The National Hunt Chase is a long-distance race run as part of the Cheltenham Festival.
The National Hunt Chase takes place onthe 12th of March 2024.
The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a Grade 2 race restricted to novice chasers and amateur riders at the Cheltenham Festival. The race was formerly run over four miles but was reduced by two furlongs in 2020.
Notable past winners include Topsham Bay (1990), Teaforthree (2012), Cause of Causes (2015) and Tiger Roll (2017).
It didn't look likely at one stage, but the well-supported Gaillard Du Mesnil sends punters home happy with National Hunt Chase glory for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
The National Hunt Chase settled permanently at Cheltenham in 1911 after being staged at various venues.
In its early days, it was quite a prestigious race. The race was originally run over four miles but this was reduced by two furlongs in 2020 after a controversial finish in 2019 when only four of the 18 runners completed the course. Three jockeys received bans for continuing on tired horses but these bans were subsequently overturned.
In modern times, the National Hunt Chase is regarded as a serious trial for the Aintree Grand National and other leading staying chases.
Several winners have gone on to be placed at Aintree but Tiger Roll (2017) went on to win the big race in 2018 and 2019. Tiger Roll had started his Cheltenham Festival victories in the Triumph Hurdle back in 2014, adding three victories in the Cross Country Chase. He went agonisingly close to a sixth festival victory in 2022 on his final racecourse appearance, losing narrowly to stable companion Delta Work.
1990 winner Topsham Bay won the Whitbread Gold Cup in 1992 and 1993. He finished seventh in 1994 behind Ushers Island who had won the National Hunt Chase in 1993. 2012 winner Teaforthree finished runner-up in the Welsh Grand National and third in the Aintree Grand National.
Cause of Causes (2015) won three times at the Cheltenham Festival during his career. He won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup in 2016 and the Cross Country Chase in 2017. Cause of Causes also finished second in the 2017 Grand National behind One for Arthur. 2016 winner Minella Rocco became somewhat enigmatic over fences but did finish second to Sizing John in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The horse he beat in 2016 was Native River, the subsequent winner of the 2018 Gold Cup.
The high quality of National Hunt Chase winners was maintained by Galvin in 2021. He went on to win the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown, edging out A Plus Tard. The places were emphatically reversed in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Key National Hunt Chase Trials
Five of the last twelve winners of the National Hunt Chase had won on their previous outing, although it is difficult to pinpoint any particular trial. This race is all about stamina with trainers targeting this race with horses that might make future Grand National contenders.
Only three of the last eleven winners returned to the Cheltenham Festival the following season. Cause of Causes (2015) won the 2016 Kim Muir and Minella Rocco (2016) finished second in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
National Hunt Chase Betting Trends
The last nine favourites in this race have all been beaten. This followed a run of three successful favourites in Chicago Grey (2011), Teaforthree (2012) and Back In Focus (2013).
Recent winners Rathvinden (2018), Galvin (2021) and Stattler (2022) all started second favourite.
Only three of the last twelve winners started at double-figure prices, the longest being Le Breuil (2019) at 14-1.
Eleven of the twelve winners had an official rating of 142 or higher. The only winner to fall below this mark was Midnight Prayer (2014) who was rated 139.
Stattler (2022) was the highest rated on 153.
The age of the winner has varied between 6 (Minella Rocco) and 10 (Rathvinden and Ravenhill 2020).
National Hunt Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys
Jonjo O’Neill is the leading trainer in the history of the National Hunt Chase with six winners; Front Line (1995), Rith Dubh (2002), Sudden Shock (2003), Native Emperor (2004), Butler’s Cabin (2007) and Minella Rocco (2016).
Gordon Elliott has trained the winner on four occasions and Willie Mullins registered his third success with Stattler in 2022.
Jamie Codd and Patrick Mullins currently share the honours as leading rider with three apiece.
Codd’s most recent victory was aboard Ravenhill in 2020 following victories on Cause Of Causes (2015) and Le Breuil (2019). Mullins won on Back On Focus (2013), Rathvinden (2018) and Stattler (2022).
Betting on the National Hunt Chase
Despite the poor recent record of favourites in the National Hunt Chase, many of the recent winners have been well-supported. The key to betting on the race is being confident of the horse’s stamina over this gruelling marathon trip.
Several recent winners have had a touch of class and gone on to better things so the form is worth following.
The National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival has quite a lively ante-post market.
With bookmakers now offering “non-runner – no bet” on all Cheltenham Festival races from the end of January, betting on the National Hunt Chase has become a more attractive proposition.
You should also look out for enhanced each-way terms on the Kim Muir with bookmakers sometimes paying out down to fifth or even sixth place.
Betfair bet £10 and get £30 is a decent offer if you are opening an account for Cheltenham betting. Betfair is one of the best bookmakers around and is highly recommended for betting on the Cheltenham Festival as well as other top sporting events. Find out more about them today.
New Customer offer. Place a min £5 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £20 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. #AD Please Gamble Responsibly.
The bet365 Cheltenham offer is one of the best out there. As one of the top UK bookies we would expect this. The offer is a current deposit £10 and get £30 in free bet credits, for information and T&Cs follow the links below.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #AD Registration required.
The Betfred offer is a great one -deposit £10 and get up to £40 in bet bonuses. These can be used on a variety of betting markets including racing, football and other sports. For more information on this leading UK bookmaker read our full view.
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. #AD Full T&Cs apply.
Get the 888Sport Bet £10 and get £30 Cheltenham offer today. For full terms and conditions or to claim this great free bet credit for the Cheltenham Festival simply follow the link now.
£10 min deposit using promo code 250BONUS • The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least twice with cumulative odds of 1.50 or greater • To withdraw any winnings from your bonus, you must wager the bonus amount at least 5 times • All deposit and bonus wagering requirements must be completed within 60 days • This offer may not be combined with any other offer • Wagering limit of £50 per bet Applies • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods and countries apply. #AD
Coral is another hugely popular bookmaker and a high-street name. This deal for new customers is a good one, for more information on this free bets credit either follow the link or check out our bespoke review. As with all betting offers certain terms and conditions will apply.
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. #AD Restrictions apply.
Take advantage of the very best Cheltenham betting offers and free bets at the Parimatch sportsbook website with great sportsbook sign up bonuses for new horse racing bettors at the Cheltenham Festival
18+ New Customers Only. Opt-in, bet on Horse Racing within 7 days of registration. Get your stake refunded up to £30 in Free Bets for set markets if your bet loses (odds 3.00+). Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Offer valid from 16:00 UK time 04/08/2023. begambleaware.org | #AD Please Gamble Responsibly
Bet £10 and get £30 in free bet credits with William Hill for the Cheltenham races. These can be used on all the big races at the Festival including the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle. Certain deposit restrictions may apply.
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #AD
Bet £5 and get £20 with Ladbrokes is a good deal for punters who want to wage a small amount of their money but see a decent amount of free bet credits. As one of the leading and most respected bookies in the UK there are lots of benefits to opening an account whether for Cheltenham betting or at other times of the year.
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. #AD Restrictions apply.
The Unibet offer is a bit different from other bookies and is your money back as a free bet credit if your horse finished in second. This takes away some of the pain of just missing out! Unibet are great Cheltenham bookmaker and currently sponsors the Champion Hurdle, check out our full review for more info.
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first racing bet loses. Wagering: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. #AD Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in.
The Mr Play Cheltneham offer of bet £10 and get £15 is not one of the best on the market. However, this new bookmaker is hugely popular for punters looking for a new betting site. We have reviewed all of the best features, read our review or follow the link for more info.
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. #AD System bets no eligible.
A different Cheltenham offer from 32Red is their 100 profit boost! This one is definitely worth checking out as its totally different from the type of Cheltenham offered by other leading bookmakers. Read their full T&Cs to find out more.
Opt in. Min. Odds Evs, Max. £10 stake, Max. additional profit £100. Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible – See full terms #AD
Betway’s £70 in free bets for the countdown to 2023 Cheltenham Festival is an impressive sign up bonus
All UK Customers. Opt-in required. Minimum stake: £25. Total Free Bets: 2 x £5 plus £5 added to Cheltenham Pot upon weekly qualification from 11/02/23 – 10/03/23. Qualify for all 4 weeks and receive an extra £10 free bet. Single Multiples including 3 or more selections only. Real money bets only. Min. overall odds: 2/1 (3.00). Enhanced prices and eSports excluded. Pot credited in full on 13/03/23. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. #AD Bet The Responsible Way.
A good new offer for Paddy Power customers, basically bet £20 and you’ll be refunded in cash if you lose. This is a great Cheltenham offer from this leading Irish bookmaker. For information on them including BOG, live streaming of Cheltenham races and more, follow the links.
New customers Only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. 13 settled bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook within 30 days of opening account. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bets expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. #AD Please Gamble Responsibly.
There’s a BetUK Cheltenham Offer to claim that requires you to just deposit and wager £20 and get £60 in Cheltenham Festival free bets.
New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable, and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. #AD 18+BeGambleAware.org.
A Cheltenham double-the-odds promotion from Grosvenor is good and Cheltenham offer with a difference. New to the UK gambling scene Grosvenor is growing in popularity, check out the perks in our full review.
New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. #AD Please Gamble Responsibly.
The livescorebet Cheltenham free bet made our top list of hand-selected Cheltenham Festival special offers for horse racing punters looking to wager bets in the UK or Ireland
New members only. Min £10 bet on sportsbook (ex. forecasts, tricasts & virtual sports), placed & settled within 14 days of sign-up . Min odds 1.5. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: sportsbook only (ex. virtual), accept within 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance. ex E/Ws & Multiples. Stakes not returned. BeGambleAware.org. 18+
1 x £1 non-withdrawable Free Bet Token. Claim 1x Free bet per day 14/03/23-17/03/23. Use by 23:59 the following day. Use on LiveScore Bet sportsbook. Valid on any market. Bet Responsibly. #AD BeGambleAware.org. 18+
A greal deal of a 100% profit boost up to £100 is something a little different from LeoVegas. If you haven’t heard of this top bookmaker then they are definitely worth checking out. Follow the links and find out more today, including the full terms and conditions of this promo.
T&Cs apply. New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via “My Offers” page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. #AD Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
Take advantage of the Matchbook £50 free bets for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
Open to New Customers Only. New Customers must register with bonus code:MB50. To build the free bet bank, the user must stake £25 or more on Horse Racing between Monday and Sunday for each individual week of the promotional period. The user will receive a £10 free bet for each individual week they qualify. The max free bet bank the user can accumulate is £50, and can only be used on Cheltenham Festival markets only. 18+ only. #AD BeGambleAware.
Boylesports Bet 10 Get 60 Cheltenham Offer is for Ireland Customers Only
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. #AD T&Cs apply.
QuinnBet has multiple Cheltenham Offers from £35 free bets on Cheltenham Festival or the bet 10 get 60 betting promotion for Irish punters
For the Cheltenham Festival 2023, we’ve enhanced our UK welcome betting offer. Register with QuinnBet and get 50% back as a Free Bet up to £35 + 10 free casino spins. A minimum of 3 bets at odds of evans (2.00) or greater is required to qualify for the max free bet, which is based on first day losses. Even if you account is up, a single £10 Bet at the minimum odds, secures a £5 Free Bet & 10 Free Spins. UK 18+. begambleaware #AD
Kwiff Cheltenham Betting offer of a free £20 bet is good who sportsbook punters who also enjoy playing casino online
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £/€10. Qualifying real money bet of £/€10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply. #AD Please gamble responsibly.
Claim your SBK Cheltenham Offer when you deposit £10 and get £20 in Cheltenham Festival free bets.
New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5 and get £10. Further £10 credited after 7 days and a further £10 credited after 14 days. Full T&Cs apply.18+. #AD BeGambleAware.org.
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% for 60 days for Cheltenham Festival Free Bets. Minimum £10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Instant Banking. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% commission for 60 days. Min. £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card or Instant Banking. Full T&C’s apply.18+. #AD BeGambleAware.org.
All of the above have been favourably reviewed, with some having Cheltenham free bet offers, betting exchange options on Cheltenham betting markets, live streaming, various deposit methods, bonus bets on specific Cheltenham races and more for new customers. Be sure to follow the links for more information.
Popular Questions
Is the National Hunt Chase a handicap?
The National Hunt Chase is a Handicap race.
How long is National Hunt Chase?
The National Hunt Chase is 3 miles and 6 furlongs long.
Summary of The National Hunt Chase
The National Hunt Chase is one of the toughest long-distance races as part of the Cheltenham Festival.
Assured jumping and bags of stamina is required to win over this race, which is just shy of 4 miles. It is no surprise that winners of this race have gone on well to form in both the English and Welsh Grand Nationals.
It’s a great race with a rich history.
Other Cheltenham Related Articles
If you have enjoyed the National Hunt Chase page, here are some other articles related to Cheltenham betting you may also like:
James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur who founded British Racecourses because of his love for horse racing. James owns 14 racehorses through Dooley Thoroughbreds, so he understands all aspects of horse racing, from wagering bets, and booking jockeys to sourcing the best horse racing trainers. James Dooley’s connections give him inside information on horse racing tips and best chances of a winner.
Betfair bet £10 and get £30 is a decent offer if you are opening an account for Cheltenham betting. Betfair is one of the best bookmakers around and is highly recommended for betting on the Cheltenham Festival as well as other top sporting events. Find out more about them today.
The bet365 Cheltenham offer is one of the best out there. As one of the top UK bookies we would expect this. The offer is a current deposit £10 and get £30 in free bet credits, for information and T&Cs follow the links below.
The Betfred offer is a great one -deposit £10 and get up to £40 in bet bonuses. These can be used on a variety of betting markets including racing, football and other sports. For more information on this leading UK bookmaker read our full view.
Get the 888Sport Bet £10 and get £30 Cheltenham offer today. For full terms and conditions or to claim this great free bet credit for the Cheltenham Festival simply follow the link now.
Coral is another hugely popular bookmaker and a high-street name. This deal for new customers is a good one, for more information on this free bets credit either follow the link or check out our bespoke review. As with all betting offers certain terms and conditions will apply.
Take advantage of the very best Cheltenham betting offers and free bets at the Parimatch sportsbook website with great sportsbook sign up bonuses for new horse racing bettors at the Cheltenham Festival
Bet £10 and get £30 in free bet credits with William Hill for the Cheltenham races. These can be used on all the big races at the Festival including the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle. Certain deposit restrictions may apply.
Bet £5 and get £20 with Ladbrokes is a good deal for punters who want to wage a small amount of their money but see a decent amount of free bet credits. As one of the leading and most respected bookies in the UK there are lots of benefits to opening an account whether for Cheltenham betting or at other times of the year.
The Unibet offer is a bit different from other bookies and is your money back as a free bet credit if your horse finished in second. This takes away some of the pain of just missing out! Unibet are great Cheltenham bookmaker and currently sponsors the Champion Hurdle, check out our full review for more info.
The Mr Play Cheltneham offer of bet £10 and get £15 is not one of the best on the market. However, this new bookmaker is hugely popular for punters looking for a new betting site. We have reviewed all of the best features, read our review or follow the link for more info.
A different Cheltenham offer from 32Red is their 100 profit boost! This one is definitely worth checking out as its totally different from the type of Cheltenham offered by other leading bookmakers. Read their full T&Cs to find out more.
Betway’s £70 in free bets for the countdown to 2023 Cheltenham Festival is an impressive sign up bonus
A good new offer for Paddy Power customers, basically bet £20 and you’ll be refunded in cash if you lose. This is a great Cheltenham offer from this leading Irish bookmaker. For information on them including BOG, live streaming of Cheltenham races and more, follow the links.
There’s a BetUK Cheltenham Offer to claim that requires you to just deposit and wager £20 and get £60 in Cheltenham Festival free bets.
A Cheltenham double-the-odds promotion from Grosvenor is good and Cheltenham offer with a difference. New to the UK gambling scene Grosvenor is growing in popularity, check out the perks in our full review.
The livescorebet Cheltenham free bet made our top list of hand-selected Cheltenham Festival special offers for horse racing punters looking to wager bets in the UK or Ireland
Take advantage of the Matchbook £50 free bets for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
Boylesports Bet 10 Get 60 Cheltenham Offer is for Ireland Customers Only
QuinnBet has multiple Cheltenham Offers from £35 free bets on Cheltenham Festival or the bet 10 get 60 betting promotion for Irish punters
Kwiff Cheltenham Betting offer of a free £20 bet is good who sportsbook punters who also enjoy playing casino online
Claim your SBK Cheltenham Offer when you deposit £10 and get £20 in Cheltenham Festival free bets.
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% for 60 days for Cheltenham Festival Free Bets. Minimum £10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Instant Banking. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
