Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup Betting Tips, Winners & History

Next Race: TBD

The next renewal of this race has not been scheduled yet. We will update this once the schedule has been released for next season. The race info, trends and tips shown below will be updated for the next renewal once the final declarations have been made.

Foxhunter Chase Betting Tips

Note: The following tips are from the last running of the race. Tips for the next renewal will be added once the final declarations have been made.

It would be easy for the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase to suffer from a case of being after the Lord Mayor’s show but each year it entertains the Cheltenham fans immediately after the Gold Cup. This hunters’ chase takes place over the exact same course, distance and fences as the Gold Cup but includes some unique qualification criteria that leads to a unique race.

In order for horses to qualify for the 2020 Foxhunter Chase they must have finished inside the top two of a hunters’ chase or have won two open chases at point-to-point meetings (or a combination of the two) since October 2017. That guarantees that all of the horses in the field have recent enough experience of this sort of race.

Given that many horses come to hunters’ chases fairly late in their careers, it’s no surprise that winners of this race tend towards the older ages. Each of the last five renewals were won by horses aged either 10 or 11 but Salsify and Cappa Bleu both won as seven year olds inside the last 12 renewals.

This is a tough test of stamina, especially on the physically demanding New Course which has, at this point, played host to almost two full days of racing. Those who have yet to prove themselves capable of getting the trip and who have not had a run inside the last five or six weeks will find it tough to win.

The other thing to remember about the Foxhunter Chase is that the horses are all partnered by amateur jockeys. Not all amateurs are equal and it can often pay to side with a jockey who has amassed plenty of experience, particularly over fences.

MINELLA ROCCO (6/1)

The Foxhunter Chase is a real race for specialists and we’ve seen plenty of horses successfully defend their title in recent years. The market is pretty sweet on the chances of Hazel Hill becoming the latest horse to follow up a win 12 months ago with another victory in the 2020 renewal but he may just find one or two too good this time around.

Minella Rocco is one of the favourite’s competitors who has all the class required to earn the win. The 10 year old has amassed plenty of Cheltenham Festival experience over the years, including earning a win alongside amateur jockey, Derek O’Connor, in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in 2016. He will partner with O’Connor once again on Friday which is a real positive as he is considered one of the very best amateur jockeys around.

Whilst Minella Rocco doesn’t quite have the same point to point experience of many of his rivals in the Foxhunter Chase, he has proven himself to be a reliable and top class competitor time and time again. Minella Rocco got the better of Hazel Hill when they met at Wetherby in February so it would be no surprise were horse and jockey both able to prove their class on Friday.

CAID DU BERLAIS (12/1)

As mentioned above, horses more often than not won’t go hunter chasing until towards the end of their careers. When owners make the decision to send their horses hunter chasing, they’ll often make a change in trainer to somebody who is used to getting the best out of horses in this style of race.

The owners of Caid Du Berlais made exactly that decision at the end of 2017. He had run well during his time under the watchful eye of Paul Nicholls but was entrusted to Rose Loxton who is a specialist trainer when it comes to point to points and hunter chases. That choice instantly paid dividends with a win in his first point to point race at Larkhill and his progression in that new sphere was such that he’s run in the last two Foxhunter Chases.

In 2018 he ran well enough, finishing fifth but he was unable to complete the race last year when he was pulled up. He quickly put that disappointment behind him with a win at Punchestown and maintained his unbeaten record in point to points with victory in his sole outing to date this season. Caid Du Berlais looks to have a very good chance of contending again at the Cheltenham Festival.

ALCALA (16/1)

Alcala is another horse who fits the bill when looking for an experienced chaser who has some high class form in his past. The 10 year old may be in the autumn of his career but his recent showings in hunter chases show that he still has more than enough left in the tank to give connections plenty to shout about.

Although he wasn’t seen until January this season, Alcala has been kept busy since the turn of the New Year. The first of his three point to point starts in the lead up to Cheltenham ended with disappointment after he fell but all was quickly forgiven as he won a month later at Haydock. He was second only to Bob And Co who is a classy performer in this sphere so Alcala has obvious each way appeal at 16/1.