The oldest race in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, The National Hunt Challenge Cup was first run in 1860 and was held at various venues aroud the country before finally settling in Cheltenham from 1911. The race is run over 4 miles, with 24 fences to be jumped, is open to novice chasers aged 5 years and above and all horses are to be ridden by amateur riders. In 2014 the race is moved to the Tuesday card. The favourite has taken the last 3 runnings of the race (Chicago Grey (5/1), Teaforthree (5/1) and Back In Focus (9/4)) so clearly it pays to follow the market in this one. In the preposterously named "noughties" (2000-2009) Jonjo O'Neil trained 4 winners and it is clearly a race that J.P. McManus enjoys winning, having lifted the trophy on 4 occaisions. Young horses tend to struggle in the race as you really need a bit of experience to win this, and 8 year olds have been most successful in recent times. Initial entries are here Oddschecker market is here Not much else to add at the moment - Ted Walsh has the current favourite in Foxrock, who has already won a Grade 2 novice chase over 3 miles. Close behind is Emma Lavelle's Shotgun Paddy who took the Betfred Classic Chase over 3m5f at Warwick recently. Paul Nicholls has an awful record in the race but has some interesting possibles in Benvolio, Black Thunder and Sam Winner. Tough one to call this, not much of an ante post market and to be honest I think most folks will wait until final declarations before striking a wager.
Ive been having a look at this race over the last few days, Foxrock and Shotgun Paddy look the obvious ones if they turn up but there are a couple at big prices I like the look of and will be putting a few small bets on. Rogue Angel 25/1 - Big scopey type who who has been progressing well this season, has only won once but has been keeping pretty hot company and would have won first time but for falling at the last. Well beaten behind the fav Foxrock on his last run but his previous form suggests a line should be put through that as it was too bad to be true. Similar sort of profile to same connections Four Commanders who ran a blinder in this a couple of years ago and I think he will get the trip. The other is Hunting Party 50/1 for Dessie Hughes who has went close with the few he has run in this, has Si Cetait Vrai entered as well but I dont see him staying 4 miles. Hunting Party has a bit to prove now after his last two runs and its a bit of a flyer but 4 miles on good ground I think will suit him and there is a decent staying chaser in there somewhere, he will do for me e/w at those odds.
Backed MENDIP EXPRESS, a very good jumper, has a course win under his belt and regular rider Will Biddick will ride in the race which is a plus
I’m actually very interested in one in this heat who bizarrely hasn’t, to date, jumped a steeplechase fence under rules. Trained by old boy Michael Hourigan I do wonder if he’s been laid out for the contest. A contest, by the way, that the yard have won before so they know what is required. The animal is the 6YO THE JOB IS RIGHT who has a very nice record over hurdles in that in his last 7 contests he’s either won or been placed in them all and these include a Grade 3 win and a 2nd behind Faugeheen, in similar class, last time up. Both those races incidentally were over 3 miles and he showed no signs of stopping on either occasion. Another pointer to him relishing a step up in trip, that the NH Chase will offer, is that The Job Is Right was creditably running over 3 miles, in the Pointing field, when as young as 4. This one is as big as 40’s with old boy Paddy Power and if entered in a steeplechase in the near future or if the nod is given to definitely aim him at this I think that is a quote worth taking as The Job Is Right has done nothing, thus far, to suggest he doesn’t have what it takes to figure here.
Four at prices if they run Banslow 25/1, Shutthefrontdoor 14/1 and Holywell 14/1 , any other interests
