Topham Chase
The Topham Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt handicap chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles 5 furlongs and 19 yards, or 4,242 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in April. From 1989 to 2001 the race was named to commemorate the late clerk of the course John Hughes. In April 2012 the race was won for the third consecutive year by Always Waining, trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by Tom O'Brien.
| Class | Premier Handicap |
|---|---|
| Location | Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England |
| Inaugurated | 1949 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Randox Health |
| Website | www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/ |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles 5 furlongs 19 yards (4,242 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap Maximum: 11 st 12 lb |
| Purse | £150,000 (2022) 1st: £84,195 |
| 2026 | ||
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| Will The Wise | Ile Atlantique | Madara |
| Previous years | ||
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| 2025 | ||
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| Gentleman De Mee | Lisnamult Lad | The Goffer |
| 2024 | ||
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| Arizona Cardinal | James Du Berlais | Kandoo Kid |
| 2023 | ||
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| Bill Baxter | Fantastic Lady | Killer Kane |
| 2022 | ||
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| Mac Tottie | Batcio | Annamix |
| 2021 | ||
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| Livelovelaugh | Pink Eyed Pedro | Senior Citizen |
| 2020-2011 | ||
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| 2019 | ||
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| Cadmium | Sub Lieutenant | Doitforthevillage |
| 2018 | ||
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| Ultragold | Shanahan's Turn | Theatre Territory |
| 2017 | ||
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| Ultragold | Katnap | Portrait King |
| 2016 | ||
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| Eastlake | Fairy Rath | Third Intention |
| 2015 | ||
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| Rajdhani Express | Fairy Rath | Rathlin |
| 2014 | ||
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| Ma Filleule | Bennys Mist | Eastlake |
| 2013 | ||
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| Triolo D'Alene | Walkon | Last Time D'albain |
| 2012 | ||
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| Always Waining | Chance Du Roy | Fistral Beach |
| 2011 | ||
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| Always Waining | Mon Parrain | Scotsirish |
| 2010-2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Always Waining | Scotsirish | Isn't That Lucky |
| 2009 | ||
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| Irish Raptor | Oodachee | Cossack Dancer |
| 2008 | ||
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| Gwanako | Irish Raptor | Bothar Na |
| 2007 | ||
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| Dunbrody Millar | Theatre Knight | Latimer's Place |
| 2006 | ||
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| Liberthine | Hakim | Pak Jack |
| 2005 | ||
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| Cregg House | Haut de Gamme | Le Duc |
| 2004 | ||
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| Cassia Heights | Longshanks | Scotmail Boy |
| 2003 | ||
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| Clan Royal | Macs Gildoran | Exit Swinger |
| 2002 | ||
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| Its Time For A Win | Monty's Pass | Korakor |
| 2001 | ||
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| Gower-Slave | Goguenard | Scotmail Boy |
| 2000-1991 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Northern Starlight | Kings Cherry | Fourth In Line |
| 1999 | ||
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| Listen Timmy | Linden's Lotto | Maitre De Musique |
| 1998 | ||
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| Cyfor Malta | Ballyline | With Impunity |
| 1997 | ||
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| Bells Life | Yeoman Warrior | Kadi |
| 1996 | ||
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| Joe White | Go Universal | Mugoni Beach |
| 1995 | ||
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| Dublin Flyer | Toureen Prince | River Bounty |
| 1994 | ||
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| Indian Tonic | Kentish Piper | Sirrah Jay |
| 1993 | ||
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| Sirrah Jay | Southern Minstrel | Nos Na Gaoithe |
| 1992 | ||
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| The Antartex | Captain Mor | Strong Gold |
| 1991 | ||
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| J-J-Henry | The Antartex | Tom Caxton |
| 1990-1988 | ||
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| 1990 | ||
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| Wont Be Gone Long | Villierstown | Golden Minstrel |
| 1989 | ||
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| Villierstown | Eton Rouge | Red Columbia |
| 1988 | ||
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| Wiggburn | Pan Arctic | Villierstown |
The Topham Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt handicap chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles 5 furlongs and 19 yards, or 4,242 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.
From 1989 to 2001 the race was named to commemorate the late clerk of the course John Hughes.
In April 2012 the race was won for the third consecutive year by Always Waining, trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by Tom O'Brien.[1]
History
[edit]The inaugural running of the Topham was in 1949. The Topham is now one of three races run over the Grand National fences at the Aintree Festival, the other two races being the Foxhunters' Chase for amateur jockeys and the Grand National itself. The Topham Chase is currently run on the second day of the meeting.
Records
[edit]Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Always Waining – 2010, 2011, 2012
Leading jockey (3 wins):
- Richard Dunwoody – Glenrue (1986), Won't Be Gone Long (1990), The Antartex (1992)
- Barry Geraghty – Triolo D'Alene (2013), Ma Filleule (2014), Eastlake (2016)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- Nicky Henderson - Won't Be Gone Long (1990), Liberthine (2006), Triolo D'Alene (2013), Ma Filleule (2014), Rajdhani (2015)
- Peter Bowen - Dunbrody Millar (2007), Always Waining (2010, 2011, 2012), Mac Tottie (2022)
Winners
[edit]| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Weight |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Cadamstown | 9 | 11-04 | Jimmy Brogan | J Powell |
| 1950 | Culworth | 9 | 10-12 | Dick Curran | W (Charlie) Hall |
| 1951 | Culworth | 10 | 11-06 | Dick Curran | W (Charlie) Hall |
| 1952 | Ballymagillan | 6 | 10-09 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper (Ir) |
| 1953 | Irish Lizard | 10 | 10-04 | Dick Francis | Frenchie Nicholson |
| 1954 | Little Yid | 12 | 10-11 | George Slack | Bobby Renton |
| 1955 | Stormhead | 11 | 11-12 | Paddy Farrell | W (Charlie) Hall |
| 1956 | John Jacques | 9 | 10-08 | Jimmy Power | Walter Wharton |
| 1957 | Roughan | 10 | 11-00 | Harry East | Neville Crump |
| 1958 | Roughan | 11 | 11-02 | Fred Winter | Neville Crump |
| 1959 | Clanyon | 11 | 11-04 | Grenville Underwood | W Johns-Powell |
| 1960 | Fresh Winds | 9 | 11-01 | Stan Mellor | Roy Whiston |
| 1961 | Cupid's Charge | 6 | 11-03 | Bill Rees | Peter Cazalet |
| 1962 | Dagmar Gittell | 7 | 10-11 | Josh Gifford | Bobby Renton |
| 1963 | Barberyn | 8 | 11-09 | Michael Scudamore | W (Arthur) Stephenson |
| 1964 | Red Tide | 7 | 10-06 | Jeff King | Bob Turnell |
| 1965 | Hopkiss | 7 | 10-12 | E P Harty | Alec Kilpatrick |
| 1966 | Walpole | 10 | 11-05 | Josh Gifford | Ryan Price |
| 1967 | Georgetown | 7 | 10-07 | P Mahoney | Noel Kusbish |
| 1968 | Surcharge | 10 | 10-08 | S Davenport | John Barclay |
| 1969 | Dozo | 8 | 10-05 | Eddie Harty | Toby Balding |
| 1970 | Charter Flight | 8 | 11-12 | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell |
| 1971 | Rigton Prince | 10 | 11-01 | John Enright | W (Arthur) Stephenson |
| 1972 | Sunny Lad | 8 | 10-08 | Ken White | Fred Rimell |
| 1973 | Inch Arran | 9 | 11-02 | David Mould | Peter Cazalet |
| 1974 | Clear Cut | 10 | 11-08 | Jonjo O'Neill | W (Charlie) Hall[2] |
| 1975 | Our Greenwood | 7 | 12-00 | Tommy Carberry | Jim Dreaper (Ir) |
| 1976 | Lictor | 9 | 10-00 | David Sunderland | Edward Courage |
| 1977 | Churchtown Boy | 10 | 10-00 | Chris Read | Taffy Salaman |
| 1978 | Canit | 8 | 10-00 | Colin Tinkler | Fred Rimell |
| 1979 | Artic Ale | 8 | 10-08 | John Fowler[a] | Dan Moore (Ir) |
| 1980 | Uncle Bing | 11 | 11-11 | John Francome | Richard Head |
| 1981 | Mr Marlsbridge | 8 | 10-10 | Paul Barton | David Gandolfo |
| 1982 | Beacon Time | 8 | 10-09 | Kevin Mooney | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1983 | Tiepolino | 11 | 10-04 | Hywel Davies | Kevin Bishop |
| 1984 | Fabulous | 11 | 10-00 | Andrew Stringer | J S Wilson |
| 1985 | Smith's Man | 7 | 10-00 | Mark Perrett | Jenny Pitman |
| 1986 | Glenrue | 9 | 10-02 | Richard Dunwoody | Terry Casey |
| 1987 | Strath Leader | 9 | 11-10 | Tom Morgan | John Edwards |
| 1988 | Wiggburn | 9 | 10-02 | Mike Williams | Anne Hewitt |
| 1989 | Villierstown | 10 | 11-10 | Simon Sherwood | W (Arthur) Stephenson |
| 1990 | Wont Be Gone Long | 8 | 11-07 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson |
| 1991 | J-J-Henry | 12 | 10-10 | Anthea Farrell[a] | Peter Beaumont |
| 1992 | The Antartex | 9 | 10-02 | Richard Dunwoody | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1993 | Sirrah Jay | 13 | 10-00 | Adrian Maguire | Toby Balding |
| 1994 | Indian Tonic | 8 | 10-04 | Chris Maude | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1995 | Dublin Flyer | 9 | 12-00 | Brendan Powell Snr | Tim Forster |
| 1996 | Joe White | 10 | 11-00 | Paul Carberry | Howard Johnson |
| 1997 | Bells Life | 8 | 11-04 | Glen Tormey | Philip Hobbs |
| 1998 | Cyfor Malta | 5 | 11-01 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 1999 | Listen Timmy | 10 | 11-08 | Tony Dobbin | Steve Brookshaw |
| 2000 | Northern Starlight | 9 | 11-05 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2001 | Gower-Slave | 9 | 10-07 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2002 | Its Time For A Win | 10 | 10-12 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2003 | Clan Royal | 8 | 10-02 | Liam Cooper | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2004 | Cassia Heights | 9 | 10-00 | Jim Culloty | Steve Brookshaw |
| 2005 | Cregg House | 10 | 10-05 | Davy Russell | Shane Donohoe |
| 2006 | Liberthine | 7 | 10-04 | Sam Waley-Cohen[a] | Nicky Henderson |
| 2007 | Dunbrody Millar | 9 | 10-00 | Jamie Moore | Peter Bowen |
| 2008 | Gwanako | 5 | 11-08 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | Irish Raptor | 10 | 10-00 | Paddy Brennan | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2010 | Always Waining | 9 | 10-00 | Brian Hughes | Peter Bowen |
| 2011 | Always Waining | 10 | 10-04 | Tom O'Brien | Peter Bowen |
| 2012 | Always Waining | 11 | 10-11 | Tom O'Brien | Peter Bowen |
| 2013 | Triolo D'Alene | 6 | 10-07 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2014 | Ma Filleule | 6 | 11-07 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2015 | Rajdhani Express | 8 | 11-08 | Sam Waley-Cohen[a] | Nicky Henderson |
| 2016 | Eastlake | 10 | 10-11 | Barry Geraghty | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2017 | Ultragold | 9 | 10-05 | Harry Cobden | Colin Tizzard |
| 2018 | Ultragold | 10 | 11-01 | Harry Cobden | Colin Tizzard |
| 2019 | Cadmium | 7 | 11-01 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| no race 2020 [b] | |||||
| 2021 | Livelovelaugh | 11 | 11-00 | Patrick Mullins[a] | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | Mac Tottie | 9 | 10-00 | Sean Bowen | Peter Bowen |
| 2023 | Bill Baxter | 7 | 10-04 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Warren Greatrex |
| 2024 | Arizona Cardinal | 8 | 10-10 | Ciaran Gethings | Stuart Edmunds |
| 2025 | Gentleman De Mee | 9 | 11-11 | Mark Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2026 | Will The Wise | 7 | 10-08 | Conor Stone-Walsh | Gavin Cromwell |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "2013 Grand National runners - Always Waining seeks Aintree four-timer". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
- ^ "Charlie Hall Chase", Wikipedia, 11 March 2022, retrieved 8 April 2022
- ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.
- Racing Post
- Timeform Chasers & Hurdlers Statistical Companion 1992-93. Portway Press. 1993. p. 168.
External links
[edit]- Race Recordings (1981-2010) [1]