Racing Post Novice Chase
The Racing Post Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland. The race is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,419 metres) and during its running there are 11 fences to be jumped. In July 2025, Horse Racing Ireland announced that the race, which had been removed from the novice chase programme the previous season, would be reinstated at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, with the Fort Leney Novice Chase deleted and the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick extended in distance. The race is run on 26 December, which is known in Ireland as Saint Stephen's Day, and is one of the feature races of the course's four-day Christmas Festival. Prior to 2011 it was titled the Bord Na Mona With Nature Novice Chase. Prior to 2009 it was titled the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase. During the 1990s the race was known as the Dennys Gold Medal Novice Chase.
| 2025 (December) | ||
|
|
|
| Romeo Coolio | Irish Panther | July Flower |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (January) | ||
|
|
|
| Ile Atlantique | Firefox | Inthepocket |
| 2023 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Found A Fifty | My Mate Mozzie | Sharjah |
| 2022 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Saint Roi | Visionarian | Fil Dor |
| 2021 | ||
|
|
|
| Ferny Hollow | Riviere D'etel | Coeur Sublime |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
|
|
|
| Franco De Port | Darver Star | Felix Desjy |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
| Notebook | Fakir D'Oudairies | Royal Rendezvous |
| 2018 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Le Richebourg | Us And Them | Voix Du Reve |
| 2017 | ||
|
|
|
| Footpad | Any Second Now | Jett |
| 2016 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Min | Ordinary World | Road To Respect |
| 2015 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Douvan | Sizing John | Velvet Maker |
| 2014 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Clarcam | Ted Veale | Vautour |
| 2013 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Defy Logic | Trifolium | Champagne Fever |
| 2012 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Arvika Ligeonniere | Oscars Well | Baily Green |
| 2011 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Blackstairmountain | Notus De La Tour | Foildubh |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
|
|
|
| Realt Dubh | Noble Prince | Torphichen |
| 2009 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Sizing Europe | Osana | Bobs Pride |
| 2008 | ||
|
|
|
| Follow The Plan | Tatenen | Cooldine |
| 2007 | ||
|
|
|
| Sky's The Limit | Lenrey | Scotsirish |
| 2006 | ||
|
|
|
| Schindlers Hunt | Hear The Echo | Blueberry Boy |
| 2005 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Missed That | Wild Passion | Kill Devil Hill |
| 2004 | ||
|
|
|
| Mariah Rollins | Steel Band | Ned Kelly |
| 2003 | ||
|
|
|
| Central House | Anxious Moments | Ricardo |
| 2002 | ||
|
|
|
| Le Coudray | Bust Out | Ricardo |
| 2001 | ||
|
|
|
| Moscow Flyer | Youlneverwalkalone | Colonel Yeager |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Knife Edge | Well Ridden | Balla Sola |
| 1999 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Native Upmanship | Slaney Native | Quinze |
| 1998 | ||
|
|
|
| His Song | Native Estates | Amberleigh House |
| 1997 | ||
|
|
|
| Dardjini | Magical Lady | Space Trucker |
| 1996 | ||
|
|
|
| Danoli | Land Afar | Beakstown |
| 1994 | ||
|
|
|
|
| Klairon Davis | Winter Belle | Sound Man |
| 1993 | ||
|
|
|
| Chirkpar | Brockley Court | Fabricator |
| 1992 | ||
|
|
|
| Soft Day | Commercial Artist | How's The Boss |
| 1991 | ||
|
|
|
| Valrodian | Mass Appeal | Joe's A Boy |
| 1990-1987 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
|
|
|
| Firions Law | Redundant Pal | Joyful Noise |
| 1989 | ||
|
|
|
| Blitzkreig | The Committee | Toureen Prince |
| 1988 | ||
|
|
|
| Deep Idol | Tradehimin | Ballychorus Dream |
| 1987 | ||
|
|
|
| Abbey Glen | Wolf Of Badenoch | Bonalma |
The Racing Post Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland. The race is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,419 metres) and during its running there are 11 fences to be jumped.
In July 2025, Horse Racing Ireland announced that the race, which had been removed from the novice chase programme the previous season, would be reinstated at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, with the Fort Leney Novice Chase deleted and the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick extended in distance.[1]
The race is run on 26 December, which is known in Ireland as Saint Stephen's Day, and is one of the feature races of the course's four-day Christmas Festival.
Prior to 2011[2] it was titled the Bord Na Mona With Nature Novice Chase. Prior to 2009 it was titled the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase. During the 1990s the race was known as the Dennys Gold Medal Novice Chase.
Records
[edit]Leading jockey (3 wins):
- Paul Townend - Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Ferny Hollow (2021)
- Mark Walsh - Defy Logic (2013), Le Richebourg (2018), Saint Roi (2022)
Leading trainer (9 wins):
- Willie Mullins – Missed That (2005), Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Douvan (2015), Min (2016), Footpad (2017), Franco De Port (2020), Ferny Hollow (2021), Saint Roi (2022)
Winners since 1987
[edit]| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Abbey Glen | 5 | Frank Berry | P Hughes |
| 1988 | Deep Idol | 8 | Niall Madden | P D Osborne |
| 1989 | Blitzkrieg | 6 | T J Ryan | Edward O'Grady |
| 1990 | Firions Law | 5 | C N Bowens | Victor Bowens |
| 1991 | Valrodian | 8 | I Lawrence | Michael Robinson |
| 1992 | Soft Day | 7 | Tom Taaffe | Arthur Moore |
| 1993 | Chirkpar | 6 | Richard Dunwoody | Jim Bolger |
| 1994 | Klairon Davis | 5 | F Woods | Arthur Moore |
| 1995 | Cancelled due to frozen course | |||
| 1996 | Danoli | 8 | Tommy Treacy | Thomas Foley |
| 1997 | Dardjini | 7 | Kieran Gaule | Noel Meade |
| 1998 | His Song | 5 | Shay Barry | Mouse Morris |
| 1999 | Native Upmanship | 6 | Conor O'Dwyer | Arthur Moore |
| 2000 | Knife Edge | 5 | Tom Rudd | Michael O'Brien |
| 2001 | Moscow Flyer | 7 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington |
| 2002 | Le Coudray | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Christy Roche |
| 2003 | Central House | 6 | Paul Carberry | Dessie Hughes |
| 2004 | Mariah Rollins | 6 | John Cullen | Pat Fahy |
| 2005 | Missed That | 6 | David Casey | Willie Mullins |
| 2006 | Schindlers Hunt | 6 | Roger Loughran | Dessie Hughes |
| 2007 | Sky's The Limit | 6 | Andrew McNamara | Edward O'Grady |
| 2008 | Follow The Plan | 5 | John Cullen | Oliver McKiernan |
| 2009 | Sizing Europe | 7 | Andrew Lynch | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2010 | Realt Dubh | 7 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
| 2011 | Blackstairmountain | 6 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2012 | Arvika Ligeonniere | 7 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2013 | Defy Logic | 6 | Mark Walsh | Paul Nolan |
| 2014 | Clarcam | 4 | Bryan Cooper | Gordon Elliott |
| 2015 | Douvan | 5 | Patrick Mullins[a] | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | Min | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2017 | Footpad | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 | Le Richebourg | 5 | Mark Walsh | Joseph O'Brien |
| 2019 | Notebook | 6 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2020 | Franco De Port | 5 | Bryan Cooper | Willie Mullins |
| 2021 | Ferny Hollow | 6 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | Saint Roi | 7 | Mark Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2023 | Found A Fifty | 6 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2024 | Croke Park | 6 | Sam Ewing | Gordon Elliott |
| 2025 | Romeo Coolio | 6 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
- ^ amateur jockey
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Harney, Denis (18 July 2025). "Racing Post Novice Chase is reinstated following another shake-up to Irish jumps programme". Racing Post. Ireland. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ [1] Racing Post takes title sponsorship of St Stephen's Day card