GLYNDON,  Md.--This year's Maryland Hunt Cup may be one of the most exciting and hard fought ever, with a big field 10 entered for the 4 p.m. race on Saturday, April 25.

Road To Oz, left, and Withoutmoreado in last year's finishThe field included two past winners, Withoutmoreado, who won in 2023 and finished second last year after losing his rider in 2024, and Road to Oz, who won last year over Withoutmreado in his first attempt at the daunting 4 mile race that includes 22 stiff timber fences ranging from 4' to 4'10 in height.

Getting around the course is a challenge in itself.

With a very close finish between Road to Oz and Wiithoutmoreado last year, it could be just a rematch, but there are a number of other strong contenders to challenge them.

Also entered are two horses besides Withoutmoreado that have finished second; Shootist, who finished second in 2024 and also finished fourth in 2023; and Royal Ruse, who was second in 2023 and lost his rider in 2024.

Of the remaining entries, Monbeg Stream (Ire) finished fourth last year, Mr. Fine Threads and Great Road, both of which fell last year, and Storm Team, Animal Kingston and The Butler Yates (Ire), who are the three first time entrants.

All the horses must be ridden by amateurs.

 

WITHOUTMOREADO, owned by Irv Naylor and trained by Kathy Neilson, has a new rider this year, Teddy Davies, who is one of the top amateur riders and clearly gets along with the 12-year-old gelding.

Withoutmoreado over the third in 2023 (Photo by Douglas Lees)Teddy has ridden Withoutmoreado twice, at Cheshire and Brandywine Point-to-Points, and won both timber races.

Road To Oz, owned by Daniel Baker and trained by Mark Beecher, also has a new rider in Dan Nevin, who replaces Conor Tirerney who is hurt.

Nevin rode Road to Oz in his prep race at My Lady's Manor, where he finished fourth.

Shootist, owned by Upland Partners and trained by Todd McKenna, will be ridden by Elizabeth Scully, and he was previously ridden by Frederick Tett and Freddie Procter.

Scully rode Shootist in his prep race at the Grand National, where he finished second.

Royal Ruse, owned by Charlie and Danielle Fenwick and trained by Sanna Neilson, will be ridden by James Wyatt in his first ride at the Hunt Cup.

Joe Davies will have conflicting interests, as the trainer of Great Road and Mr. Fine Threads and the father of Teddy.

"With Storm Team and Monbeg Stream, there should be plenty of pace," said Davies. "Great Road will be an outsider. He'll be ridden by Chelsea Secor, whose father and uncle, John Bosley, rode in the Hunt Cup. They were having a great trip in the Grand National when she had to pull up when Storm Team hit Uco Valley and then both loose horses crossed in front of her."

Mr. Fine Threads won the Grand National and has a new rider, Charlie Marshall, who replaces Teddy.

"I'm sorry to lose Teddy to Withoutmoreado," said Davies. "I'll be cheering on Teddy and my two. I hope they finish in a three-way dead heat. I just hope they all come hose safe. "

Leslie Young has two entries; Monbeg Stream (Ire), who will be ridden by Paddy Barlow, and The Butler Yates (Ire), who will be ridden by Virginia Korell.

Storm Team, trained by Willy Dowling, has a new rider, Dara McGill.

Storm Team at the Grand National crashed into Uco Valley when his rider Justin Batoff steered him right into Uco Valley when apparently trying to stay inside a flag.

Animal Kingston is trained by Neil Morris and will be ridden by Eric Poretz.