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'

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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

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

The owners of Hazel Hill celebrated with the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase trophy