Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup

The Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase, introduced into the Festival programme in 1938 to commemorate the extraordinary contribution which Frederick Cathcart had made in bringing about the Cheltenham Festival, had run until 1974, but in 1975 it was replaced by the Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup for 3 years, although the 1975 meeting was abandoned. Frederick Cathcart was Chairman of Cheltenham and Clerk of the Course between 1908 and 1934, so it was unfortunate that this new race had to be abandoned in its first year, but the 2 subsequent runnings were won by Mickley Seabright and Rusty Tears, after which the race reverted to its original name in 1978, which was another abandoned meeting.
Early history:- Although the inaugural event was meant to take place at the 1975 Festival, it had to be abandoned, so the first time the race was actually run was on Thursday 18th March 1976 over 3 miles 1 furlong and a few yards, winding up that year's Festival, and was won by Mickley Seabright (6/4 fav) trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by Mr P Brookshaw, beating Stanhope Street (9/1) and Tartan Slave (8/1) by 12 lengths and a neck.
Cathcart Champion Hunter Chase Challenge Cup 1976 Handicap 3 miles 1 furlong
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MICKLEY SEABRIGHT Mr Peter Brookshaw Fred Rimell Mr Peter Brookshaw 6/4 fav
2 STANHOPE STREET Gillian Fortescue-Thomas H Counsell Mr H Counsel9/1
3 TARTAN SLAVE R Brown J Brazil Mr J Brazil 8/1
4 FRENCH COLONIST Mr K Podger S Embiricos Mr S Embiricos 15/2
5 LUCKY ROCK Mr T Holland-Martin O Carter Mr O Carter 16/1
6 SHRADEN SATELLITE Mr J de Lisle Wells W Silvester Mr W Silvester 33/1
7 INTO VIEW Mr Brian Smart Mrs J Pitman Mrs P Brown 7/1
8 JAUNTY JANE Mr J Ormston W Barker Mr W Barker 9/1
9 CONNIFF Mr J Castle Mrs Brazier Mrs G Brazier 10/1
10 BLACKTHORN WINTER Mr W Bulner-Long Mrs Hayward Mrs T Hayward 16/1
11 GUIDES CHOICE Mr A Charlton Mrs Henderson Mrs J Henderson 33/1
12 VENI VICI Mr G Hyatt C McDonagh Mr C McDonagh 33/1
13 PTARMIGAN III Mr C Saunders Frank Gilman Mr Frank Gilman 12/1
        Over round 133%
Although the inaugural running of this race was meant to take place in 1975, the course was deemed unfit, so the first running was on Thursday 18th March 1976 when Mickley Seabright beat Stanhope Street and Tartan Slave by 12 lengths and a neck.