Hunters Chase Predictions, Betting Tips, Odds & Trends (Cheltenham 2024 - DAY 4)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Hunters Chase Challenge Cup is the richest and most prestigious hunter chase of the season. It is run on exactly the same course and distance of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Bradley Gibbs' Premier Magic was a shocking renewal last year, at odds of 66/1, and he is back to defend his crown. Don't miss our Hunters Chase race preview with free predictions, tips, betting trends, best odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
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Hunters Chase Betting Preview
The Foxhunters Chase is always a popular contest with the Festival drawing to a close. It is the Gold Cup for amateur riders and older horses. An extreme test ran over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup - three miles, two and a half furlongs - so that definitely tests out the horses jumping and stamina. The race is for chasers and the age limit on the race is five year old and above, and it usually attracts horses that are veterans.
Furthermore, the Foxhunters Chase is now the richest and most prestigious hunter chase of the season, worth a total of 40,000.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Foxhunter Steeple Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
ITS ON THE LINE n a cracking race for a six-year-old 12 months ago as he was only beaten by two lengths by Premier Magic in last year's edition. Emmet Mullins' charge has improved since then, beating two of his main competitors on his last two starts. He got the better of Ferns Lock when the two met at Down Royal earlier in the season.
FERNS LOCK is four from six and finished runner-up to Its On The Line over Christmas. before bouncing back from that defeat to win by eight lengths last time out at Thurles.
SAMCRO, a former two-time Cheltenham Festival winner (a Ballymore and Marsh Novices'), looks rejuvenated since he moved to point-to-pointing. He has won four of his last five.
PREMIER MAGIC comes into the race unbeaten since his Hunters Chase victory last year. The defending champion has since won another Cheltenham hunter chase and two point-to-points, which is the route he took before winning last year.
BILLAWAY won this race two years ago nd has been a runner-up twice. Willie Mullins'has only raced once this season, beaten by a head at Naas behind Its On The Line.
TIME LEADER finished fifth in last year's Aintree hunter chase and impressively scored in a hunter chase at Hereford last time out by seven lengths. It will be his first outing at Cheltenham, but he has already won racing left-handed. He wouldn't want deep ground as he disappointed on that at Carlisle and Chaddesley Corbett two starts ago.
Dark horses?
SINE NOMINE shouldn't be ruled out as Fiona Needham's mare thrashed a couple of future winners when winning at Wetherby in her most recent outing. The 10-year-old was fifth in last year’s Foxhunters at Aintree over the Grand National fences and has two wins from his three starts this season, most recently at Hereford in January.
QUINTIN'S MAN quickly progressed through the ranks last season and won the Intermediate Final at this track by 17 lengths, staying on strongly up the hill. He won at Wincanton in February. That day he beat Lalor and a couple of other decent rivals. He was last seen two weeks later when he stayed on well to place third on heavy ground at Haydock.
After three outings in the Cheltenham Festival - in a bumper, over hurdles and over fences - RAMILLIES has started his first season of hunter chasing and the nine-year-old has won four point-to-points so far. He has also finished 4th and 5th in two hunter chases won by the current favourite, Its On The Line.
SHANTOU FLYER is a Cheltenham veteran. first ran at the Festival in 2016 and has been second in an Ultima, placed in a Kim Muir, and hit the post, having placed three times in this race.
The section below contains the most backed entries at the moment:
All the bookmakers we recommend are offering No Runner No Bet on every Cheltenham Festival race.
Hunters Chase Trends
- Just 7 of the last 26 favourites won (5 of the last 14)
- 9 of the last 15 winners came from the first 4 in the betting
The last 17 winners were yet to win over this trip - 8 of the last 14 winners finished in the top 5 in the Hunters Chase the previous year
- 5 of the last 8 winners have been ridden by female jockeys.
- The last 9 winners have been aged 10 or 11
- British-bred horses are 0-89 since 2003
- 10 of the last 12 winners were rated 134+
Hunters Chase Predictions
The section below contains our betting tips on the Foxhunters' Chase 2024. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival tips and get the best prices available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button! Are you looking for boosted odd on the Festival? Visit our Enhanced Bets section and grab huge prices!
Ruby Walsh's Tips
"I’d be lying if I said I had a really strong fancy in this but I’ll side with Its On The Line for Emmet Mullins. He’s won his last three and he’ll relish the stamina test."
Ruby Walsh's Hunters Chase Tips
Its On The Line (Winner)
6/4Bet
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2024 CHELTENHAM DAY 4 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
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2024 Hunters Chase FAQs
What time is the Hunters Chase?
The Foxhunters Chase is the fifth race run on Day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Friday March 15, 2024 and the official starting time is 4:10pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Hunters Chase?
There are 22 obstacles to jump for the Hunters Chase runners
What is the distance of the Hunters Chase?
The Foxhunters Chase is run on a distance of 3 miles and 2 and a half furlongs
What is the prize money for the Hunters Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the Foxhunters Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be £45,000.
Who won the Hunters Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Premier Magic at SP of 66/1, trained and ridden by Bradley Gibbs.
What weights are carried for the Hunters Chase?
11 st 12 lb (5yo). 12 st 0 lb (6yo+), with a 7lb allowance for mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Hunters Chase?
No jockey has won the Foxhunters Chase more than once in the past 10 years. Female jockeys (mainly based in Ireland) have dominated this race in the last decade - six wins in the last 8 editions.
Who is the leading trainer in the Hunters Chase?
Paul Nicholls’ has four wins in this race, most recently in 2018. Irish trainer Enda Bolger has saddled two winners and two placed finishers from 11 runners in the last 12 years.
