Hazel Hill wins the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase as 7-2 favourite at Cheltenham before jockey Alex Edwards professes: ‘I love this horse’
- Hazel Hill began the race the 7-2 favourite and he lived up to his billing
- He produced a perfectly-timed run in the hands of jockey Alex Edwards
- Edwards said after the race: ‘Absolutely unbelievable. I love this horse’
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 on Friday.
A prolific winner in point-to-point company, Hazel Hill was sent off the 7-2 favourite for trainer Philip Rowley and a spring-heeled leap at the last sealed victory in the amateurs’ event.
Eleven-year-old Hazel Hill has now won 15 of his last 16 races.
![No 11 Hazel Hill, ridden by Alex Edwards, won the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase on Friday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/15/16/11043442-0-image-a-1_1552667574074.jpg)
No 11 Hazel Hill, ridden by Alex Edwards, won the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase on Friday
![Edwards said moments after the race: 'Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I love this horse.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/15/16/11043528-6814403-Edwards_said_moments_after_the_race_Unbelievable_Absolutely_unbe-a-16_1552667800174.jpg)
Edwards told ITV after the race: ‘Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I love this horse’
Jockey Edwards told ITV moments after Friday’s race: ‘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, came second, ahead of Top Wood, who defied odds of 33-1 to place in third.
![Hazel Hill was a clear winner in the Foxhunters' Chase on Gold Cup Day at the 2019 Festival](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/15/16/11044520-6814403-image-a-17_1552668822888.jpg)
Hazel Hill was a clear winner in the Foxhunters’ Chase on Gold Cup Day at the 2019 Festival
![The owners of Hazel Hill celebrated with the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase trophy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/15/16/11044524-6814403-image-a-18_1552668825736.jpg)
The owners of Hazel Hill celebrated with the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase trophy