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13:30Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
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16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
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13:30Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
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17:30Champion Bumper
National Hunt Chase
17:30 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-14
Winner: £62,156.25
Runners: 10
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 23
Distance: 3m5f201y
The National Hunt Challenge Cup, known as the National Hunt Chase, is a novice chase for amateur riders over 3m6f at the Cheltenham Festival. Up until 2019 it was run over 4m but the distance was reduced due to welfare concerns after 2020's race, in which only four of the 18 runners completed. It is run as the final race on the first day of the festival.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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8(0)
220-22
Mister Coffey
-
J: Mr Derek O'Connor
T: Nicky Henderson
8
11-7
145
154
0-7 over fences but runner-up in five, including in the amateurs handicap at this meeting last year (3m2f, soft; acts on heavy) and in 3m handicaps on both starts this season; latest was career-best form when leading amateur Derek O'Connor had his first experience of him; it puts him firmly into each-way calculations, with this sort of trip worth a go, but he also hung last time and to have so many seconds has been frustrating.
3(0)
652420
Fakiera
-
J: Mr D G Lavery
T: Gordon Elliott
8
11-7
135
143
Second favourite, faded badly in 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here two years ago; runner-up in two handicap chases this winter, including in battling fashion over 3m5f at Fairyhouse (soft; acts on heavy); ran badly in major handicap latest, though, and now tongue tied first time; yet to fulfil early promise (lots to find on chase form) and a first chase win at today's tenth attempt looks unlikely.
4(0)
33-213
Gaillard Du Mesnil
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
7
11-7
155
167
Second-season novice; not that far off the best last term, staying on for third in 3m Grade 1 in the mud at this meeting before confirming his stamina when also taking third in the 3m5f Irish Grand National; won 3m Grade 1 novice at Leopardstown in December and 2m5f was against him on latest start; has the best form and presents a very strong case.
6(0)
12/136
Malinello
-
J: Miss Gina Andrews
T: Ben Pauling
8
11-7
130
141
Lightly raced 8yo, tongue tied this term; lengthy absence and wind surgery before winning at Newcastle (2m7f) on handicap/chase debut; creditable third at Newbury (2m6f, soft) next time, before soundly beaten over 2m4f here; has stamina in the family but his form is badly lacking in this context.
2(0)
5-1111
Coolvalla
-
J: Mr Joshua Newman
T: Chris Gordon
7
11-7
130
140
Big improvement switched to chasing, with one win at Lingfield and three at Fontwell; 19l and 17l were the last two winning margins, the latest over 3m4f (good to soft) and he goes well in the mud; that handicap form leaves him with a lot to find but he's certainly been impressing at that much lower level.
5(0)
1-2312
Mahler Mission
-
J: Mr J C Barry
T: John C McConnell
7
11-7
146
157
Can front-run; 23l seventh when 66-1 in 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here 12 months ago but better than that with wins either side last term; chase career got off to a very unpromising start behind Chemical Energy over these fences; left that way behind over 3m at Navan on last two outings, though, effective in the mud and has potential for major stamina tests such as this, so he's a big each-way player if Cheltenham record can be forgiven.
10(0)
142-43
Bellatrixsa
-
J: Miss Lucy Turner
T: Venetia Williams
6
11-0
124
139
Her greatest test of stamina was a hurdles win (3m2f, soft) and she also won the 2m2f Chester Plate on Flat; none of her form gives her a say in this, however, and soundly beaten this season in her two starts over fences.
1(0)
85-114
Chemical Energy
-
J: Mr J J Codd
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-7
147
161
Creditable eighth in 2m4f handicap hurdle at 2022 Festival; far and away his best form when miles clear in novice chase here (3m, good) in October but his only two rivals, including Mahler Mission, ran way below their best; reported by trainer to have badly needed the run in January next time but that also leaves the question mark over him on soft ground; peak form makes him chief threat to the favourite and trainer has fine record in this.
7(0)
-P2132
Minella Crooner
-
J: Mr B O'Neill
T: Gordon Elliott
7
11-7
146
155
Won a 3m maiden hurdle on soft and made steady late gains when second in 2m6f Grade 1 novice last February; yet to build on that promise but he did win in first-time cheekpieces (kept since) on second chase start and plugged on when creditable second over the extended 2m7f at Fairyhouse on latest; form needs to hit a new level but he shapes like a thorough stayer.
9(0)
31-322
Tenzing
-
J: Mr N McParlan
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
143
151
3m win in the mud only hurdles run; placed against notable rivals this term in three beginners chases and stayed on well over 3m on last two occasions but 10l adrift of today's rival Mahler Mission latest (soft to heavy); very lightly raced, the best still to come from him, but he needs a jolt of improvement.
RACING POST TIP
Gaillard Du Mesnil
His credentials should ensure a short price but this looks a cracking opportunity for GAILLARD DU MESNIL, who has run with stacks of credit in better races than this, including in the Irish Grand National when showing he stays at least 3m5f. Chemical Energy shapes as if he will eventually back up the form he showed here in a three-runner race in October but that event was on good ground and there is more for him to prove in the mud. Mahler Mission was poor in that October race but recent evidence suggests he's the one to follow the favourite home. Mister Coffey, Minella Crooner and Tenzing are considered for a place.
Verdict
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Stattler | 343-11 | 7 | 2-1 | Willie Mullins |
Patrick Mullins
|
| 2021 | Galvin | 2-1111 | 7 | 7-2 | I R Ferguson | Jack Kennedy |
| 2020 | Ravenhill | 2152-F | 10 | 12-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2019 | Le Brueil | 12324 | 7 | 14-1 | Ben Pauling | Jamie Codd |
| 2018 | Rathvinden | 112BU | 10 | 9/2 | Willie Mullins |
Patrick Mullins
|
| 2017 | Tiger Roll | 22133 | 7 | 16/1 | Gordon Elliott | Lisa O’Neill |
| 2016 | Minella Rocco | 1-3P62 | 6 | 8/1 | Jonjo O’Neill |
Derek O’Connor
|
| 2015 | Cause Of Causes | 220-75 | 7 | 8-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2014 | Midnight Prayer | 61U21 | 9 | 8-1 | Alan King |
Joshua Newman
|
| 2013 | Back In Focus | 8-2111 | 8 | 9/4F | Willie Mullins |
Patrick Mullins
|
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Adjusted RPR of at least 154, 10/10
- Top-two finish in a chase over at least 3m, 9/10
- Hurdles RPR of at least 134, 9/10
- Rated within 9lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
- Top-three finish on last completed start, 8/10
- Ran at least four times over fences, 8/10 (both exceptions trained by Willie Mullins)
- Aged six to eight, 7/10
- Had won over at least 3m (hurdles or chases), 7/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - NATIONAL HUNT CHASE 2022
Just six runners went to post on what was a rather anti-climatic way to end a sensational opening day. Run Wild Fred, runner-up in the previous season’s Irish Grand National, and Stattler were the only realistic contenders and the pair were miles clear of the stragglers as they turned for home. Stattler, twice placed in Grade 1s over hurdles, soon swept to the front under Patrick Mullins at the second last and ran out a comfortable eight-length winner from Run Wild Fred, with 2021 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner Vanillier a long way back in third. Success for Stattler was a third in the race in the space of five years for owner Ronnie Bartlett and helped Willie Mullins, who won the race twice as an amateur rider in the 1980s, get off the mark for the week.