The Cathcart Challenge Cup was a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which was open to horses aged five years or older. It was run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,225 metres), and during its running there were seventeen fences to be jumped. The race was for first and second-season chasers, and it was scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The event was established in 1938, and it was named in honour of Frederick Cathcart, the clerk of the course and chairman at Cheltenham from 1908 to 1934. During its history the race had various formats, including a brief period as a hunter chase in the late 1970s.

The Cathcart Challenge Cup was last run in 2004, and it was replaced the following year by what is now known as the Ryanair Chase. Unlike the last version of the "Cathcart", the latter race is open to horses beyond their second year of chasing.

Records Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins): Quita Que – 1958, 1961 Half Free – 1986, 1987 Stormyfairweather – 1999, 2000

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins): Bryan Marshall – Leap Man (1946), Jack Tatters (1948), Semeur (1951), Coolrock (1952)

Leading trainer since 1946 (7 wins): Fred Winter – Soloning (1972), Soothsayer (1974), Roller Coaster (1979), Dramatist (1982), Observe (1983), Half Free (1986, 1987)

Winners Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr". Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1938 Asterabad 7 Thomas F Carey George Beeby 1939 Alexandrina 10 Danny Morgan Ivor Anthony 1940 Straight Larch 10 Ben Lay Ronnie Bennett 1941 Knight O' London 9 Fred Rimell Tom Rimell 1942 Roi D'Egypte 7 Bryan Marshall H Whiteman 1947 no race 1943-1945 1946 Leap Man 9 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn 1947 no race 1947 1948 Jack Tatters 10 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn 1949 no race 1949 1950 River Trout 7 Martin Molony Ginger Dennistoun 1951 Semeur 5 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn 1952 Coolrock 7 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn 1953 Arctic Gold 8 Glen Kelly Gerald Balding 1954 Royal Approach 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1955 no race 1955 1956 Amber Wave 8 Michael Scudamore Geoffrey Champneys 1957 Rose's Quarter 10 Dave Dick George Beeby 1958 Quita Que 9 Bunny Cox Dan Moore 1959 Gallery Goddess 8 Fred Winter Charlie Mallon 1960 Dove Cote 10 Mick Batchelor Stewart Wight 1961 Quita Que 12 Willie Robinson Dan Moore 1962 Hoodwinked 7 David Nicholson Neville Crump 1963 Some Alibi 8 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn 1964 Panisse 9 Michael Scudamore Willie Stephenson 1965 Scottish Memories 11 Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator 1966 Flying Wild 10 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore 1967 Prince Blarney 7 Ron Barry John Barclay 1968 Muir 9 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1969 Kinloch Brae 6 Timmy Hyde Willie O'Grady 1970 Garrynagree 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1971 The Laird 10 Jeff King Bob Turnell 1972 Soloning 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter 1973 Inkslinger 6 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore 1974 Soothsayer 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter 1975 no race 1975 1976 Mickley Seabright 8 Mr Peter Brookshaw Fred Rimell 1977 Rusty Tears 6 Mr Niall Madden Edward O'Grady 1978 no race 1978 1979 Roller Coaster 6 John Francome Fred Winter 1980 King Weasel 8 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby 1981 Lord Greystoke 10 Neale Doughty Gordon W. Richards 1982 Dramatist 11 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn 1983 Observe 7 John Francome Fred Winter 1984 The Mighty Mac 9 Mr Dermot Browne Michael Dickinson 1985 Straight Accord 10 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn 1986 Half Free 10 Simon Sherwood Fred Winter 1987 Half Free 11 Peter Scudamore Fred Winter 1988 Private Views 7 Brendan Powell Nick Gaselee 1989 Observer Corps 8 Tom Morgan John Edwards 1990 Brown Windsor 8 John White Nicky Henderson 1991 Chatam 7 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Repeat the Dose 7 Mark Richards Tim Etherington 1993 Second 8 Adrian Maguire Arthur Moore 1994 Raymylette 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 1995 Coulton 8 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1996 Challenger du Luc 6 David Bridgwater Martin Pipe 1997 Sparky Gayle 7 Brian Storey Colin Parker 1998 Cyfor Malta 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 1999 Stormyfairweather 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2000 Stormyfairweather 8 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2001 no race 2001 2002 Royal Auclair 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2003 La Landiere 8 Richard Johnson Richard Phillips 2004 Our Armageddon 7 Larry McGrath Richard Guest The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost.

It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow.

The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.

The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also Horseracing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (8 March 2004).