Topham Chase

Topham Chase Overview

The Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Chase is a Grade 3 Handicap Chase run over the Grand National fences over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 19 yards. There are eighteen fences to negotiate during the race, which is run on day two, Friday, of the three-day Grand National meeting.

It is open to horses aged five years or older and is always a fair spectacle as the first race over the big National fences of the meeting. The race often attracts those that have already attempted these unique fences in races like the the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at the November meeting here or have run well in previous runnings of this and even the Grand National itself.

The race is one of just three run over the Grand National course at the three-day meeting, the other two being the Foxhunters’ Chase and, of course, the Grand National itself.

Topham Chase Betting Trends and Statistics

• The leading trainer in the race is Peter Bowen with five victories to his name – Dunbrody Millar (2007), Always Waining (2010,2011 & 2012) and Mac Tottie (2022). Welsh handler Bowen knows how to prepare one for this test and anything he runs needs respect.
• The winning most horse in the race is the aforementioned Always Waining, who won the contest three times between 2010 and 2012 for Peter Bowen.
• The more mature horse has the best record this century with nine and ten-year-olds winning 13 of the 22 renewals whilst those aged five to eight have won just 7.
• The leading jockey this century is the now-retired Barry Geraghty, who won the contest three times (Triolo D’Alene 2013, Ma Filleule 2014 & Eastlake 2016)

Topham Chase History

The race was first run in 1949 and is often a real spectacle, second only in spills and thrills to the Grand National itself. It is named after Mirabel Topham, also nicknamed “The First Lady of Aintree”, who was the owner of the racecourse throughout the 20th century until her death in 1970. It is nowadays sponsored by Randox, with the race named after the late clerk of the course, John Hughes, between 1989 and 2001.