Cathcart Challenge Cup

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Cathcart Challenge Cup
Grade 2 race (discontinued)
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated1938
Last run18 March 2004
Race typeChase
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 5f (4,225 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight10 st 9 lb (5yo);
11 st 0 lb (6yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Penalties for wins
9 lb for Class A wfa chase *
6 lb for Class B wfa chase *
5 lb for Class A or B chase **
3 lb for Class C chase
* in current season
** in previous season
Purse£80,000 (2004)
1st: £46,400

The Cathcart Challenge Cup was a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which was open to horses aged five years or older. It was run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,225 metres), and during its running there were seventeen fences to be jumped. The race was for first and second-season chasers, and it was scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The event was established in 1938, and it was named in honour of Frederick Cathcart, the clerk of the course and chairman at Cheltenham from 1908 to 1934. During its history the race had various formats, including a brief period as a hunter chase in the late 1970s.

The Cathcart Challenge Cup was last run in 2004, and it was replaced the following year by what is now known as the Ryanair Chase. Unlike the last version of the "Cathcart", the latter race is open to horses beyond their second year of chasing.

Records[]

Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):

  • Quita Que – 1958, 1961
  • Half Free – 1986, 1987
  • Stormyfairweather – 1999, 2000

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):

  • Bryan Marshall – Leap Man (1946), Jack Tatters (1948), Semeur (1951), Coolrock (1952)

Leading trainer since 1946 (7 wins):

  • Fred Winter – Soloning (1972), Soothsayer (1974), Roller Coaster (1979), Dramatist (1982), Observe (1983), Half Free (1986, 1987)

Winners 1946–2004[]

  • Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1946 9 Fulke Walwyn
1947 no race 1947 [1]
1948 10 Fulke Walwyn
1949 no race 1949 [2]
1950 7 Martin Molony
1951 5 Fulke Walwyn
1952 7 Fulke Walwyn
1953 8 Gerald Balding
1954 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1955 no race 1955 [2]
1956 8 Michael Scudamore
1957 10 Dave Dick George Beeby
1958 9
1959 8 Fred Winter
1960 10
1961 12 Willie Robinson
1962 7 David Nicholson
1963 8 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn
1964 9 Michael Scudamore
1965 11 Bobby Beasley
1966 10 Tommy Carberry
1967 7 Ron Barry
1968 9 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1969 6 Timmy Hyde
1970 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1971 10
1972 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1973 6 Tommy Carberry
1974 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1975 no race 1975 [3]
1976 8 Mr Fred Rimell
1977 6 Mr Edward O'Grady
1978 no race 1978 [3]
1979 6 John Francome Fred Winter
1980 8 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1981 10 Gordon W. Richards
1982 11 Fred Winter
1983 7 John Francome Fred Winter
1984 9 Mr Michael Dickinson
1985 10 Fulke Walwyn
1986 Half Free 10 Fred Winter
1987 Half Free 11 Peter Scudamore Fred Winter
1988 7
1989 8
1990 8 Nicky Henderson
1991 7 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1992 7
1993 8 Adrian Maguire
1994 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
1995 8 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1996 6 Martin Pipe
1997 7 Brian Storey
1998 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2000 8 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2001 no race 2001 [4]
2002 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2003 8 Richard Johnson
2004 7

1 The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost.
2 It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow.
3 The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
4 The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also[]

References[]

  • racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (8 March 2004).
  • Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 64. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
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