You can find the runners & entries for the Festival Plate Handicap Chase for this year's Cheltenham Festival down below.
As a reminder, this is a full list of entries, but 5 days before the race there will be further declarations, and final declarations 48 hours before.
This is where all of our tips will be for the Festival Plate Handicap Chase , we also have you covered with daily tips.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/10/23 | DON | 8 | Hy | 9-3 | 1 |
| 14/10/23 | NMK | 8 | Sft | 9-3 | 1 |
| 29/07/23 | ASC | 7 | Gd | 9-5 | 3 |
| 24/06/23 | NMK | 7 | Gd | 9-10 | 1 |
| 09/06/23 | HAY | 7 | GF | 9-7 | 1 |
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20/09/23 | YAR | 10 | Gd | 8-13 | 3 |
| 17/05/23 | YOR | 10.5 | Gd | 9-2 | 3 |
| 05/05/23 | NMK | 10 | Gd | 9-2 | 1 |
| 21/10/22 | DON | 8 | Sft | 9-2 | 2 |
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/03/24 | DON | 8 | Sft | 9-5 | 3 |
| 06/12/23 | KEM | 8 | St/Slw | 9-5 | 1 |
| 15/10/23 | GOO | 8 | Sft | 9-11 | 3 |
| 16/05/23 | SAN | 8 | GS | 9-2 | 2 |
| 22/04/23 | NBY | 7 | Sft | 9-2 | 8 |
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/09/23 | DON | 5 | Sft | 9-3 | 5 |
| 25/08/23 | YOR | 6 | GF | 9-2 | 6 |
| 02/08/23 | GOO | 5 | Sft | 9-3 | 3 |
| 07/07/23 | SAN | 5 | Gd | 9-4 | 1 |
| 21/06/23 | NCS | 5 | St | 9-7 | 1 |
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/04/24 | DON | 6 | Sft | 9-7 | 12 |
| 06/04/24 | KEM | 6 | St/Slw | 9-0 | 11 |
| 23/09/23 | YOR | 5 | GS | 9-2 | 16 |
| 07/09/23 | WOL | 6 | St | 8-13 | 10 |
| 20/08/23 | SAN | 5 | Gd | 9-3 | 1 |
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/10/23 | YOR | 8 | Sft | 9-9 | 1 |
| 20/09/23 | SAN | 8 | GS | 9-7 | 3 |
| 11/08/23 | HAY | 8 | Gd | 9-7 | 3 |
| 29/07/23 | NMK | 7 | Gd | 9-7 | 2 |
The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Festival Plate) is a Grade Three race that is run over 2 and a half miles.
Over the 2 and half mile distance, there is 17 fences on the new course for the runners to jump. Horses must be aged five or older to get into the race, with handicap marks changing each year in terms of the barrier to be in the final field.
There is prize money of £61,000 to the winner.
The Festival Plate Handicap Chase (originally known as the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase) was established in 1951 in memory of the 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete. An amateur National Hunt jockey and three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, Lord Mildmay's legacy lives on in this thrilling race.
The inaugural running had a dramatic start – Canford and Slender finished in a dead heat, cementing the race's exciting potential.
The race has seen several sponsorship changes over the years. The Racing Post sponsored the event from 2006 to 2008 (known as the Racing Post Plate). In 2009, it was dedicated to the memory of popular Scottish bookmaker Freddie Williams. Construction company Byrne Group took over sponsorship from 2010 to 2014, followed by Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable from 2015 to 2020, followed by Paddy Power in (2021) & Craft Irish Whiskey Co Plate (2022).
The Festival Plate Handicap Chase has seen an exciting shift in recent years. Siruh Du Lac's dominant win in 2019, ridden by Lizzie Kelly and trained by Nick Williams, marked an end to three years of Irish victories.
While legendary jockey Fred Winter holds the record for most wins (three, with one dead-heat), Richard Johnson and Bryan Cooper are close behind with two victories apiece. Here's a look at their past winners along with Fred Winter's:
Trainers Nicky Henderson and Martin Pipe have been particularly successful – each has saddled four winners. Here's a breakdown of their successes:
Though Henderson hasn't tasted victory since 2006, his track record means his runners command attention. It's worth keeping a close eye on the mounts of Richard Johnson and Bryan Cooper as they strive to match Fred Winter's record.
Previous Festival Plate winners by year: 2018 - 2023
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Seddon | Ben Harvey | John C McConnell |
| 2022 | Coole Cody | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams |
| 2021 | The Shunter | Brendan Powell | Emmet Mullins |
| 2020 | Simply The Betts | Gavin Sheehan | Harry Whittington |
| 2019 | Siruh Du Lac | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams |
| 2018 | Top Notch | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson |
