Point-to-point column: Open Hunters' Chase preview at Cheltenham

The Cheltenham Festival’s Hunters’ Chase (4.40) will carry a new title in 2026 after Cheltenham Racecourse announced the race will be run as the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase.

Long regarded as the amateurs’ equivalent of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the race takes place immediately after jump racing's blue riband contest at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday, March 13. 

Run over the same extended three-and-a-quarter-mile trip as the Gold Cup, it remains one of the most prestigious contests in the amateur riding calendar.

The early betting is dominated by the Irish, with the first five in the market all trained across the water. Last year’s renewal went to Ireland when Wonderwall, trained in Cashel, Co. Tipperary by Sam Curling, was given a superb ride by Rob James to land the trophy. The same team head the market again this year at around 5-1 coming forward off an unbeaten record from his only start this season. 

Although not sourced from the British pointing fields, Wonderwall is very much a pointing horse through and through. He came out on top last year after a stirring duel with Its On The Line, who finished runner-up for the third successive year under Derek O’Connor. O’Connor has in fact partnered Wonderwall to three point-to-point victories, including his only start this season at Dromahane point-to-point course in November last year where he beat King Alex by three lengths (that rival is 66-1 for Friday's contest).

Unsurprisingly, Its On The Line is second favourite at a general 11-2.

For the British challenge, Music Drive sits highest in the betting at 12-1. Trained by Kelly Morgan, he finished fourth in last year’s renewal, the best of the British-trained horses. Miss Ellie Callwood will be partnering Music Drive again this year.

One at a larger price is Stattler, who is a general 14-1 chance. That price will undoubtedly shorten as we get closer to the day. Now trained by Faye Bramley, and partnered by Patrick Mullins, the 11-year-old only joined the yard in January after leaving Willie Mullins. Stattler boasts a distinguished career under rules, having previously won both a Grade Two and Grade Three, and achieved a career-best official rating of 163 when finishing second to the mighty Galopin Des Champs in a Grade One at Leopardstown in 2023.

Joe O’Shea saddles four runners in the race, and Barton Snow (pictured below) appears to be the pick of the quartet in the betting at around 16-1 after winning both of his outings this season. In January, he impressed when landing the Ladies’ Open at Sheriff Hutton by 30 lengths under Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell, defeating the very useful ten-time point-to-point winner Ballydonagh Boy. However, it was his success at Ludlow in February under Henry Crow that confirmed his credentials, travelling strongly and winning with plenty in hand to secure Crow the ride again on Friday.

Last year’s Aintree Foxhunters’ winner Gracchus De Balme is the mount of P.A. King. O’Shea’s other runners include Willewonga, ridden by Thomas Easterby, and Paul Marvel, who will be partnered by Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell. Paul Marvel finished a six-length second to the Paul Nicholls-trained Golden Son at Warwick in January and has since recorded two victories at Leicester.

An interesting British outsider could be Pyleigh Court for Robert Pudd. A big price at around 80-1, he won a hunter chase at Wincanton in January, a race that has worked out well since. The runner-up, Thunder Rock, trained by Olly Murphy, returned to win at Wincanton in February, while the third-placed Illico De Cotte has since won a Ladies’ Open at BadburyRings.

Olly Murphy saddles Linelee King (50-1) on behalf of his wife Camilla Murphy, who owns the horse sporting her families colours. British National Champion Mens Point-To-Point Jockey James King takes the ride off the back of a three-length succes over Music Drive in a mixed open point-to-point at Revesby Park in January.  

Two British amateur jockeys will be making their debut in the race. Miss Clara Brewitt rides What A Glance (100/1) for Tom Britten, while Dan Skelton-based jockey Miss Heidi Palin picks up an outside ride aboard Lift Me Up (125/1), owned by Mr and Mrs C Horner. The latter is yet to win this season and was pulled up at Haydock on his most recent start in February when behind Take All, who was second, with Shearer finishing third.

Another rider who would dearly love to add her name to the roll of honour is Gina Andrews, widely regarded as the most successful female amateur rider over jumps in Britain.

Despite an extraordinary record in the pointing field, the Cheltenham hunters’ crown has so far eluded her. Andrews partners Shearer (20/1) for Paul Nicholls, while Nicholls’ daughter Olive takes the ride on Golden Son (16/1), the horse who provided Andrews with her 100th winner under Rules at Taunton in February.

In the point-to-point world, however, Andrews’ achievements are unparalleled. With more than 450 winners between the flags, she holds the record for the most Ladies’ point-to-point championship titles and has ridden more winners over fences than any other British female rider.

Cheltenham Festival success may still be on the to-do list, but Andrews already boasts a major hunter chase victory at Aintree, having partnered the family-owned and bred Latenightpass to win the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree Racecourse in 2022.

Adding the Festival hunters’ crown to that résumé would mark another landmark moment for one of the most successful riders ever to emerge from the point-to-point sphere.

Pick of the British trained runners would have to be Stattler, if he can find previous form, he is a class above the rest. However it wouldn’t be a surprise to see last year’s winner in Wonderwall regain his crown for the Irish.