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13:20Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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15:20Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
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17:20Champion Bumper
National Hunt Chase
17:20 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-10
Winner: £51,440
Runners: 17
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 23
Distance:
The Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase, known as the National Hunt Chase, is a novice chase over 3m6f at the Cheltenham Festival. Up until 2019 it was run over 4m but the distance was reduced due to welfare concerns after 2020's race, in which only four of the 18 runners completed. It is run as the final race on the first day of the festival. The 2025 edition of the National Hunt Chase had major changes, no longer being restricted to amateur jockeys and being downgraded to a novice handicap for horses with a rating of up to 145. 2026 will see the second running of the National Hunt Chase in this format.
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15(0)
F0P-83
Walking On Air
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Faye Bramley
9
10-11
127
147
Easily best show last term came in the Great Yorkshire at Doncaster (3m, good; fell at the final fence) and finally back near that when third with first-time cheekpieces in same race (soft) this January on latest outing; dropped right out of it from home turn when just 7-1 for 3m2f Kim Muir here last March and pulled up lame in Scottish National, so stamina is a big question.
4(0)
5-3213
One Big Bang
-
J: Alex Chadwick
T: James Owen
8
11-9
139
146
Fifth in last year's Pertemps Final here as a staying hurdler and also ran well here when he had no answer to Wade Out after the final fence in November (3m1f, soft) on chase debut; readily beat a useful rival in a match at Southwell (3m, good to soft) next time and 2m3f offers an excuse for latest start, so he might be capable of better, which is needed.
6(0)
-7020P
Will Do
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
9
11-7
137
145
0-13 now as a chaser but third in this race last year off 5lb lower; that was his best form last term and he's shown it only once since, when beaten a neck at Fairyhouse (3m6f, yielding to soft) in November; that was also his only long-distance assignment this term, so he could return to form with this step back up in trip; others are preferred for the win even so.
2(0)
-U1591
Pic Roc
-
J: Ben Jones
T: Ben Pauling
8
11-11
141
151
Soundly beaten when just 17-2 at last year's Festival (2m4f); finally opened his chase account in November, before staying-on fifth in major handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) where he was badly hindered at the unsatisfactory start; 13l win at Sandown (3m, soft; made most) on latest outing confirmed he's got his act together, which earned a 7lb rise but he needs respect.
11(0)
6P2-11
Iceberg Theory
-
J: Conor Stone-Walsh
T: Paul Nolan
7
11-3
133
150
Bids for a hat-trick after scoring over an extended 2m6f at Limerick (good) in May and moving nearly 7l clear on the run-in over 2m5f at Cork (yielding) in November; the latter is easily his best form but his chase career began with a strong finish over an extended 3m1f last March, which sparks interest for this test.
17(0)
21222P
Holokea
-
J: Shane Fenelon
T: Mickey Bowen
7
10-8
124
151
Won at Ffos Las (3m1f, soft) in October and runner-up in four of his other five chases, including when mown down late on in a big field at Windsor (extended 3m4f, soft) in January; progressive to that point but then ran poorly behind Grand Geste at Haydock on latest outing.
1(0)
16-114
Wade Out
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Olly Murphy
7
12-0
144
145
Switched to chasing with two wins in the autumn, the latter from One Big Bang in Listed race here (3m1f, soft) despite having been a detached last of the three remaining runners at the third-last fence; that was not a fluent round of jumping but, with a satisfactory Grade 2 run at Windsor in January under his belt, he could still have more to give, including with this stamina test and first-time headgear.
9(0)
-78201
Backmersackme
-
J: Donagh Meyler
T: Emmet Mullins
7
11-5
135
143
Made up a lot of ground when second in handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October; disappointingly no show in a top 3m handicap at Leopardstown at Christmas but he took another valuable prize there (soft) five weeks ago; has a revised mark and that breakthrough win was over an extended 2m5f but the Cheltenham display augurs well, as do his connections.
3(0)
2-5141
King Of Answers
-
J: Derek Fox
T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
7
11-10
140
147
Twice successful in small-field handicaps at Kelso (soft/heavy) over the extended 2m7f, easily on latest start (made most) despite the odd jumping indiscretion; wore first-time cheekpieces that day, in response to his Windsor run (3m, soft) in which he got going a good deal later even than the winner Guard The Moon; up 10lb since last time but he now looks a prime candidate for serious stamina tests such as this if his jumping holds up.
8(0)
-221P1
Grand Geste
-
J: Danny McMenamin
T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
7
11-5
135
148
Impressive in a useful handicap at Haydock (extended 3m1f, soft) and, following a Doncaster flop, even better when he emerged on top in the Grand National Trial back at Haydock (extended 3m4f, good to soft); up another 6lb but little to prove regarding stamina and should have more to give.
7(0)
PF-1P1
Guard The Moon
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
8
11-7
137
148
Made a bad mistake at the fourth fence at Newbury in December and soon pulled up; clearcut winner of small-field novice handicaps at Aintree (2m4f, soft) and Windsor (3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in his other two chases and he shaped in the latter as if stamina was a strong suit.
13(0)
-335F1
First Confession
-
J: Brendan Powell
T: Joe Tizzard
7
11-3
133
148
Pulled up at 50-1 in last year's 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here; ran well in three of his five chases this term, notably with his easy win in a 2m5f beginners' event at Carlisle (good to soft) last time, but Cheltenham in December was one of the exceptions and he didn't jump well that day, before falling at Exeter on his next start; work to do on a few counts.
14(0)
6-2P2U
Union Station
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gavin Cromwell
7
11-1
131
142
Maiden; 0-8 in chases; runner-up in the Dublin National over 3m4f at Leopardstown last March and over 3m at the same track in December, both on yielding ground; 2m in cheekpieces did not work out last time; right back up in trip today but needs a big career best.
16(0)
P-5114
Silver Thorn
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Emma Lavelle
7
10-8
124
150
Plenty to like about his wins in six-runner handicap chases (3m, good to soft) at Doncaster and Exeter; heavy ground might be the excuse when he was hammered by Holloway Queen at Newbury on latest start; has a competitive mark if back on song but going beyond 3m is something new.
10(0)
P-PU41
Holloway Queen
-
J: James Bowen
T: Nicky Henderson
6
11-4
134
154
Lightly raced 6yo mare seen mostly on soft or heavy, including for her three wins; unseated on chase debut but fourth at Newbury (2m6f, good) next time was satisfactory and she built on that in a major way at same track (extended 2m7f, heavy) one month ago, careering 14l clear late on; up 10lb and in trip, but a move away from such testing ground looks the chief worry.
12(0)
1-F1P1
Newton Tornado
-
J: Sean Flanagan
T: Rebecca Curtis
7
11-3
133
151
Got the fourth-last fence all wrong here in October and pulled up at Newbury after a mistake; there's a strikingly good side too, however, as he scored comfortably at Bangor (3m, heavy) and Doncaster (3m, soft) in his other two chases; looks sure to stay beyond 3m; up another 6lb but he's a prime candidate, for last year's winning trainer, if the mistakes can be avoided.
5(0)
51-212
Kurasso Blue
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-8
142
143
2-3 over hurdles and saw off useful opposition at Punchestown (2m7f, heavy) in December in his second chase; found one too good for him when 5-6 at Naas (near 3m1f, soft) two months ago but stuck to his task manfully; this handicap debutant is just a 5yo and the only one of that age to win this race in this last 100 years was in 1978, but this became a handicap only last year and he's trained by Gordon Elliott, so needs a close look.
RACING POST TIP
Backmersackme
His big win last month came over just an extended 2m5f but hopefully that indicates chiefly that BACKMERSACKME will arrive here in rude health and on the upgrade. His performance over 3m1f on this course in October made him a clear candidate for this longer trip and the choice of this race by his ultra-shrewd connections demands a lot of respect. King Of Answers could have been the selection but for some jumping issues here and there when he otherwise won in tremendous style at Kelso last time. He's the second choice ahead of the youngster Kurasso Blue, Iceberg Theory, Grand Geste and Newton Tornado.
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Cheltenham Festival Tips
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NATIONAL HUNT CHASE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Haiti Couleurs | 1-2113 | 8 | 7/2J | Rebecca Curtis | Ben Jones |
| 2024 | Corbetts Cross | R-312F | 7 | 15-8 | Emmet Mullins | Derek O’Connor |
| 2023 | Gaillard Du Mesnil | 213 | 7 | 10-11 | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| 2022 | Stattler | 343-11 | 7 | 2-1 | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| 2021 | Galvin | 2-1111 | 7 | 7-2 | I R Ferguson | Jack Kennedy |
| 2020 | Ravenhill | 2152-F | 10 | 12-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2019 | Le Brueil | 12324 | 7 | 14-1 | Ben Pauling | Jamie Codd |
| 2018 | Rathvinden | 112BU | 10 | 9-2 | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| 2017 | Tiger Roll | 22133 | 7 | 16-1 | Gordon Elliott | Lisa O’Neill |
| 2016 | Minella Rocco | 1-3P62 | 6 | 8-1 | Jonjo O’Neill | Derek O’Connor |
| 2015 | Cause Of Causes | 220-75 | 7 | 8-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Had run at the Cheltenham Festival before, 8/10
- Trained in Ireland, 7/10
- Had not won on their previous start, 7/10
- Aged seven, 6/10
Other factors
- Tiger Roll (2017) is the only winner to have been successful before at the Cheltenham Festival.
- All of Willie Mullins’ winners in the race have been ridden by his son Patrick.
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2026 National Hunt Chase
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - NATIONAL HUNT CHASE 2025
Haiti Couleurs broke a five-year run of Irish-trained winners in the National Hunt Chase. The Rebecca Curtis-trained stayer was well fancied for the 3m6f event – he returned the 7-2 joint favourite – and he never looked in too much danger. Ben Jones hit the front on the eight-year-old at the third-last and he stayed on well for a four-and-a-half-length success.