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. From 2019 the race is timed to be the final race on the Tuesday card. There are a number of jockeys with 2 wins in the race, including Patrick Mullins and Derek O'Connor from the ranks of those still riding. Leading trainer (of modern times) is Jonjo O'Neil with 6 winners. It is also a race which owner JP McManus likes to target, with Minella Rocco and Cause of Causes having won in recent years. Young horses tend to struggle in the race as you really need a bit of experience to win this, and 7 and 8 year olds have been most successful in recent times. Indeed Minella Rocco became only the second 6 year old to win since the turn of the century. The 2019 renewal received a whopping 68 entries (including many horses entered in the 3 other novice chases at the festival) and uncertainty over who will run means that we have a pretty open market currently. One hint that people (or at least bookmakers) seem to have taken is the fact that Derek O'Connor came across to Warwick in January to ride Nicky Henderson's OK Corral for JP McManus and the Mahler gelding, now 2 from 2 over fences, is a clear favourite for this race at around the 3/1 mark. Next best at around 5/1 is Willie Mullins runner Ballyward, who finished 4th in last season's Albert Bartlett and has this as his only entry at the festival. You can get pretty much any price the rest and it really is a conundrum as to who might run. A cheeky punt on the day of the race is my advice.
Down to 44 at the latest forefeit stage 20th Feb with the market largely unchanged, OK Corral fav ahead of Ballyward.
7/1 NRNB feels a bit skinny for him, might be bigger on the day. Elliot still has 6 entered including Blow By Blow - got to respect festival form and 33/1 NRNB available. He has been very disappointing this season so far but from his profile he does seem to be a horse that comes alive in the spring.
