Cheltenham Festival

As the name suggests, a hunter chase is a steeplechase and, in many respects, akin to any other weight-for-age, or conditions, steeplechase. Hunter chases are run under the Rules of Racing, over a minimum distance of at least two milesⁱ, as stipulated in the Rules, over regulation fences on registered National Hunt racecourses.

However, hunter chases are restricted to horses that are in possession of a registered Hunter Certificate, which must be signed by an nominated signatory of a recognised hunt, such as the Master of Hounds or Hunt Secretary. Prior to the 2016/17 National Hunt season, certificates could only be issued to horses that had actually been out hunting at least four times in the previous calendar year, but the Master of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) subsequently took a realistic view and rescinded any requirement for hunting. Nevertheless, jockeys in hunter chases must be amateur riders, who are in possession of a Riders Qualification Certificate (RQC) from the Hunt Secretary, which confirms that they are bona fide members of the hunt in question.

Amateur and professional, licensed trainers may enter horses in hunter chases. However, since January 1, 2018, once a professionally-trained horse has run in a hunter chase, it may only run in hunter chases for the rest of the season. The rule change was introduced to prevent professional trainers from attempting ‘smash and grab’ raids on the major hunter chases of the season, notably the St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham and the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase at Aintree. The same principle applies to horses that are transferred to a professional yard after winning a hunter chase for an amateur trainer earlier in the same season.

ⁱ Since June 1, 2015, certain racecourses have been granted dispensation from this Rule by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), on a historical basis, such they can stage steeplechases over distances slightly shorter than two miles.

Ocean Wind is a lightly-raced seven year-old who, at the time of writing, is among the overnight declarations for the Group 1 Goodwood Cup on August 1, 2023. Trained by Roger Teal in Lambourn, the son of unbeaten champion two-year-old Teofilo was pencilled in for the same race in both 2021 and 2022, but suffered a series of training setbacks, which kept him off the track for 771 days. He eventually reappeared in the Listed Esher Stakes, over two miles, at Sandown Park on July 7, 2023, finishing third of six, beaten 3½ lengths, behind comfortable winner Yibir.

 

Ocean Wind is currently rated 110+ by Timeform – the ‘+’ indicating that he may be better than that – which places him in the ‘smart’ category, according to the renowned ratings organisation. Even so, he has 14lb and upwards to find with the principals in the Goodwood Cup, which, together with the possibility of him ‘bouncing’ on his second run after such a long layoff, accounts for his current odds of 33/1.

 

Ocean Wind did, indeed, run at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing sixth, beaten 10¾ lengths, behind the Willie Mullins-trained winner Ferny Hollow, in the Champion Bumper on March 11, 2020. Thereafter, Teal, who holds a dual purpose licence, turned his attention to Flat racing and the the four-year-old colt made an almost immediate impact in that sphere. After a promising, staying-on third in a Lingfield maiden the following August, Ocean Wind completed a hat-trick, which included a ready 4½-length win in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket on his handicap debut.

 

Although ineligible for the Cesarewitch itself, much to the frustration of his trainer, the following April Ocean Wind demonstrated his credentials as a top staying prospect when beaten a length by Stradivarius in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. He subsequently finished a well-beaten third when odds-on favourite for the Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park, before injury intervened.