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.
| Grade 2 race (discontinued) | |
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1938 |
| Last run | 18 March 2004 |
| Race type | Chase |
| Website | Cheltenham |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 5f (4,225 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 10 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 |
| no race 1947 [1] | ||||
| 1948 | Jack Tatters | 10 | Bryan Marshall | Fulke Walwyn |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| no race 1975 [3] | ||||
| 1976 | Mickley Seabright | 8 | Mr Peter Brookshaw | Fred Rimell |
| 1977 | Rusty Tears | 6 | Mr Niall Madden | Edward O'Grady |
| 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 |
| 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.
References
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (8 March 2004).
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 64. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.