True pointers disadvantaged by system for Foxhunter cut

The Irish stranglehold on the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival was finally broken as reigning champion On The Fringe stayed on late to finish a never-nearer fourth behind the Paul Nicholls-trained Pacha Du Polder.

There was however a secondary story to this year’s Foxhunter, with a number of capable Irish horses failing to make the cut and secure a run in the race.

With 35 horses declared for the 3m2f contest, which has a maximum field size of 24, 11 horses were balloted out of the race, including four trained in Ireland: Sprintingforgold, Quiet Account, Ourmanmassini and Need To Know.