The National Hunt Challenge Cup closes Tuesday’s card. The race appears to be a deep, open handicap.
A Test of Stamina and Jumping
The 3m6f trip on the Old Course should expose any chinks in stamina or jumping. The National Hunt Challenge Cup is the longest race at the Cheltenham Festival, run over three miles, five furlongs and 201 yards on the Old Course. It now carries Grade 2 status as a novices’ handicap chase.
The race was reshaped in 2024 into a 0–145 handicap open to professionals. This changed both the profile of winners and the tactics needed to succeed. The race demands stamina, but places more emphasis on well-handicapped, improving chasers rather than ultra-seasoned stayers.
The Old Course configuration means runners meet the fences quickly and then face a long, testing run from the top of the hill. Rhythm and positioning matter almost as much as raw staying power.
The Field and the Favourites
This year’s race has attracted a near-maximum field of 17. The declarations are headed by the likes of Backmersackme, Newton Tornado, Wade Out, and King Of Answers, alongside strong British and Irish representation throughout the handicap.
The official ratings range from 124 to 144. This compresses the weights enough that class may count for a little more than usual if the ground stays on the easy side of good.
- Backmersackme
- Newton Tornado
- Wade Out
- King Of Answers
Going Conditions and Training Representation
The going is currently described as good to soft. This should offer a fair test without turning the race into an attritional slog.
Irish yards are well represented through Gordon Elliott, Emmet Mullins, and Gavin Cromwell. Home trainers such as Nicky Henderson, the Twiston-Davies team, Rebecca Curtis, Sue Smith, and Joe Tizzard all field interesting contenders.
With a mix of runners heading for the starting tape, the National Hunt Challenge Cup promises to be a competitive race.