Proving ground: Tiger Roll among those to have built on 'four-miler' success

The National Hunt Chase has a long and rich history, and until the 1930s was considered the second most important race in the jumping calendar behind the Gold Cup.

Having lost much of its lustre, the race has undergone a renaissance in recent years, having been granted Listed status in 2014 before becoming a Grade 2 in 2017.

In the wake of the BHA's decision to shorten and adjust the conditions of the National Hunt Chase amid welfare concerns, we highlight four recent winners who have used the race as a springboard to even greater things.

Tiger Roll

Without doubt the race's most famous winner, the indomitable Tiger Roll took his first step towards legendary status over fences when running out a decisive winner of the four-mile contest by three lengths in 2017 – the first season it was run with Grade 2 status.

Since that day, the nine-year-old has twice won the Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, won the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle and became the first since Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.

Minella Rocco

Whilst he has become something of a racing enigma in recent years, the period between the 2016 and 2017 Cheltenham Festivals established Minella Rocco as a top-notch chaser.

Minella Rocco and Derek O'Connor on the way to victory in the National Hunt ChaseCredit: Mark Cranham

His victory in the 2016 National Hunt Chase, ahead of future Gold Cup winner Native River, advertised his talent on the sport's biggest stage and laid the groundwork for his career-defining second behind Sizing John in the 2017 Gold Cup.

Native River

While already on the jumps racing radar in the winter of 2015, Native River arrived with a bang in spring of the following year to finish second in the National Hunt Chase before going on to claim his first Grade 1 in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Since then, Brocade Racing's admirable stayer has won a Hennessy Gold Cup (now Ladbrokes Trophy), a Welsh National and the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup in a pulsating clash with Might Bite.

Cause Of Causes

A smart winner of the Cheltenham Festival's longest race in 2015, Cause Of Causes never looked in trouble under Jamie Codd to register the biggest victory of his career at that point.

Over the following two seasons he confirmed his status as a Festival specialist to win the 2016 Kim Muir by a resounding 12 lengths before putting nine lengths between himself and Bless The Wings in the Cross-Country Chase the following year. The Gordon Elliott-trained runner would go on to finish second to One For Arthur in the Grand National on his next start.

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