Festival Trophy Handicap Chase
| Premier Handicap race | |
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Ultima Business Solutions |
| Website | Cheltenham |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 1f (5,029 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | £125,000 (2024) 1st: £70,338 |
| 2024 | ||
| Cream, strawberry collar, cuffs and cap | Beige, dark green hoop and armlets, maroon cap | Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap |
| Chianti Classico | Twig | Meetingofthewaters |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
| Purple, yellow chevrons, armlets and star on cap | Dark blue, yellow stripe, red cap | Royal blue, emerald green chevrons, royal blue sleeves, emerald green stars, red cap |
| Corach Rambler | Fastorslow | Monbeg Genius |
| 2022 | ||
| Purple, yellow chevrons, armlets and star on cap | Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star | Orange, pink hoop and armlets, hooped cap |
| Corach Rambler | Gericault Roque | Oscar Elite |
| 2021 | ||
| Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap | Yellow, emerald green epaulets and armlets | White, red stars, dark blue and white striped cap |
| Vintage Clouds | Happygolucky | Aye Right |
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| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
| Black, white braid, black cap, white button | Light blue, red cross belts, red cap | Black and yellow stripes, hooped sleeves, quartered cap |
| Bigsun | Seagram | Boraceva |
| 1989 | ||
| Dark green and light blue (halved), sleeves reversed, quartered cap | Red, black chevrons on body | Orange, dark green stripe |
| Dixton House | Gala's Image | Golden Friend |
| 1988 | ||
| Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap | Pink, blue cross-belts, red cap | Emerald green and yellow check, yellow sleeves and cap |
| Aquilifer | Bucko | Von Trappe |
The Festival Trophy is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 metres), and during its running there are twenty fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March. The event was originally known as the National Hunt Handicap Chase, but its title has included the name of a sponsor from the early 1980s. It was backed by Ritz Club from 1981 until 1996, Astec Buzz Shop in 1997 and William Hill between 1998 and 2010. In 2011 the race was run as the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase and sponsored by the Stewart family, headed by businessman and racehorse owner Andy Stewart to raise awareness of, and highlight the work done by, the charity Spinal Research. In 2012 and 2013 the race was sponsored by JLT Specialty Ltd, and in 2014 Baylis & Harding were the sponsors. Since 2015 the race has been sponsored by Ultima Business Solutions. It held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.[1] Winners of the race often take part in the Grand National, although not always in the same year. Horses to have achieved victory in both events include Royal Tan, Team Spirit, West Tip, Seagram, Rough Quest and Corach Rambler.
Records
Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):
- Sentina – 1957, 1958
- Scot Lane – 1982, 1983
- Un Temps Pour Tout – 2016, 2017
- Corach Rambler- 2022, 2023
Leading jockey since 1946 (3 wins):
- Robert Thornton – Fork Lightning (2004), Kelami (2005), Bensalem (2011)
- Tom Scudamore – An Accordion (2008), Un Temps Pour Tout (2016, 2017)
Leading trainer since 1946 (4 wins):
- Fred Rimell – Cavaliero (1948), Frere Jacques II (1949), Land Fort (1951), Holly Bank (1954)
- Fulke Walwyn – Ravencroft (1961), Team Spirit (1963), Lord Jim (1971), Gay Vulgan (1977)
Winners since 1946
- ↑ The 1947 running was abandoned due to snow and frost
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 amateur jockey
- ↑ The 1978 edition was cancelled because of snow
- ↑ It was abandoned in 2001 because of a foot-and-mouth crisis
See also
References
- ↑ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
External links
- pedigreequery.com – William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase – Cheltenham.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (21 February 2008).
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 63. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
- Race Recordings (1979-2004) youtube.com