Game Spirit Chase
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 92 yards, or 3,308 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February. The event was first run in 1953 and is named in memory of Game Spirit, a successful racehorse who was owned by the Queen Mother. During the 1970s Game Spirit won 21 races in six seasons. He also finished third in the 1974 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the 1976 Champion Chase. He died from a lung haemorrhage after racing at Newbury in March 1977. The Game Spirit Chase has held Grade 2 status since 1992. Before then it was classed at Listed level and run as a limited handicap. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and run under various sponsored titles.
| 2026 | ||
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| Lulamba | Saint Segal | Libberty Hunter |
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| 2025 | ||
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| Master Chewy | Libberty Hunter | Matata |
| 2024 | ||
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| Edwardstone | Funambule Sivola | Only two finished |
| 2023 | ||
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| Funambule Sivola | Elixir De Nutz | Greaneteen |
| 2022 | ||
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| Funambule Sivola | Sceau Royal | Hitman |
| 2021 | ||
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| Sceau Royal | Champ | Greaneteen |
| 2020-2011 | ||
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| 2020 | ||
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| Altior | Sceau Royal | Dynamite Dollars |
| 2018 | ||
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| Altior | Politologue | Valdez |
| 2017 | ||
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| Altior | Fox Norton | Dodging Bullets |
| 2016 | ||
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| Top Gamble | Dodging Bullets | Captain Conan |
| 2015 | ||
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| Mr Mole | Upsilon Bleu | Karinga Dancer |
| 2014 | ||
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| Module | Dodging Bullets | Raya Star |
| 2013 | ||
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| Wishfull Thinking | French Opera | Edgardo Sol |
| 2012 | ||
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| Sprinter Sacre | French Opera | I'm So Lucky |
| 2011 | ||
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| French Opera | Tchico Polos | Oiseau de Nuit |
| 2010-2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Master Minded | Mahogany Blaze | Fix The Rib |
| 2008 | ||
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| Master Minded | Voy Por Ustedes | Mahogany Blaze |
| 2007 | ||
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| Well Chief | Ashley Brook | Armaturk |
| 2006 | ||
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| Don't Be Shy | Armaturk | Mister McGoldrick |
| 2005 | ||
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| Azertyuiop | Well Chief | Armaturk |
| 2004 | ||
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| Azertyuiop | Armaturk | Wahiba Sands |
| 2003 | ||
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| Kadarann | Cenkos | Lady Cricket |
| 2002 | ||
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| Lady Cricket | Fadalko | Eskleybrook |
| 2001 | ||
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| Function Dream | Flagship Uberalles | Super Coin |
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| 2000 | ||
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| Flagship Uberalles | Upgrade | Only two finished |
| 1999 | ||
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| Celibate | Mulligan | Nearly An Eye |
| 1998 | ||
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| Ask Tom | Kadastrof | Viking Flagship |
| 1997 | ||
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| Double Symphony | Dancing Paddy | Only two finished |
| 1996 | ||
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| Viking Flagship | Travado | Nakir |
| 1995 | ||
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| Nakir | Snitton Lane | Only two finished |
| 1994 | ||
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| Viking Flagship | Wonder Man | Sybillin |
| 1993 | ||
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| Waterloo Boy | Katabatic | Cyphrate |
| 1992 | ||
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| Waterloo Boy | Uncle Ernie | Master Rajh |
| 1990-1988 | ||
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| Feroda | The Dragon Master | Long Engagement |
| 1989 | ||
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| Mr Key | Meikleour | Long Engagement |
| 1988 | ||
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| Very Promising | Pearlyman | Knockbrack |
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 92 yards, or 3,308 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The event was first run in 1953 and is named in memory of Game Spirit, a successful racehorse who was owned by the Queen Mother. During the 1970s Game Spirit won 21 races in six seasons. He also finished third in the 1974 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the 1976 Champion Chase. He died from a lung haemorrhage after racing at Newbury in March 1977.
The Game Spirit Chase has held Grade 2 status since 1992. Before then it was classed at Listed level and run as a limited handicap. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and run under various sponsored titles.
Winners
[edit]| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Marcianus | 7 | Dick Francis | George Beeby |
| 1954 | Big Bill | 8 | Ted Fisher | Peter Payne-Gallwey |
| 1955 | Belliquex | 6 | E Kelly | C Cooper |
| 1956 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
| 1957 | Buttercleugh | 6 | George Milburn | Verley Bewicke |
| 1958 | Highland Bard | 7 | George Milburn | Verley Bewicke |
| 1959 | Chatelet | 7 | Jumbo Wilkinson | Bobby Renton |
| 1960 | Threepwood | 7 | George Milburn | Verley Bewicke |
| 1961 | Richard of Bordeaux | 6 | Fred Winter | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1962 | Sea Horse | 8 | Peter Jones | Bill Marshall |
| 1963 | Abandoned because of snow and frost | |||
| 1964 | Irish Imp | 7 | Willie Robinson | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1965 | Dunkirk | 8 | Dave Dick | Peter Cazalet |
| 1966 | Flash Bulb | 9 | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell |
| 1967 | Vulmidas | 10 | Terry Pinner[a] | John Barclay |
| 1968 | Stonehaven | 8 | Stan Mellor | Roddy Armytage |
| 1969 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
| 1970 | Abandoned because of snow and frost | |||
| 1971 | Royal Relief | 7 | John Cook | Edward Courage |
| 1972 | Straight Fort | 9 | Eddie Wright | Jim Dreaper (Ir) |
| 1973 | Pendil | 8 | Richard Pitman | Fred Winter |
| 1974 | Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course | |||
| 1975 | Shock Result | 9 | Andy Turnell | Bob Turnell |
| 1976 | Uncle Bing | 7 | John Burke | G Doidge |
| 1977 | Isle of Man | 10 | Bill Smith | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1978 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
| 1979 | Casbah | 12 | Graham Thorner | Tim Forster |
| 1980 | Gambling Prince | 7 | John Suthern | Mrs G Jones |
| 1981 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
| 1982 | News King | 8 | John Francome | Fred Winter |
| 1983 | Abandoned because of snow and frost | |||
| 1984 | Ragafan | 7 | Robert Hughes | Ron Smyth |
| 1985 | Abandoned because of snow | |||
| 1986 | Abandoned because of snow | |||
| 1987 | Pearlyman | 8 | Peter Scudamore | John Edwards |
| 1988 | Very Promising | 10 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1989 | Mr Key | 8 | Simon Sherwood | David Murray Smith |
| 1990 | Feroda | 9 | Tom Taaffe | Arthur Moore |
| no race 1991 [b] | ||||
| 1992 | Waterloo Boy | 9 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1993 | Waterloo Boy | 10 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1994 | Viking Flagship | 7 | Adrian Maguire | David Nicholson |
| 1995 | Nakir | 7 | Jamie Osborne | Simon Christian |
| 1996 | Viking Flagship | 9 | Adrian Maguire | David Nicholson |
| 1997 | Double Symphony | 9 | Jamie Osborne | Charlie Brooks |
| 1998 | Ask Tom | 9 | Russ Garritty | Tom Tate |
| 1999 | Celibate | 8 | Mick Fitzgerald | Charlie Mann |
| 2000 | Flagship Uberalles | 6 | Joe Tizzard | Paul Nicholls |
| 2001 | Function Dream | 9 | Anthony Ross | Mary Reveley |
| 2002 | Lady Cricket | 8 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2003 | Kadarann | 6 | Joe Tizzard | Paul Nicholls |
| 2004 | Azertyuiop | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | Azertyuiop | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2006 | Don't Be Shy [c] | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe |
| 2007 | Well Chief | 8 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe |
| 2008 | Master Minded | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| no race 2009 [d] | ||||
| 2010 | Master Minded | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | French Opera | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2012 | Sprinter Sacre | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2013 | Wishfull Thinking | 10 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2014 | Module | 7 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 2015 | Mr Mole | 7 | Tony McCoy | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | Top Gamble | 8 | Richard Johnson | Kerry Lee |
| 2017 | Altior | 7 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2018 | Altior | 8 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| no race 2019 [e] | ||||
| 2020 | Altior | 10 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2021 | Sceau Royal | 9 | Daryl Jacob | Alan King |
| 2022 | Funambule Sivola | 7 | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams |
| 2023 | Funambule Sivola | 8 | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams |
| 2024 | Edwardstone | 10 | Tom Cannon | Alan King |
| 2025 | Master Chewy | 8 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2026 | Lulamba | 5 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
- ^ amateur jockey
- ^ The race was abandoned in 1991 due to frost
- ^ The 2006 running took place at Lingfield Park
- ^ The 2009 edition was cancelled because of snow
- ^ The 2019 race was cancelled because of an equine influenza outbreak
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Race Recordings (1987-2012) youtube.com
- pedigreequery.com – Game Spirit Chase – Newbury.
- theoxfordtimes.net[permanent dead link] – "A Passion for the Races".