor Park (FR) 8 11-6 136 Pauling, Ben Morgan, Luca 40/1
chased leaders on outside, mistake 6th, jumped left 8th and 9th, blundered 19th and lost place, blundered 4 out, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
6 PU Macgiloney (IRE) 8 11-6 131 Hogan, Denis Gerard Flanagan, S W 100/1
jumped slowly at times in rear, behind 18th, pulled up before next
4 PU Lithic (IRE) 10 11-6 125 ONeill, Jonjo ONeill, Jonjo (Jr) 150/1
mid-division on inside, not fluent and lost place 13th, slow 14th and 15th, behind when pulled up before 18th

Non Runners  Soldier Of Love

National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders Novices Chase (Grade 2)
Distance: 3m6f (6581 yards) Prize (winner): £74125 Direction: Left Handed
Runners: 14    Going: Soft    Class: Class 1 Grade 2    Age Restrictions: 5yo+
Winners Time: 8 mins 25.16s   Avg OR: 137     Median OR: 137
   

No Place Dist Bt Horse Age OR Trainer Jockey (Claim) Odds BF BFP
9 1st Ravenhill (IRE) 10 142 Elliott, Gordon Codd, Mr J J 12/1 17.00 3.74
held up towards rear of mid-division, headway on outside 17th (water), went 2nd going well 3 out, driven and almost upsides next, led last, ridden out flat, kept on well BF IP MIN 1.01 BF IP MAX 27
6 2nd 2.25 Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 7 153 Hobson, Richard Waley-Cohen, Mr S 11/2 8.07 2.24
with leader, led 3rd, went right 12th, hard pressed 2 out, hit and headed last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not quite able to get back on terms, held towards finish BF IP MIN 2 BF IP MAX 1000
5 3rd 28 Lamanver Pippin 7 132 Tizzard, C L Biddick, Mr W 33/1 95.00 12.50
mid-division, tracked leaders 9th, blundered when left 2nd briefly 16th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, well held when left modest 3rd at last BF IP MIN 28 BF IP MAX 1000
4 4th 3 Forza Milan (IRE) 8 138 Nash, J A OConnor, Derek 12/1 12.02 3.32
mid-division, hampered and carried right by loose horse approaching 18th, driven 3 out, never reached leaders, left modest 4th at last BF IP MIN 11 BF IP MAX 1000
11 5th 13 Smoking Gun (IRE) 7 136 OBrien, Joseph Patrick Hamilton, Mr T 20/1 22.62 5.62
in touch, dropped to mid-division 10th, headway 17th (water), driven and unable to go with leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened BF IP MIN 20 BF IP MAX 1000
7 6th 39 Newtide (IRE) 7 144 Bailey, K C ONeill, Mr B 12/1 14.93 3.60
in touch, went 2nd before 17th (water), driven and lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off BF IP MIN 5.2 BF IP MAX 1000
12 PU Some Can Dance (IRE) 7 122 Drinkwater, S W Dunne, H D 100/1 781.65 56.25
not fluent 2nd, behind most of way, jumped slowly 18th, struggling when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next BF IP MIN 450 BF IP MAX 1000
14 PU The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 7 144 Twiston-Davies, N A Baker, Mr Z 25/1 44.00 7.95
in touch, hit and dropped to mid-division 9th, hit 11th, struggling in rear when carried right and slow jump 18th, quickly pulled up after BF IP MIN 21 BF IP MAX 1000
3 PU Clondaw Cian (IRE) 10 120 Leech, Mrs S Barry, Mr J C 100/1 485.51 38.00
always behind, lost touch when jumped right 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out BF IP MIN 5.4 BF IP MAX 1000
8 PU Ocean Cove (IRE) 8 135 OBrien, Fergal ONeill, Ms Lisa 33/1 47.53 7.20
tracked leaders, blundered 13th, hampered 16th, lost place 18th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 42 BF IP MAX 1000
10 PU Redzor (IRE) 7 133 Skelton, Daniel Andrews, Jack 66/1 89.38 12.07
mid-division, blundered and dropped towards rear 11th, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out BF IP MIN 85 BF IP MAX 1000
13 UR Springfield Fox 7 142 George, T R George, Mr N 7/1 11.00 2.70
hit 1st, led to 3rd, pressed leader, carried right 12th, blundered and unseated rider 16th BF IP MIN 8.6 BF IP MAX 1000
1 UR Anteros (IRE) 12 122 Leech, Mrs S Skehan, Mr D 100/1 427.84 44.00
held up behind, unseated rider when hampered and jinked right 18th BF IP MIN 23 BF IP MAX 1000
2 UR Carefully Selected (IRE) 8 152 Mullins, W P Mullins, Mr P W 10/11 (Fav) 2.12 1.44
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, driven and outpaced by front pair turning in, ridden after next, never on terms, well held in narrow 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last BF IP MIN 1.55 BF IP MAX 1000

National Hunt Challenge Cup Previous Winners

Date Going Runners Winner Stallion Age Jockey (Clm) Trainer Odds Weight OR Days
Good To Soft 6 7 2/1 11-6 153 44d
Good To Soft 12 7 7/2 11-6 152 144d
Soft 14 10 12/1 11-6 142 107d
Soft 18 7 14/1 11-6 145 52d
Soft 16 10 9/2 11-6 150 37d
Good To Soft 18 7 16/1 11-6 152 134d
Good To Soft 20 6 8/1 11-6 143 24d
Good To Soft 17 7 8/1 11-6 146 47d
Good To Soft 15 9 8/1 11-6 139 31d
Good To Soft 16 8 9/4 11-6 150 75d
Good 19 8 5/1 11-6 146 18d
Good 16 8 5/1 11-6 151 78d
Good 18 7 14/1 11-6 127 30d
Good To Soft 19 6 11/1 11-11 129 46d
Good To Soft 20 7 9/1 11-7 130 33d
Good To Soft 19 7 33/1 12-0 123 96d
Good 22 7 33/1 11-11 120 39d
Good 20 7 40/1 11-7 0 32d
Good 22 8 5/1 11-11 136 39d
Good 24 8 25/1 11-7 134 19d
Good To Soft 26 10 10/1 11-11 115 19d
Good 21 8 8/1 12-0 0 25d
Good To Soft 21 7 13/2 12-0 0 38d
Good 24 9 10/1 12-7 0 114d
Good To Firm 23 11 33/1 12-7 0 32d

Who is FRT’s Cheltenham Day 1 Tipster?

Meet Gary, better known as The Bookies Enemy.
 

He’s not only one of our most experienced tipsters (having been tipping professionally for six years), but he also shares his extensive knowledge with his members by providing a full analysis of every one of his selections.

You won't be betting blind.
 
Instead, put your money behind well-researched, fully explained tips from the professional tipster who’s delivered year on year for his followers:

  • Over 937 points profit
  • A lifetime 19.33% strike rate
  • 14.71% ROI

Cheltenham Festival Tuesday

Race Schedule

START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE
13:30 The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m abt ½f Hurdle
14:10 The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase abt 2m Chase
14:50 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 1f Chase
15:30 The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
(feature race)
2m abt ½f Hurdle
16:10 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 4f Hurdle
16:50 The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Grade 3) 2m abt 4½f Chase
17:30 The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) 3m abt 6f Chase

 

The Countdown to Cheltenham 2024

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Get your FREE copy of the Horse's Mouth Magazine

Cheltenham Special

Our free guide to Cheltenham Festival with all our Antepost tips 

VIP members need not apply, you'll be sent yours automatically on the 4th of March

Please check your inbox and don't forget to check the spam folder