The National Hunt Chase is one of the oldest races still run at The Cheltenham Festival and has had a permanent home at the Gloucestershire track’s annual highlight since 1911. The 2025 edition will mark the 165th running of the race and it was one of the most important races of the season up until the 1930s.
The National Hunt Chase: 5 Famous Cheltenham Festival Winners
Here we take a look at five of the most famous winners of the National Hunt Chase and each went on to achieve big things – and obviously two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll takes the top spot on this list.
National Hunt Chase Winners: Butler’s Cabin (2007)
The JP McManus-owned Butler’s Cabin narrowly got the better of Character Building back in 2007 and clearly the plan was to arrive as late as possible. Unfortunately he was left in the lead at the second-last but he was able to hold off the sustained challenge of the runner-up.
Winning that day with a rating of 123, the handicapper put him up 12lb which wasn’t enough to stop him when returning to handicap company in the Irish Grand National the following month. Going pretty well when falling at Bechers Brook in the Grand National at Aintree a year later, he would surely have had every chance.
National Hunt Chase Winners: Hot Weld (2006)
This Ferdy Murphy-trained stayer managed to win by a neck in 2006 and it was impossible to question his attitude that day. He made most of the running before being headed only to fight back and not take no for an answer.
More impressive feats were still to come, as he completed the Scottish Grand National and Betfred Gold Cup (now the bet365 Gold Cup) double in 2007, within the space of a week.
National Hunt Chase Winners: Galvin (2021)
Galvin has to go down as one of the most talented winners in recent years and he put in a magnificent display to get the better of Paul Nicholls’ Next Destination back in 2021. Professional jockeys were permitted to ride in the race that year and Jack Kennedy was the man on board.
Whilst it’s fair to say he never quite hit the heights that he promised to, he did go on to win the Grade 1 Savills Chase the following season and looked like a major Gold Cup candidate. A fine fourth behind I Am Maximus in the Grand National, he would be on a 1lb lower mark this year and could go close once again.
National Hunt Chase Winners: Cause Of Causes (2015)
Gordon Elliott has done well in this race over the years and he has always named this horse as one of his personal favourites. Cause Of Causes won back in 2015, showing an abundance of stamina to come out on top by a length-and-a-half.
He ran at the Cheltenham Festival six times in four different races and managed to win the Kim Muir as well as the Cross Country Chase in a very distinguished career.
National Hunt Chase Winners: Tiger Roll (2017)
Cheltenham and Aintree legend Tiger Roll won the Triumph Hurdle as a four-year-old and followed up in this race three years later, when scoring by three lengths from Missed Approach. His future exploits are legendary and he went on to win three Cross Country Chases at the Cheltenham Festival.
Aintree was where he would truly establish his legacy however, as he famously won consecutive Grand Nationals and the argument could be made that he would have joined Red Rum on three, if not for the intervention of Covid-19.
Please note that the information provided in this PDC World Championship article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org
