National Hunt Chase Tips

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Day One at the Cheltenham Festival comes to a close with the oldest race at the meeting, the National Hunt Chase.

Open to first-season chasers, many greats of the sport have won this title since it was first run in 1860, and a future star of the sport could come out of the 2023 renewal.

National Hunt Chase Bookmakers & Free Bets


Every year bookmakers offer their best free bet welcome bonuses and enhanced odds specials for the Festival. Often they load up your account with enough bonus bets so you can have a bet on every race of the day's race card. Here are the standout offers so far:

Day 1 Cheltenham Festival Free Bets 2024

BookmakerFree BetPromo CodeClaim Free Bet
Super Boost: State Man at EvensCode: NEWBONUSState Man Boost
€20 No Deposit & €70 Bundle (IRELAND ONLY)Code: BET10GE70€20 No Deposit
£/€10 Back for CheltenhamCode: NEWBONUS£10 ReFUND
Bet £10, Get £30 plus 25% extra winnings on the SupremeCode: NEWBONUSJOIN BET365
£100 RefundCheltenham Special£100 REFUND
$600 to Play PokerCode: NEWBONUS$600 Poker

National Hunt Chase Tips


You can find our final National Hunt Chase tips here as soon as they are available.

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup Key Facts


DateTuesday March 12th, 2024
Time5.30pm
TrackCheltenham
Distance3m 6f
StatusGrade 2
Prize Money£125,000
Age5YO+

National Hunt Chase History

The National Hunt Chase is one of the oldest, and most historic races in all of jumps racing. Of all the races at the Cheltenham Festival, only the Grand Annual Handicap Chase was staged before the National Hunt.

The National Hunt Chase is open to five-year-olds and above. The race is of Grade Two status and only novice chasers can take part.

For most of it's history, the National Hunt Challenge Cup was run over four miles. However, after concerns were raised about the welfare of the horses, the National Hunt Chase was shortened to three miles and six furlongs in 2019.

The runners in the National Hunt Chase must be ridden by amateur riders. Since World War Two, Jamie Codd has ridden the most winners of the race, having scored on three occasions.

During its 160-year history, many top chasers have ended their novice campaign with a famous Festival win.

The most famous winner of the National Hunt Chase is probably Tiger Roll, who won this Grade Two in 2017. Gordon Elliott's star went on to win the Cross Country Chase twice, and win back-to-back Grand Nationals at Aintree in 2018 and '19.

In 2020, Gordon Elliott and Jamie Codd celebrated another winner in the National Hunt Challenge Cup, as well-backed ten-year-old Ravenhill claimed victory.

National Hunt Chase FAQs

When is the 2024 National Hunt Chase?

The National Hunt Chase will take place on Tuesday March 12th on Day One at the Cheltenham Festival.

What time is the 2024 National Hunt Chase?

The National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase is the seventh and final race on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival, taking place at 5.30pm on Tuesday March 12th.

Who will win the National Hunt Chase?

Our Cheltenham National Hunt Chase tips have been carefully selected by seasoned Cheltenham pundits and horse racing experts. They're free, so check them out if you're not sure who to bet on at the Cheltenham Festival.