Mildmay_of_Flete_Challenge_Cup

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase

Steeplechase horse race in Britain

The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards, or 4,139 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Quick Facts Location, Race type ...
Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup
2022
Red, yellow sash, striped sleeves and star on cap Black, white stars, striped sleeves, black cap Red, white sash, emerald green sleeves, emerald green and red check cap
Coole Cody Imperial Alcazar Spiritofthegames
More information Previous years ...
More information 2020-2011 ...
More information 2010-2001 ...
More information 2000-1991 ...
More information 1990-1988 ...

History

The race was established in memory of the 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete (1909–1950), an amateur National Hunt jockey who rode three winners at the Cheltenham Festival. The inaugural race took place in April 1951, because the planned running, in March, had to be abandoned, due to a waterlogged course. It was originally titled the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase.

The Racing Post sponsored the race from 2006 to 2008, and during this period it was titled the Racing Post Plate. The 2009 running was named the Freddie Williams Festival Plate, in tribute to Freddie Williams (1942–2008), a popular Scottish bookmaker who owned a pitch at Cheltenham.[1] The construction company Byrne Group supported the event from 2010 to 2014[2] and from 2015 to 2020 it was sponsored by Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable.[3] The bookmaking firm Paddy Power sponsored in 2021. The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. took over the sponsorship from 2022 and the 2023 race was sponsored by Magners. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.[4]

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • The Tsarevich – 1985, 1986
  • Elfast – 1992, 1994

Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Fred Winter – Slender (1951, dead-heat), Sy Oui (1953), Caesar's Helm (1958)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

  • Bobby Renton – Tudor Line (1954), Caesar's Helm (1958), Siracusa (1959), Merry Court (1968)
  • Nicky Henderson – The Tsarevich (1985, 1986), Liberthine (2005), Non So (2006)
  • Martin Pipe – Terao (1997), Majadou (1999), Dark Stranger (2000), Blowing Wind (2002)

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
  1. amateur jockey
  2. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Horse race named after bookmaker". bbc.co.uk. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  2. [2]
    "Byrne Group announced as sponsor". thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  3. [3]
    "Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable new Festival sponsors". Gloucestershire Echo. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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