Please see below the 2024 race conditions for this years Cheltenham St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters Chase and for the Randox Foxhunters Chase at Aintree.
Closing dates for both meetings are as follows;
Cheltenham
Enter by noon, February 27th and pay £60 stake
Confirm by noon, March 9th and pay £190
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 13th
Aintree
Enter by noon, March 19th and pay £75 stake
Confirm by noon, April 5th and pay £175
Declare by 10.00 a.m. April 9th
CHELTENHAM
The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2), Friday 15th March 2024.
Total prize fund £50000 Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code, £24445 to the winning horse, The second to receive £12220, the third £6110, the fourth £3055, the fifth £1530 and the sixth £765
For five yrs old and upwards, which, are qualified to run in Hunters’ Steeple Chases under the Running Requirements Code and which, after October 2021, and before February 27th, 2024, have been placed FIRST OR SECOND ON TWO OCCASIONS in a hunters’ steeple chase in Great Britain or Ireland OR have WON TWO OPEN STEEPLE CHASES at Point-to-Point Meetings (i.e. Gentlemens, Ladies or Mixed Open Races) in Great Britain or Ireland OR have WON ONE OPEN STEEPLE CHASE at a Point-to-Point Meeting in Great Britain or Ireland and have been placed FIRST or SECOND in a hunters’ steeplechase.
Distance: 3m 2f 70yds
Enter by noon, February 27th and pay £60 stake
Confirm by noon, March 9th and pay £190
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 13th
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 Jockeys 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 this year’s 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 prior to Confirmation (March 10th, 2024) in order to avoid elimination.
The BHA Handicapper 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.
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 this year’s Cheltenham Festival, which has yet to take place. (This will apply whether subsequently declared a non-runner or not, unless the horse has been eliminated from a race, or declared as a reserve and not been made a non-runner.)
A Confirmation of Entry will not be accepted for any horse for which Medical Records are not submitted to the BHA by 5th March, 2024 with a further update to be submitted by 6.00pm on the day before the race.
ST. JAMES’S PLACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT has generously sponsored this race.
The Challenge Cup is to be held by the winning owner until February 1st, 2025.
Presentations will be made to the winning owner, trainer, jockey and stable employee responsible for the winning horse, and a £200 award given to the stable employee in charge of the best turned out horse in this race.
All number cloths to be carried in this race have been sponsored and will carry the name/logo of ST. JAMES’S PLACE.
The sponsorship payment of £500 will be distributed equally amongst all horses starting in this race in accordance with paragraphs 24 to 27 of the Stakes and Prize Money Code.
AINTREE
The Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2) - 2024 Thursday, April 11th
Total prize fund £50000 Distributed in accordance with the Stakes and Prize Money Code £24155 to the winning horse, The second to receive £12075, the third £6045, the fourth £3020, the fifth £1510, the sixth £750, the seventh £380 and the eighth £190
For six yrs old and upwards, which are allotted a rating of 100 or more and which, after October 2021, and before March 19th, 2024, have finished first, second or third in a Hunters’ steeple chase on two occasions OR have finished first, second or third in a Hunters’ steeple chase on one occasion and have won either another steeple chase (Hunters’ steeple chases included) or, during the current Point-to-Point season, an Open Point-to-Point steeple chase. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered.
Such horses may be eligible provided the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including the day prior to confirmation would merit a minimum rating of 100. The decision of the BHA Handicapper shall be final.
Distance: 2m 5f 19yds - (Over the Grand National Course)
Enter by noon, March 19th and pay £75 stake
Confirm by noon, April 5th and pay £175
Declare by 10.00 a.m. April 9th
Weights: 12st each
Mares allowed............................................................................................7lb
To be ridden by Amateur Jockeys holding ‘Category B’ permits to ride, or Amateur Jockeys riding under the provisions of Rule (B)31.
(Horses’ ratings will be allotted by the BHA Senior Handicapper following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confirmation.)
The British Horseracing Authority has modified paragraphs 16 to 19 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.
Please note for the purposes of this race, Open Mares’ Steeple Chases and Open Lightweight Steeple Chases at Point-to-Point meetings in Ireland are considered equivalent to Open Steeple Chases at Point-to-Point meetings in Great Britain.
The British Horseracing Authority has modified Rule (I)10 and the Race Administration Code to provide that, if it is necessary to do so, elimination of horses from this race will be determined by the BHA Handicapper.
The British Horseracing Authority may exercise its powers under Rule (I)2 to refuse to allow a horse duly entered to run when they have reason to be concerned about the horse’s suitability for the race.
Any horse for whom a Confirmation of Entry has been submitted will not be permitted to run if it subsequently runs in any other race, including Point-to-Point races.
All runners must be presented to the BHA Veterinary Officers for a pre-race veterinary inspection and must pass the inspection. Any horse considered unfit to run will be withdrawn by order of the Stewards under Rule (H)7.4.
Horses may be presented for inspection on the day of racing as advised. Subject to the discretion of the Stewards, any horse which is not presented for a veterinary inspection by the time advised will not be permitted to run under Rule (H)7.4.
A Confirmation of Entry will not be accepted for any horse for which Veterinary Medical Records are not submitted to the BHA by 28th March, 2023, with a further update to be submitted by 6.00pm on the day before the race.
The winning owner will be presented with The Waley-Cohen Trophy and the winning jockey will be presented with a Challenge Trophy in memory of Sir Guy Cunard. Both are to be returned to the Racecourse by March 1st, 2025.
RANDOX has generously sponsored this race and will present a memento to the winning owner, trainer, jockey and groom. A cash prize will also be presented to the stable employee in charge of the best turned out horse in this race.
The Worshipful Company of Farriers will present a memento to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse in this race, the judging of which will take place during the pre-race veterinary inspection.
All number cloths to be carried in this race have been sponsored and will carry the name/logo of RANDOX.
The sponsorship payment of £500 will be distributed equally amongst all horses starting in this race in accordance with paragraphs 24 to 27 of the Stakes and Prize Money Code.
