Classic Chase

The Classic Chase is a Grade 3 handicap over an extended three miles and five furlongs at Warwick in January.

The current race title was introduced in 2004 although it is a natural successor to the former Warwick National Chase.

It is seen as a trial for the Grand National at Aintree and One For Arthur famously won both races for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell in 2017. Other notable winners of this event include Moorcroft Boy (1994), Choisty (2000 and 2002) and Hey Big Spender (2012).

Find out more about the Classic Chase:

Race Overview – The Classic Chase

Horses five years old and older may enter the Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase, The Classic Chase. 

There are twenty-two fences to jump throughout the race, which is raced at Warwick over a distance of around 3 miles and 5 furlongs (3 miles, 5 furlongs, and 54 yards, or 5,883 metres).

It will take place in January every year and is a handicap race.

Classic Chase 2023 Odds

The odds for the Classic Chase are listed below:

Classic Chase Tips

The Classic Chase tips are below:

• 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
• 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Many Classic Chase horses will race in more races throughout the years. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

If you are looking for more racing tips for events taking place at Warwick Racecourse then check out our Warwick tips page.

Classic Chase Previous Winners

Famous Warwick Classic Chase Winners

Moorcroft Boy won this race stylishly for David Nicholson and Adrian Maguire in 1994. He went on to finish third in the Grand National at Aintree but suffered life-threatening injuries in a fall at the same track the following season. After being nursed back to health he won the Scottish National in 1996. Moorcroft Boy became something of a celebrity in his retirement and was the equine ambassador to the Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre, eventually passing away at the age of 28 in 2013.

Choisty became the first dual winner of the race when winning in 2000 and 2002. He was trained by Ted Haynes and won both races off a lightweight.

Plenty of horses have advertised their Aintree Grand National prospects here including D’Argent (2008), West End Rocker (2011) and Shotgun Paddy (2014). Hey Big Spender defied 11st 12lbs in 2012 for Colin and Joe Tizzard and Bryony Frost won the race aboard Milansbar in 2018.

One For Arthur was an impressive winner of this event for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox in 2017. He went on to become the first Scottish-trained winner of the Grand National since Rubstic in 1979. The horse returned to Aintree to finish sixth the following season.

Classic Chase Previous Result

If you think you can, you can! 👊

IWILLDOIT returns to action in some style to win the Wigley Group Classic Chase 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kTthEWJziN

— The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) January 14, 2023

Key Warwick Classic Chase Trials

Three of the last twelve winners ran in the Welsh Grand National on their previous outing. None of them had been placed in that gruelling event.

All eyes are on Aintree for the winner of the Warwick Classic Chase with four of the last twelve winners running in the big race that season. One For Arthur famously won the 2017 Grand National but none of the others made it into the first five at Aintree.

A note of caution here is that One For Arthur was the only one of the last twelve winners to win another race in the same season.

Warwick Classic Chase Betting Trends

This race has proved notoriously tricky for punters in recent years. No outright favourite has obliged during that time with only Notachance (2021) managing to win as the 7-2 joint-favourite in 2021. Rigadin De Beauchene (2013) and Kimberlite Candy (2020) won as second favourites.

The longest-priced winner during the last 12 years was 20-1 chance Russe Blanc for Kerry Lee and Charlie Poste in 2016.

Other shock winners include One For Arthur (14-1) and Hey Big Spender (14-1).

The age of the winner has ranged between seven and eleven while winning weights have also varied. Hey Big Spender defied 11st 12lbs in 2012 and was also the highest rated recent winner on 156, 11lbs higher than the next best Shotgun Paddy (145).

Warwick Classic Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Paul Nicholls and Alan King have both won the Classic Chase on three occasions.

Nicholls won it with Eurotrek (2006), Ladalko (2007) and Hawkes Point (2015). King’s victories came with D’Argent (2008), West End Rocker (2011) and Notachance (2021).

Ruby Walsh rode the winner in successive seasons in 2006 and 2007 but thirteen different riders have added their names to the roll of honour since.

Betting on the Warwick Classic Chase

The Warwick Chase is one of the most competitive staying handicap chases of the season. Although billed as a Grand National Trial, only One For Arthur has managed to go on to win the Aintree marathon.

This race can take a lot out of the winner and favourites have a poor record so the form should be treated with caution.

Facts about the Classic Chase

• The first “Classic Chase” was held in 2004.
• The race is run over a distance of 3 miles and 5 furlongs.
• There are 22 fences to be jumped in the race.
• The race is open to horses aged five years and over.

Summary of the Classic Chase

Thank you for reading our Classic Chase guide.

The race is one of the most competitive and gruelling staying chases of the season – to win a horse needs strong stamina.

It is often seen as a trail for all of the UK-based Grand Nationals.

In our guide, we have looked at odds, tips, stats and more, so you can make an informed decision whether placing a bet or just watching the race.

Check out more National Hunt steeplechases in the UK.

Resources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Chase

Other Popular Horse Races in January

Here are all of January’s horse racing-related posts: