The John Smiths Foxhunter’s Chase is run on the Thursday of the meeting. It is the first race of the meeting run over the national fences and is restricted to Hunter Chasers and Amateur Riders. The race is run over a distance of 2m 5f 110y.
Of the races run at the three day Aintree Festival only the Grand National has a longer history than the Foxhunters Chase. The race was originally established in 1923.
The 2015 Foxhunters Chase is to be run on Thursday April 9.
Foxhunter Chase Stats 2003-2014
Age: The last 12 ( and 29 of last 31 ) winners aged 9 or over.
Starting Price: 8 of the last 10 from top 3 in the market.
Winners Market Position: The winners market position has been 1 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 0 2 over the last decade.
Fate of the Favourite: 1 4 F 5 0 U 1 1/F 8/F 3
Trainers: Warne was the first Irish trained winners since 1999.
Jockey: Sam Waley Cohen rode Warne to success in 2014 and Katarino trained by his father Robert in 2005 and 2006.
Foxhunter Chase Winners 2003-2014
| Year | Form | Winner | Trainer | Age | OR | Jockey | SP |
| 2014 | 4131 | Warne | B R Hamilton | 10 | 135 | Mr S Waley-Cohen | 7-2 |
| 2013 | 255212 | Tartan Snow | W Coltherd | 13 | 126 | Mr J Hamilton | 100-1 |
| 2012 | 216 | Cloudy Lane | D McCain Jnr | 12 | 126 | Mr R O Harding | 4-1 |
| 2011 | 11U | Baby Run (FR) | N A Twiston-Davies | 11 | 136 | Mr W Twiston-Davies | 3-1 |
| 2010 | 2 | Silver Adonis (IRE) | Dr R D P Newland | 9 | 116 | Mr T Weston | 50-1 |
| 2009 | 1 | Trust Fund (IRE) | R Barber | 11 | 136 | Mr T Greenall | 13-2 |
| 2008 | 1F | Christy Beamish (IRE) | P Jones | 11 | 121 | Mr J Guerriero | 6-1 |
| 2007 | F1 | Scots Grey | N J Henderson | 12 | 130 | Mr R Burton | 9-2 |
| 2006 | Katarino (FR) | R Waley-Cohen | 11 | 0 | Mr S Waley-Cohen | 11-2 | |
| 2005 | 11 | Katarino (FR) | R Waley-Cohen | 10 | 0 | Mr S Waley-Cohen | 100-30 |
| 2004 | 2 | Forest Gunner | R Ford | 10 | 120 | Ms Carrie Ford | 13-2 |
| 2003 | 11415 | Divet Hill | Mrs A Hamilton | 9 | 125 | Mr D Jewett | 11-2 |
Last year we tipped up Warne trained by Bryan Hamilton in Northern Ireland and victorous over the highly rated Tammys Hill at Fairyhouse last month. Pre – race his trainer commented: “The plan is to run Warne. He has been in very good form since his win at Fairyhouse and we decided straight after to let him take his chance at Aintree.The reason we did not go to Cheltenham with him is because three miles two and a half furlongs is too far for him. He is quite trip dependent and that is why we planned to go to Aintree – we never even thought about going to Cheltenham. The three miles at Leopardstown was too far for him. He travelled as well as Salsify and Tammys Hill but jumped the second last and fell in a hole. An extended two and a half miles is his ideal trip.He has plenty of pace and travels well through his races and better ground will definitely benefit him as well. He is a very good jumper – quick and accurate – and I am hoping he gives a good account of himself. If he jumps round, he would have to have a good chance.”
Grand National Meeting 2015 Previous Winners And 10 Year Trends
