With the 2024 Cheltenham Festival fast-approaching Ruby Walsh has lifted the lid on his St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase fancy – and thinks there are two horses in the 2024 race that are “overpriced”.
Ruby Walsh St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase 2024: Last Year’s Winner Looks ‘Overpriced’
Apparently, we are not allowed to call the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase the ‘Foxhunters’ anymore. However, that’s unlikely to stop punters from still referring to the big amateur riders’ race as that.
As many know the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase takes centre stage after the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is run over the same trip, but for the amateur jockeys.
Therefore, it’s also a contest that having one of the more experienced riders on your side can pay off – with the likes of Patrick Mullins, Bryony Frost, Nina Carberry and last year Bradley Gibbs backing this up.
For most punters the form of the St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase will be one of the hardest to work out, unless they are big followers of the Point-to-Point or Hunter Chase scene.
So, just like last year, the Cheltenham Festival race is also no stranger to throwing up big-priced winners when we saw a 66/1 return – the second winner of that price in the last four years.
The Willie Mullins-trained Billaway won the race in 2022 and should be back for more, but Ruby Walsh, who still has a strong link to the Closutton yard, is swaying away from the past winner.
Ruby is also taking on the current favourite – Fern Lock – saying he thinks the horse will be more suited to Aintree and might not stay up the Cheltenham hill.
But there are still two St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase tips in the race that Ruby feels are worthy of support and look a shade overpriced.
Ruby Told His Paddy Power Blog Readers
“I think Fern Lock is a very good horse, but I also think he’ll win at Aintree as I don’t think he’ll get home at Cheltenham.”
“One that was up there last year in the race and then got hampered late on was the fourth Rocky’s Howya. However, last year he’d had five runs before Cheltenham, and I’d be worried that he’s not had one yet this season.”
“SECRET INVESTOR fell early on in the race 12 months ago, but has bounced back to win his next three – including last time at Fakenham.”
“While I also agree with Rory Delargy that last year’s winner PREMIER MAGIC is ‘overpriced’.”
Past Winners Have A Good Record In The Race
Premier Magic won the race by 1 3/4 lengths last year (watch below) and despite being another year older (11) has returned this season with two Point wins and has now actually won his last five, plus seven of his last eight.
Bradley Gibbs will ride again and with the track and staying no issue this proven winner is one of the big fancies for Ruby Walsh in the race, with the likely favourite worth taking on (but backing again at Aintree).
The St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase is also no stranger for repeat winners – Pacha Du Polder, On The Fringe and Salsify were all back-to-back winners since 2012.
Secret Investor – Ruby’s other fancy – is trained by Paul Nicholls, who has a top record in the race with four past wins.
RELATED: Cheltenham Festival Tips 2024 – Ruby Walsh Reveals His Next Big Superstar Horse
Ruby Walsh St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase 2024: Back PREMIER MAGIC @ 9/1 and SECRET INVESTOR @ 12/1
WATCH: Premier Magic Winning The 2023 St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
What Date & Time Is The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase 2024 (Foxhunters)?
📅Time/Date: 4:10pm (Friday 15th March 2024)
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰 Winner: £24,445
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
See the full 2024 Cheltenham Festival running order, race times and schedule.
St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase Odds 2024 (Foxhunters)
See the latest St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase betting odds.
- Fern Lock 5/2
- Its On The Line 11/4
- Samcro 6/1
- Famous Clermont 7/1
- Billaway 8/1
- Fakir D’alene 8/1
- Premier Magic 9/1
- Rocky’s Howya 10/1
- Secret Investor 12/1
- Vaucelet 12/1
- 14/1 Bar
Note: Odds subject to change and others on request
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