National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)

Explore the rich history of this 3ยพ-mile chase for amateur riders. Analyze trends of past winners, examine key statistics, and gain insights into one of the Festival's oldest races that reward stamina and jumping ability.
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)
Andy Powell
Andy Powell Content Editor

Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.

2025 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Preview

Previously staged over 4 miles with 25 fences to be negotiated, the National Hunt Chase underwent a few tweaks for the 2020 renewal after changes were announced in August 2019 by the British Horse Racing Authority on the grounds of welfare standards. The race distance was reduced to just short of 3 miles and 6 furlongs moving forward and the number of fences jumped decreased from 25 to 23.

Dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll won this in 2017, Native River was runner-up in 2016 before going on to Gold Cup glory in 2018 and he chased home Minella Rocco who finished runner in the 2017 Gold Cup. So this extreme distance for fairly unexposed fledgeling chasers is a race worth keeping in those trackers for possible future Grand National tips and Gold Cup pointers.

Gain an edge on the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup by examining our detailed insights into previous race trends and trainer statistics, then check out our list of free bets for Cheltenham.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Information:

We also have a dedicated Cheltenham tips page that will cover this race as well as all of the other races on the day of the race, see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are predicting to win this race and the others on the cards. We cover every race at the Cheltenham Festival and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2025
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Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2025

How competitive is the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2022 when the race had an over-round of 109%. The race in 2016 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 126%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, the over-round has been 120%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £120 which is bet.

Below you will find the 2025 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trends, see which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal, we also have a section that looks at the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trend Analysis.

These are the top three quickest-run National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup over the last 20 renewals:

  1. Stattler (7:37.80) in 2022
  2. Galvin (7:57.84) in 2021
  3. Gaillard Du Mesnil (7:59.62) in 2023

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup next time out then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -3.00. Before placing your bet on the 2025 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.

The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2018 renewal when Rathvinden from W P Mullins under the guidance of Mr P W Mullins, won in a time of 8:50.30, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Stattler, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Mr P W Mullins set the quickest time of 7:37.80 in the 2022 renewal.

What the expert says...
Lots of the winners tend to go on to run in some sort of National next time out, the 2007 winner Butlers Cabin went on to win the Irish Grand National next time out and there have been others going on to place, Another Rum (2005 - 3rd in Scottish National), Old Benny (2008 - 4th in Scottish National) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023 - 3rd in Grand National) so winners are worth keeping an eye out for next time out if entered in a national.

Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com

National Hunt Chase NRNB 11 Mar @ 17:30 - AntePost
Now Is The Hour 4.00
Haiti Couleurs 6.00
Deafening Silence 8.00
Transmission 10.00
Shannon Royale 11.00

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Past Winners

Here are the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.

YearHorseInfo
2024
8:25.80
Corbetts Cross (IRE)
7yo 11-7 15/8
Mr Derek O'Connor
Emmet Mullins (IRE)
2023
7:59.62
Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR)
7yo 11-7 10/11F
Mr P W Mullins
W P Mullins (IRE)
2022
7:37.80
Stattler (IRE)
7yo 11-6 2/1
Mr P W Mullins
W P Mullins (IRE)
2021
7:57.84
Galvin (IRE)
7yo 11-6 7/2
Jack Kennedy
I R Ferguson (IRE)
2020
8:25.16
Ravenhill (IRE)
10yo 11-6 12/1
Mr J J Codd
Gordon Elliott (IRE)
2019
8:42.32
Le Breuil (FR)
7yo 11-6 14/1
Mr J J Codd
Ben Pauling (GB)
2018
8:50.30
Rathvinden (IRE)
10yo 11-6 9/2
Mr P W Mullins
W P Mullins (IRE)
2017
8:22.50
Tiger Roll (IRE)
7yo 11-6 16/1
Ms L O'Neill
Gordon Elliott (IRE)
2016
8:14.00
Minella Rocco (IRE)
6yo 11-6 8/1
Mr Derek O'Connor
Jonjo O'Neill (GB)
2015
8:18.60
Cause Of Causes (USA)
7yo 11-6 8/1
Mr J J Codd
Gordon Elliott (IRE)

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup have been based:

  • IRE: 10 winners with an additional 18 placings from 96 runners
  • GB: 8 winners with an additional 19 placings from 220 runners
  • FR: 2 winners with an additional 1 placing from 6 runners

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trainer Statistics

There are two leading trainers in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup over the last 20 renewals with both W P Mullins and Gordon Elliott who have both won the race four times. W P Mullins winners have been with Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023). Gordon Elliott winners have been with Chicago Grey (2011), Cause Of Causes (2015), Tiger Roll (2017) and Ravenhill (2020). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup are Jonjo O'Neill (2 wins) and Alan King (2 wins). Two trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, David Pipe has sent a total of 12 runners to the race without recording any wins whilst Paul Nicholls has sent out 11 without a winner.

Here are some of the top National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
W P Mullins22-4-8-8.34-9.70
Gordon Elliott15-4-6+30.00+12.73
Jonjo O'Neill13-2-2+30.00+9.50
Alan King10-2-3+9.00+1.80
Nigel Twiston-Davies12-1-1+0.00-5.50
Rebecca Curtis7-1-1-1.00-3.50
Ben Pauling5-1-1+10.00+3.00
Ian Duncan1-1-1+40.00+20.00
Emmet Mullins1-1-1+1.88+1.18
David Pipe12-0-2-12.00-11.00

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Jockey Statistics

The leading jockey in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup over the last 20 renewals is Mr P W Mullins who has won the race four times with those four winners coming from Back In Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018), Stattler (2022) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (2023). The only other jockey to have recorded multiple wins in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is Mr Derek O'Connor (3 wins). Two jockeys have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, Mr B O'Neill has ridden 13 runners to the race without recording any wins whilst Mr William Biddick has ridden 12 without a winner.

Here are some of the top National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Mr P W Mullins13-4-7+0.66-1.20
Mr Derek O'Connor17-3-8+0.88-2.37
Mr Joshua Newman6-1-1+3.00-0.20
Mr M J O'Hare4-1-1+37.00+17.00
Ms L O'Neill4-1-1+13.00+5.00
Jack Kennedy1-1-1+3.50+2.10
Mr B O'Neill13-0-2-13.00-12.00
Mr William Biddick12-0-4-12.00-6.70
Mr D G Lavery4-0-1-4.00-3.50
Mr M J O'Connor3-0-1-3.00-2.50

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Trend Analysis

✅ The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +50.29 is when runners were aged 7.

❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had a furthest trip run of 3m, when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-65.

The course which has produced the most winners of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is Leopardstown, there has been a total number of 4 winners of this race who ran at Leopardstown last time out. The next best course which has produced the second most winners is Cheltenham, there has been a total number of 3 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out.

The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 306 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 16 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, that stallion Oscar has produced 2 winners (2012,2009).

These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup despite multiple attempts:

  • Presenting (0 Wins from 21 runners)
  • Flemensfirth (0 Wins from 15 runners)
  • Beneficial (0 Wins from 9 runners)
  • Kayf Tara (0 Wins from 8 runners)
  • Milan (0 Wins from 8 runners)

Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Another Rum in 2005, winning for Ian Duncan at odds of 40/1 under the guidance of Mr M J O'Hare. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there have been 4 winning favourites in the race. Remember to bookmark the best racing tipsters page so you can get easy access to the best OLBG racing tipsters.

Route to the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

Many trainers will target races to use as prep races before coming to the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, these are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:

InfoLast Race
2024 - Corbetts Cross
Fairyhouse - F of 4 (1/4)
Fairyhouse Easter Festival 30th March To 1st April Rated Chase
2023 - Gaillard Du Mesnil
Leopardstown - 3rd of 6 (7/2)
Ladbrokes Novice Chase
2022 - Stattler
Naas - 1st of 7 (11/10)
Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase
2021 - Galvin
Cheltenham - 1st of 6 (2/1)
Matchbook Better Way To Bet Novices Chase
2020 - Ravenhill
Navan - F of 23 (9/1)
Troytown Handicap Chase
2019 - Le Breuil
Haydock - 4th of 5 (3/1)
Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices Chase
2018 - Rathvinden
Leopardstown - UR of 11 (12/1)
Ladbrokes Novice Chase
2017 - Tiger Roll
Wexford - 3rd of 7 (5/2)
Michael Hickey Memorial Chase
2016 - Minella Rocco
Ascot - 2nd of 6 (12/1)
Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices Chase
2015 - Cause Of Causes
Gowran Park - 5th of 5 (10/1)
John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle

Schedule for Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival

Prepare for the ROAR of the Cheltenham Festival on the opening day when the tape goes up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the feature on Tuesday is the Champion Hurdle.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Supreme Novices Hurdle
Slade Steel (IRE)
6yo - 7/2
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
14:00 Cheltenham
Arkle Challenge Trophy
Gaelic Warrior (GER)
6yo - 2/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:40 Cheltenham
Ultima Handicap Chase
Chianti Classico (IRE)
7yo - 6/1
Kim Bailey
David Bass
15:20 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Mares Hurdle
Lossiemouth (FR)
5yo - 8/13
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:00 Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle
State Man (FR)
7yo - 2/5
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:40 Cheltenham
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Lark In The Mornin (GER)
4yo - 9/1
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
J J Slevin
17:20 Cheltenham
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
Corbetts Cross (IRE)
7yo - 15/8
Emmet Mullins
Mr Derek O'Connor

Schedule for Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival

The dust has settled on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and now on to day two. The feature on the second day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We also have the cross country scheduled on Wednesday, a race like Marmite, some love it and some don't!

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Turners Novices Hurdle
Ballyburn (IRE)
6yo - 1/2
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:00 Cheltenham
Brown Advisory Novices Chase
Fact To File (FR)
7yo - 8/13
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
14:40 Cheltenham
Coral Cup
Langer Dan (IRE)
8yo - 13/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
15:20 Cheltenham
Cross Country Chase
Delta Work (FR)
10yo - 11/10
Gordon Elliott
Keith Donoghue
16:00 Cheltenham
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Captain Guinness (IRE)
9yo - 17/2
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
16:40 Cheltenham
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Unexpected Party (FR)
9yo - 12/1
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
17:20 Cheltenham
Champion Bumper
Jasmin De Vaux (FR)
5yo - 9/2
W P Mullins
Mr P W Mullins

Schedule for Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival

Halfway through the festival and onto day three where the Stayers Hurdle is the feature race. A hurdle race to test the stamina and see how can last best up the Cheltenham hill.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Mares Novices Hurdle
Golden Ace (GB)
6yo - 10/1
Jeremy Scott
Lorcan Williams
14:00 Cheltenham
Novices Limited Handicap Chase
Grey Dawning (IRE)
7yo - 5/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
14:40 Cheltenham
Pertemps Network Final
Monmiral (FR)
7yo - 25/1
Paul Nicholls
Harry Cobden
15:20 Cheltenham
Ryanair Chase
Protektorat (FR)
9yo - 17/2
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
16:00 Cheltenham
Stayers Hurdle
Teahupoo (FR)
7yo - 5/4
Gordon Elliott
Jack Kennedy
16:40 Cheltenham
Festival Plate
Shakem UpArry (IRE)
10yo - 8/1
Ben Pauling
Ben Jones
17:20 Cheltenham
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Inothewayurthinkin (IRE)
6yo - 13/8
Gavin Cromwell
Mr Derek O'Connor

Schedule for Friday at the Cheltenham Festival

The final day of the festival and feature race that we have all been waiting for, the Cheltenham Gold Cup in which the Irish have been fairly dominant in recent years.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Triumph Hurdle
Majborough (FR)
4yo - 6/1
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
14:00 Cheltenham
County Handicap Hurdle
Absurde (FR)
6yo - 12/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:40 Cheltenham
Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
Limerick Lace (IRE)
7yo - 3/1
Gavin Cromwell
Keith Donoghue
15:20 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Stellar Story (IRE)
7yo - 33/1
Gordon Elliott
Sam Ewing
16:00 Cheltenham
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs (FR)
8yo - 10/11
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:40 Cheltenham
Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
Sine Nomine (GB)
8yo - 8/1
Fiona Needham
Mr John Dawson
17:20 Cheltenham
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Better Days Ahead (IRE)
6yo - 5/1
Gordon Elliott
Danny Gilligan

Article Contributor Information

We are blessed with an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to creating and maintaining this National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Preview are at hand, Andy and James. They both work on the Horse racing tips team team looking after the tipsters and managing the tips settlement, whilst also creating and managing all of the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.

James Banting

James Banting

Tipster Competition Assistant

James Banting, a passionate horse racing enthusiast and aficionado, brings a wealth of experience to OLBG, having attended numerous race meetings over the years. His background working with the Jockey Club provides him with a unique insider's perspective on the industry.
Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Content Editor

Andy, a seasoned horse racing expert with over 15 years of experience, possesses a comprehensive understanding of the sport, from delving into complex statistical data for jump racing in the UK and Ireland to crafting insightful national hunt racing blogs for OLBG.

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