Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase
The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or 4,938 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May. The present version of the race was introduced in 2007, when it was sponsored by Ellier Developments. There had been two similar events in the preceding years – a Grade 2 race over a shorter distance (also sponsored by Ellier), and a handicap race over the same length. The new version was backed by Boylesports in 2009, and by Growise from 2010 to 2018. The Growise Champion Novice Chase is Ireland's equivalent of the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but no horse has won both races since 2007.
| Class | Grade 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Punchestown County Kildare, Ireland |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Dooley Insurance Group |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 120y (4,938 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 7 lb (5yo); 11 st 12 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | €100,000 (2021) 1st: €59,000 |
| 2025 | ||
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| Champ Kiely | Ballyburn | Stellar Story |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||
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| Spillane's Tower | Monty's Star | Three Card Brag |
| 2023 | ||
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| Feronily | Appreciate It | James Du Berlais |
| 2022 | ||
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| Capodanno | Lifetime Ambition | Fury Road |
| 2021 | ||
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| Colreevy | Monkfish | Only two finished |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
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| Delta Work | Discorama | A Plus Tard |
| 2018 | ||
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| The Storyteller | Monbeg Notorious | Jury Duty |
| 2017 | ||
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| Disko | Anibale Fly | A Genie In Abottle |
| 2016 | ||
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| Zabana | Outlander | Sub Lieutenant |
| 2015 | ||
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| Valseur Lido | Wounded Warrior | Apache Stronghold |
| 2014 | ||
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| Carlingford Lough | Ballycasey | Morning Assembly |
| 2013 | ||
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| Mount Benbulben | Tofino Bay | Lyreen Legend |
| 2012 | ||
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| Sir Des Champs | Shop Dj | Ordinary Man |
| 2011 | ||
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| Quito De La Roque | Western Charmer | Head Of The Posse |
| 2010-2007 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Kempes | China Rock | The Midnight Club |
| 2009 | ||
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| Rare Bob | Gone To Lunch | Joncol |
| 2008 | ||
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| Air Force One | Pomme Tiepy | Ballycullen Boy |
| 2007 | ||
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| Offshore Account | Knight Legend | One Cool Cookie |
The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or 4,938 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The present version of the race was introduced in 2007, when it was sponsored by Ellier Developments. There had been two similar events in the preceding years – a Grade 2 race over a shorter distance (also sponsored by Ellier),[1] and a handicap race over the same length.[2] The new version was backed by Boylesports in 2009, and by Growise from 2010 to 2018.
The Growise Champion Novice Chase is Ireland's equivalent of the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but no horse has won both races since 2007.[citation needed]
Records
[edit]Leading jockey since 2007 (5 wins):
- Davy Russell - Quito De La Roque (2011), Sir Des Champs (2012), Zabana (2016), The Storyteller (2018), Delta Work (2019)
Leading trainer since 2007 (6 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Kempes (2010), Sir Des Champs (2012), Valseur Lido (2015), Colreevy (2021), Capodanno (2022), Champ Kiely (2025)
Winners since 2007
[edit]| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Offshore Account | 7 | Denis O'Regan | Charlie Swan |
| 2008 | Air Force One | 6 | Noel Fehily | Charlie Mann |
| 2009 | Rare Bob | 7 | Paddy Flood | Dessie Hughes |
| 2010 | Kempes | 7 | Tony McCoy | Willie Mullins |
| 2011 | Quito De La Roque | 7 | Davy Russell | Colm Murphy |
| 2012 | Sir Des Champs | 6 | Davy Russell | Willie Mullins |
| 2013 | Mount Benbulben | 8 | Danny Mullins | Gordon Elliott |
| 2014 | Carlingford Lough | 8 | Tony McCoy | John Kiely |
| 2015 | Valseur Lido | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | Zabana | 7 | Davy Russell | Andrew Lynch |
| 2017 | Disko | 6 | Bryan Cooper | Noel Meade |
| 2018 | The Storyteller | 7 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | Delta Work | 6 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| no race 2020 [a] | ||||
| 2021 | Colreevy | 8 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | Capodanno | 6 | Mark Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2023 | Feronily | 6 | Donagh Meyler | Emmet Mullins |
| 2024 | Spillane's Tower | 6 | Mark Walsh | Jimmy Mangan |
| 2025 | Champ Kiely | 9 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
- ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Ellier Developments Novice Chase". Racing Post. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "Betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase". Racing Post. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2010.