Cheltenham- R
Hunter Chase
Friday 18 March 2022
First Race: 16:10
Going: Good/Soft
16:10
Cheltenham Foxhunters
The St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters Steeplechase
Total prize fund £50,000 Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
For five yrs old and upwards which, are qualified to run in Hunters steeplechases under the Running Requirements Code and which, since October 1st, 2019, and before February 28th 2022, have been placed First or Second on two occasions in a Hunters Steeplechase in Great Britain or Ireland OR have won Two Open Steeplechases at Point-to-Point Meetings (i.e. Gentlemens, Ladies or Mixed Open Races) in Great Britain or Ireland OR have won One Open Steeplechase at a Point-To-Point Meeting in Great Britain or Ireland and have been placed First or Second in a hunters' steeplechase
Three miles, about two and a half furlongs £60 to enter, £190 extra if entry confirmed
Weights: 5-y-o…..11st 10lb 6-y-o and up………….12st Mares allowed…………7lb
To be ridden by Amateur Jockeys The Amateur Riders referred to above shall be Category B' Amateur Riders or 'Category C' Qualified Riders
PLEASE NOTE: Any horse for whom a confirmation of entry has been submitted will not be permitted to declare to run if, at the time fixed for declaration, it has been declared to run in any other race at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, which has yet to take place. (This will apply whether or not the horse is subsequently declared a non-runner, unless the horse has been eliminated from a race, or declared as a reserve and not been made a non-runner.)
The British Horseracing Authority has modified paragraph 16 of the Running Requirements Code for the purposes of this race to provide that horses will be qualified to run if they are qualified in Ireland and have a Hunters Certificate currently registered by the Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeple Chase Committee and which has not been cancelled. The British Horseracing Authority has modified Rule (I) 10 and the Elimination and Balloting Procedures (contained in the Race Administration Code) of the Rules of Racing to provide that, if it is necessary to do so, elimination of horses from this race will be determined by the BHA Handicapper.
PLEASE NOTE: If more than 24 horses are declared to run in this race and elimination is necessary, priority will be given to horses which have run in Steeple Chases and Hunters' Steeple Chases under the Rules of Racing.
With this in mind, it is strongly recommended that horses qualifying to run in this race through Point-to-Points should also run in a Steeple Chase or Hunters' Steeple Chase by March 11th, 2022 (the day before 6 day confirmations) in order to avoid elimination.
The BHA Head of Handicapping will, however, reserve the right to guarantee a place in the line-up for a maximum of one 'wild card' runner, should he wish to do so. The decision of the BHA Head Handicapper shall be final.
A Confirmation of Entry under will not be accepted for any horse for whom a Medication Declaration Form A is not submitted to the BHA via cheltenhammeds@britishhorseracing.com by 8th March, 2022.