As a consequence of the British point-to-point season coming to a premature end owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the high profile Hunter Chase races at Cheltenham and Stratford will now not take place.
In a regulatory update on the current suspension of racing in Britain, the BHA announced that no further Hunter Chase races would take place this season.
“Irrespective of when racing may return, all Hunter Chases for the remainder of the 2019/20 season, which ends in May, have been cancelled. This is due to the cancellation of the 2019/20 Point-to-Point season.
“Fixtures containing one Hunter Chase may be replaced with another race if appropriate.”
The high profile Hunter Chase evening typically brings down the curtain on the Cheltenham Racecourse season, but officials at the track have announced the cancellation of the fixture, which had been due to take place on Friday, May 1st, in light of the BHA announcement.
Irish connections have typically targeted the end of season Stratford fixture which was due to feature a number of valuable races on it’s Hunter Chase evening on Friday, May 29th.
Graham McKeever had sent Chosen Dream over to win the Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunter Chase in 2018, a race he finished sixth in last year.
Recent Down Royal winner, Winged Leader, also featured on the Stratford card last year, finishing second to Law Of Gold in the £20,000 Champion Novice Hunter Chase.
Wow!
— Stratford Racecourse (@stratfordraces) June 8, 2018
The outsider of the entire field, Chosen Dream (66-1), wins the Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase! pic.twitter.com/rewT2j59Pp
