Every edition of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival adds a new chapter to the event’s extensive historical narrative, demonstrating endurance, skill, and resolve.
The National Hunt Chase 2024 betting line has Embassy Gardens as the favorite. But in the previous five years, we’ve seen a procession of winners leave their marks on racing history with incredible performances.
As we consider these historic achievements, let’s recall their successes, the drama, and the remarkable events that have shaped the National Hunt Chase in recent memory.
2019: Le Breuil
Jockey Jamie Codd and trainer Ben Pauling’s horse, Le Breuil, surprised everyone in 2019 by winning.
The seven-year-old, one of the only four horses to complete the race, heroically battled his way up the hill to defeat Discorama by half a length at odds of 14/1.
Le Breuil won the battle with great perseverance, placing him in Cheltenham’s history and securing a hard-fought triumph.
2020: Ravenhill
Ravenhill, another outsider driven by Codd but trained by Gordon Elliott, swept to a decisive win in the 2020 National Hunt Chase renewal.
12/1 in the Cheltenham horse racing odds, showed a remarkable turn of foot in the latter part of the race, blowing past his competitors to win easily over Lord Du Mesnil.
Only six of the 14 competitors finished the race despite being shorter and having some obstacles eliminated; this is a minor improvement over the previous year.
2021: Galvin
While Elliott was serving his punishment, Ian Ferguson briefly oversaw Galvin, who in 2021 had great success under the skillful tutelage of a youthful Jack Kennedy.
Ferguson, who was seven years old at the time, launched a challenge at the last and maintained good form to win by more than a length from Next Destination in the only event when his name was listed on the race card beside Galvin’s.
Since then, Galvin has seen further graded success, taking home two prizes: a Grade 3 and a Grade 1 Savills Chase. He may not have reached the heights anticipated of him, though.
2022: Stattler
Elliott and his strong competitor, Willie Mullins, have faced off several times at Cheltenham, and it was anticipated that the 2022 National Hunt Chase would be another competitive race involving runners from their prestigious yards.
In the pre-race market, Run Wild Fred was the modest favorite at 15/8, but Stattler was well-backed at 2/1. There wasn’t much between the two.
However, Mullins’ runner easily defeated Elliott’s horse by eight lengths, proving that Run Wild Fred was no match for Stattler.
Gaillard Du Mesnil in 2023
Elliott was defeated by Mullins once more in 2023 when Gaillard Du Mesnil defeated Chemical Energy.
The horse owned by Jessica Donnelly started the National Hunt Chase as the 10/11 favorite, but at the end, she was three lengths behind Chemical Energy, and it appeared like an upset may be in store.
But under Codd, the leader had nothing more to offer, and in the dying moments, Patrick Mullins moved Gaillard Du Mesnil into the lead to win.
