Shropshire Star

Shropshire success at Cheltenham Festival as Hazel Hill wins Foxhunters' Chase

Shropshire racehorse Hazel Hill produced a perfectly-timed run to win the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham.

Published
Alex Edwards celebrates victory

A prolific winner in point-to-point company, Hazel Hill was sent off the 7-2 favourite for Bridgnorth trainer Philip Rowley.

And a spring-heeled leap at the last sealed victory in the amateurs' event for Rowley and Cressage jockey Alex Edwards.

Hazel Hill justified market support as he was produced to head long-time leader Road To Rome after the second-last fence.

Storming up the hill, the Rowley-trained 11-year-old swept to victory by four lengths from Shantou Flyer, with Top Wood seven lengths away in third.

"Unbelievable. I love this horse. He's run 15 times and won 14 of them, I think," Edwards said.

"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."