Cathcart Challenge Cup

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.

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 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 Leap Man 9 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn
1947 no race 1947 [1]
1948 Jack Tatters 10 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn
1949 no race 1949 [2]
1950 River Trout 7 Martin Molony Ginger Dennistoun
1951 Semeur 5 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn
1952 Coolrock 7 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn
1953 Arctic Gold 8 Glen Kelly Gerald Balding
1954 Royal Approach 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1955 no race 1955 [2]
1956 Amber Wave 8 Michael Scudamore Geoffrey Champneys
1957 Rose's Quarter 10 Dave Dick George Beeby
1958 Quita Que 9 Bunny Cox Dan Moore
1959 Gallery Goddess 8 Fred Winter Charlie Mallon
1960 Dove Cote 10 Mick Batchelor Stewart Wight
1961 Quita Que 12 Willie Robinson Dan Moore
1962 Hoodwinked 7 David Nicholson Neville Crump
1963 Some Alibi 8 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn
1964 Panisse 9 Michael Scudamore Willie Stephenson
1965 Scottish Memories 11 Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator
1966 Flying Wild 10 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore
1967 Prince Blarney 7 Ron Barry John Barclay
1968 Muir 9 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1969 Kinloch Brae 6 Timmy Hyde Willie O'Grady
1970 Garrynagree 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1971 The Laird 10 Jeff King Bob Turnell
1972 Soloning 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1973 Inkslinger 6 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore
1974 Soothsayer 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1975 no race 1975 [3]
1976 Mickley Seabright 8 Mr Peter Brookshaw Fred Rimell
1977 Rusty Tears 6 Mr Niall Madden Edward O'Grady
1978 no race 1978 [3]
1979 Roller Coaster 6 John Francome Fred Winter
1980 King Weasel 8 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1981 Lord Greystoke 10 Neale Doughty Gordon W. Richards
1982 Dramatist 11 Bill Smith Fred Winter
1983 Observe 7 John Francome Fred Winter
1984 The Mighty Mac 9 Mr Dermot Browne Michael Dickinson
1985 Straight Accord 10 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn
1986 Half Free 10 Simon Sherwood Fred Winter
1987 Half Free 11 Peter Scudamore Fred Winter
1988 Private Views 7 Brendan Powell Nick Gaselee
1989 Observer Corps 8 Tom Morgan John Edwards
1990 Brown Windsor 8 John White Nicky Henderson
1991 Chatam 7 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1992 Repeat the Dose 7 Mark Richards Tim Etherington
1993 Second Schedual 8 Adrian Maguire Arthur Moore
1994 Raymylette 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
1995 Coulton 8 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1996 Challenger du Luc 6 David Bridgwater Martin Pipe
1997 Sparky Gayle 7 Brian Storey Colin Parker
1998 Cyfor Malta 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 Stormyfairweather 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2000 Stormyfairweather 8 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2001 no race 2001 [4]
2002 Royal Auclair 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2003 La Landiere 8 Richard Johnson Richard Phillips
2004 Our Armageddon 7 Larry McGrath Richard Guest

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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