KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle explained

Class:Grade 1
Horse Race:KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle
Location:Punchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race Type:Hurdle race
Sponsor:KPMG
Website:Punchestown
Distance:2m 100y (3,219 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Right-handed
Qualification:Five-years-old and up
Weight:11 st 12 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse:125,000 (2022)
1st: €73,750

|}The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles and 100 yards, or 3620yd), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The event was formerly open to horses aged four or older, and for a period it was sponsored by BMW. The minimum age was raised to five in 1992, and Country Pride took over the sponsorship in 1993. The race was promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status in 1998.

The Evening Herald became the usual sponsor of the race in 2000. The event was subsequently backed by VC Bet, but the Evening Herald returned as sponsor in 2009. The race was rebranded as the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in 2013 after the sponsoring newspaper changed its name. Ecomm Merchant Solutions took over sponsorship from the 2021 running, Bective Stud sponsored in 2022 and the current sponsors, KPMG, took over in 2023.

Records

Leading jockey since 1980 (5 wins):

Leading trainer since 1980 (10 wins):

Winners since 1980

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1980Deep Gale7Frank CoddEdward O'Grady
1981Tie Anchor4Tommy McGivernPaddy Prendergast, Jr.
1982Bustineto4Niall MaddenMick O'Toole
1983Dawn Run5Tony MullinsPaddy Mullins
1984Gav's Delight6Ken MorganMichael Cunningham
1985Hungary Hur6Tony MullinsPaddy Mullins
1986Barney Burnett6Brendan SheridanRuby Walsh snr
1987High Plains5Richard DunwoodyDavid Nicholson
1988El-Sid Senor5Frank BerryFrancis Flood
1989The Proclamation6Richard DunwoodyPaddy Prendergast, Jr.
1990Vestris Abu4Charlie SwanJim Bolger
1991Young Pokey6Jamie OsborneOliver Sherwood
1992Fortune and Fame5Brendan SheridanDermot Weld
1993Bayrouge5Richard DunwoodyAnne-Marie O'Brien
1994Klairon Davis5Trevor HorganArthur Moore
1995Hotel Minella8Charlie SwanAidan O'Brien
1996Dance Beat5John ShorttJessica Harrington
1997Midnight Legend6Richard JohnsonDavid Nicholson
1998His Song5Tony McCoyMouse Morris
1999Cardinal Hill5Charlie SwanNoel Meade
2000Moscow Flyer6Barry GeraghtyJessica Harrington
20015Norman WilliamsonEdward O'Grady
2002Scottish Memories6Paul CarberryNoel Meade
2003Back In Front6Norman WilliamsonEdward O'Grady
2004Brave Inca6Barry CashColm Murphy
2005Wild Passion5Paul CarberryNoel Meade
2006Iktitaf5Ruby WalshNoel Meade
2007Clopf6Barry GeraghtyEdward O'Grady
2008Jered6Tony McCoyNoel Meade
2009Hurricane Fly5Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2010Blackstairmountain5Paul TownendWillie Mullins
2011Shot From The Hip7Tony McCoyEdward O'Grady
2012Alderwood8Tony McCoyThomas Mullins
2013Jezki5Barry GeraghtyJessica Harrington
2014Faugheen6Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2015Douvan5Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2016Don't Touch It6Barry GeraghtyJessica Harrington
2017Cilaos Emery5David MullinsWillie Mullins
2018Draconien5Noel FehilyWillie Mullins
2019Klassical Dream5Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
data-sort-value="2020" no race 2020
2021Echoes In Rain5Patrick MullinsWillie Mullins
2022Mighty Potter5Jack KennedyGordon Elliott
2023Facile Vega6Paul TownendWillie Mullins
2024Mystical Power 5Mark WalshWillie Mullins

See also

References