The final race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is the National Hunt Chase. One of the most historic races in all of jumps racing, having first been run in 1860, the National Hunt Chase was shortened from four miles to three-and-three-quarter-miles in 2019, in a bid to make the race safer for the amateur riders who take part.
The latest change to this historic race came in 2025, when the race reverted back to being a handicap.
National Hunt Chase Key Facts
Date
Tuesday 10th March, 2026
Time
5:20pm
Course
Cheltenham Festival
Status
Grade Two Handicap
Distance
3m 6f
Prize Pool
£125k
Age
5YO+
National Hunt Chase Tips
Our guide to the National Hunt will be published in the weeks leading up to the Cheltenham Festival.
National Hunt Chase Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Haiti Couleurs
7/2f
2nd
Rock My Way
16/1
3rd
Will Do
12/1
4th
Resplendent Grey
10/1
5th
Transmission
4/1
National Hunt Chase Day Card
Cheltenham Day 1 Card
Time
Tuesday Races
Status
Distance
13:20
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Grade One
2m
14:00
Arkle Challenge Trophy
Grade One
2m
14:40
Ultima Handicap Chase
Grade Three Handicap
3m
15:20
Mares' Hurdle
Grade One
2m 4f
16:00
Champion Hurdle
Grade One
2m
16:40
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Grade Three Handicap
2m
17:20
National Hunt Chase
Grade Two Handicap
3m 6f
National Hunt Chase History
The National Hunt Challenge Cup, often simply referred to as the National Hunt, is one of the oldest races in all of jumps racing. This Grade Two was first run in 1860, making it the second-oldest race at the Cheltenham Festival, after the Grand Annual.
The National Hunt Chase wasn't handed Grade Two status until 2017. The race is open only to novice chasers, and only amateur jockeys are eligible to ride in the race.
For the majority of it's history, the National Hunt was a four-mile race. However, after only four entrants managed to complete the trip in 2019, organisers took measures to make the race safer, including dropping the trip down from four miles to three-miles-six-furlongs.
Between 1860 and 1910, the National Hunt was staged at a number of venues, including Warwick, Sandown and Wetherby. In 1911, the race returned to Cheltenham and has been staged at Prestbury Park ever since.
Top amateur jockeys like Atty Persse, Ted Wilson, JT McNamara and Marcus Armytage has claimed Cheltenham Festival glory in the National Hunt. Ian Balding, Mouse Morris, Patrick Mullins and Katie Walsh have also ridden winners in the four-miler.
Jonjo O'Neill is the most successful trainer in the history of the National Hunt Chase. The first of O'Neill's wins came with Front Line in 1995, with his most recent triumph coming with Minella Rocco in 2016, who went on to finish second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins rode two winners for his father Paddy during the 1980s. Willie has since enjoyed success in this race as a trainer, saddling winners in 2013 and '18.
Mullins' Irish rival, Gordon Elliott has targetted the National Hunt in recent seasons, winning the race four times in the last ten years.
Elliott's most famous winner is Tiger Roll, who won the National Hunt Chase in 2017. Tiger Roll has gone on to win collect his third and fourth Cheltenham Festival wins in the National Hunt Chase, and also win the Grand National at Aintree in 2018 and 2019.
Gordon Elliott was once again victorious in the National Hunt Chase in 2020, as 10-year-old Ravenhill - ridden by leading amateur Jamie Codd - cruised to victory in impressive fashion. Elliott was celebrating again in 2021, as Galvin beat Next Destination and Escaria Ten in a high-quality renewal.
