ST JAMES’ PLACE

FOXHUNTER CHASE

THE 11-year-old gelding Hazel Hill produced a perfectly-timed run in the hands of Alex Edwards to win the St James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase.

A prolific winner in point-to-point company, Hazel Hill was sent off the 7/2 favourite for trainer Phil Rowley and a spring-heeled leap at the last sealed victory in the amateurs’ event. The son of Milan has now won 15 of his last 16 races.

Edwards said: “’Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I love this horse. He’s run 15 times and won 14 of them, I think. We only really tested him this year. We ran him at Warwick with a lot of weight. He’s done it well. ‘I’m in a very lucky position to ride these horses.

Shantou Flyer, a 7/1 shot, finished second under owner David Maxwell and Top Wood took third spot at 33/1.

The leading Irish challengers, Ucello Conti and Stand Up And Fight, were never in contention and finished fifth and sixth respectively. Dual winner Pacha Du Polder was pulled up. Just nine of the 24 starters completed the course.

The winning trainer is based in Shropshire. He is assisted by his wife Mel, a Grand Prix dressage rider, and Edwards is their stable jockey.