Foxhunters’ Chase

Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase Overview

The Randox Foxhunters’ Open Chase takes place at Aintree Racecourse, which is located in Liverpool. It is usually the fifth race on the opening day of the meeting. The race is run over an extended two-and-a-half miles on what is a flat turning track and takes in one full circuit of the Grand National fences.

The field jumps eighteen fences in total and the prize money on offer is usually in and around £25,000 to the winner. The race is open to those horses aged six and older. It is only one of three races run over the Grand National fences at this meeting, the other two being the Topham Chase and The Grand National itself.

Horses that win this race tend to be established hunter chasers and also improving point-to-point performers. Prior to winning this last year, Its On The Line was a fine runner-up to Sine Nomine at the Cheltenham Festival in a Hunters’ Chase and in the years previous to that, Latenightpass and Cousin Pascal both won minor races ahead of taking this prize. The race often attracts more than a dozen runners and is a highly competitive affair.

Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase Betting Trends and Statistics

• There are two leading trainers in the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase in the most recent renewals of the race with both Enda Bolger and Robert Waley-Cohen who have both won the race twice.
• Enda Bolgers’ winners have been with On The Fringe (2015 & 2016), whilst Robert Waley-Cohen’s winners have been with Katarino (2005 & 2006).
• There is one trainer who has not had the best of times in the Foxhunters’ Chase and that is Paul Nicholls. He has sent a total of 24 runners into the race without recording any wins to date. It is an astounding statistic.
• There are two leading jockeys in the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase in recent times with both Derek O’Connor and James King, who have both won the race twice.
• Derek O’Connor’s winners have been with Balnaslow (2018) and Its On The Line (2024), whilst James King winners have been with Dineur (2017) and Cousin Pascal (2021).
• Only three of the last ten horses who were sent off as favourites have won the race inside the last decade.

Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase History

The Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase was first run back in 1947. The inaugural race was won by Lucky Purchase with J Nichols as the winning jockey and S Banks as the successful trainer. The race was originally run over the full distance of the Grand National course but has been reduced to its current distance.

Credit Call is the most successful horse in the history of the race with three victories to their name. The best-performing jockey in this race is Sam Waley-Cohen, who has managed three wins on Katarino (2005 and 2006) and Warne (2014). The trainer with the most wins in this race is Arthur Stephenson, who tasted victory on four separate occasions.