The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeplechase 2025 is a premier Grade 1 race for amateur jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival, contested over 3 miles and about two and a half furlongs. Known as the “Gold Cup for Amateurs,” this race attracts seasoned chasers with strong hunter chase form. Below, we break down the key trends, past winners, and best betting selections for this year’s renewal.
📊 Key Trends & Winning Profile
✅ Winning Profile: 🏆 Most winners are aged 10 or 11 years old.
✅ Market Confidence: 💰 Only one of the last 35 winners was older than 11 years.
✅ Handicap Ratings: 📈 11 of the last 15 winners were BHA rated at least 134.
✅ Form Trends: 🔥 15 of the last 17 winners finished in the first three last time out.
✅ Course Experience: 🏇 Seven of the last eight winners aged 10+ were already course winners.
✅ Experience Matters: 🔄 Seven of the last 11 different winners had run in at least 12 chases under rules.
✅ Jockey Impact: 🏇 This century, only four jockeys have won who would normally claim the full 7lb allowance.
✅ Amateur Success: 👩🎓 Five of the last nine amateur renewals were won by female jockeys.
🏇 Recent Winners & Trends Analysis
| 📅 Year | 🏆 Winner | 🌟 OR | 💰 SP | 🏇 Trainer | 🔄 Last Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | – | – | – | – |
| 2024 | Sine Nomine | 124 | 8/1 | F Needham | 1st Wetherby 3m Hunter Ch (41d) |
| 2023 | Premier Magic | 122 | 66/1 | B Gibbs | 1st P2P Garthorpe (40d) |
| 2022 | Billaway | 140 | 13/8F | W Mullins | 1st Naas Hunter Ch (34d) |
| 2021 | Porlock Bay | 135 | 16/1 | W Biddick | 2nd Winc Hunter Ch (43d) |
| 2020 | It Came To Pass | 126 | 66/1 | E O’Sullivan | PU Kilfeacle P2P (47d) |
🔍 Key Trends: Older chasers dominate, form at this course is crucial, and Irish-trained runners are often overbet.
🏆 Expert Verdict: Who to Bet On?
✅ Back a 10 or 11-year-old with strong course experience.
✅ Look for a top-three finish last time out and a BHA rating of 134+.
✅ Irish-trained favourites often underperform—be cautious.
✅ Previous Festival experience is a big plus.
📊 Best Bets for St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeplechase 2025 – Top Selections
| 🏇 Horse | 🔄 Odds | 🏆 Trainer | ⏳ Age | 🌟 OR | 📊 RPR |
| Its On The Line | 7/2 | E Mullins | 8 | 145 | 147 |
| Sine Nomine | 8/1 | F Needham | 9 | 138 | 140 |
| Famous Clermont | 14/1 | C R Barber | 10 | 139 | 141 |
🏆 Its On The Line – Mullins’ strongest runner, placed in this race before, improving.
🔥 Sine Nomine – Defending champion, course winner, highly experienced.
🔍 Famous Clermont – Proven hunter chaser with solid back form.
📊 Get Free Cheltenham Festival Tips & Predictions
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