An historic Grand National Festival race dating back to 1947, the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase is a fixture open to horses six years or older and takes place over two miles and five furlongs. It is only one of three races at the AintreeFestival run over the Grand National fences, and is unique in that it only allows amateur riders to partake – oftentimes resulting in a thrilling spectacle.
The last three renewals are evidence of the entertaining nature of the race – with all three being determined by a combined margin of less than six lengths. With that in mind, read on as we take a look at the last three winners of the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase.
Latenightpass – 2022
Entering last year’s renewal in strong form, the Tom Ellis-trained horse had won two of his last three starts in the lead-up to his run at the Aintree Festival. That included a dominant showing at Charm Park, in which the then ten-year-old defeated the next best-placed runner by 18 lengths. As a result of his performance, Latenightpass found himself as a short 7/2 shot to take home the spoils in Merseyside.
As proceedings got underway, the British horse jumped fluently and took the lead at the seventh, before being challenged at the 14th. He would ultimately fight off all opposition over the final two fences to reign supreme by just over a length from Cat Tiger.
Given Latenightpass was beaten narrowly in the Foxhunters’ Chase the year prior, Ellis was ecstatic that his thoroughbred was able to go one better in 2022.
“I can’t tell you what this means, it’s magical,” he said. We came so close last year. I’m great mates with Dan Skelton and the first thing he said to me was ‘don’t go to Cheltenham next year and you’ll win’. What a piece of advice.
“To come here fresh has definitely paid off. To see my wifewin the race of her dreams on a horse you’ve trained is absolutely amazing. This is as emotional as I’ve ever been, I’m speechless.”
Latenightpass is expected to line up in the Foxhunters’ Chase again this year, and at the time of writing, is garnering a price of 11/2 in the Aintree Foxhunter 2023 odds – which is good for third favourite.
Cousin Pascal – 2021
Similarly to the aforementioned Latenightpass, 2021 Foxhunters’ Chase winner Cousin Pascal entered in the midst of a solid run of form with wins at Catterick and Chaddesley Corbett by 12 and five lengths respectively. Couple that with place-finishes at Leicester and Alnwick, and the French-bredhorse should have been one to watch come race day.
However, the John O’Shea-trained thoroughbred wasn’tfancied in the betting lines, garnering a long price of 66/1. He went on to upset the applecart in dramatic fashion, staying on late to win by two-and-a-half lengths.
Top Wood – 2019
The third most recent Hunters’ Chase victor came in 2019, after 2020’s renewal was cancelled due to the pandemic. It was Top Wood who finished first past the post that year, after he led before two out and stayed on strongly to best Burning Ambition by two lengths.
It would ultimately end up being the last win of Top Wood’s career, with the Kelly Morgan-trained thoroughbred racing a further three times after his triumph at Aintree – finishing second, sixth and 13th respectively.
