Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase Explained

Class:Premier Handicap
Horse Race:Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase
Location:Sandown Park Racecourse
Esher, England
Inaugurated:2005
Race Type:Steeplechase
Sponsor:Paddy Power
Website:Sandown Park
Distance:2m 4f 10y (4,033 metres)
Surface:Turf
Track:Right-handed
Qualification:Five-years-old and up
Weight:Handicap
Purse:£40,000 (2021)
1st: £22,584

|}The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 10 yards, or 4,033 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. It was a handicap race for novice chasers with a handicap rating between 0 and 145, and it takes place each year in March.

The event was originally run at Cheltenham Racecourse and was established when a fourth day was added to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005. The winning ride by Mattie Batchelor in the inaugural edition subsequently won the Lester Award for Jump Ride of the Year. The race was sponsored by Jewson from 2005 to 2010 and run as the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase on the third day of the Festival. Jewson transferred their sponsorship to a new race at the 2011 Festival, the Jewson Novices' Chase, which remained on the third day while the Novices' Handicap Chase was moved to become the final race on the opening day of the Festival. The race title commemorated the centenary of the Cheltenham Festival in 2011. In 2012 the race was sponsored by Pulteney Land Investments and from 2013 to 2014 by Rewards4Racing. In 2015 it was sponsored by Chaps Restaurants Barbados and from 2016 to 2019 the race was sponsored by Close Brothers Group. The race's sponsors in 2020 were Northern Trust and since 2021 it has been sponsored by Paddy Power.

The Centenary Novices' Chase was removed from the Festival programme in 2021 to make way for a new steeplechase for mares, the Liberthine Mares' Chase[1] and was transferred to the meeting which takes place at Sandown Park a few days before the Cheltenham Festival.[2] The race held Listed status until 2022 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Listed status was removed from handicap races.[3]

Records

Leading jockey (3 wins):

Leading trainer (2 wins):

Winners

border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
Year
Winner
Age
Weight
Jockey
Trainer
2005King Harald710-04Mattie BatchelorMark Bradstock
2006Reveillez710-11Tony McCoyJames Fanshawe
2007L'Antartique710-11Graham LeeFerdy Murphy
2008Finger On the Pulse710-12Barry GeraghtyTom Taaffe
2009Chapoturgeon510-11Timmy MurphyPaul Nicholls
2010Copper Bleu811-01Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2011Divers711-04Graham LeeFerdy Murphy
2012Hunt Ball712-00Nick ScholfieldKeiran Burke
2013Rajdhani Express611-12Sam Waley-CohenNicky Henderson
2014Present View611-07Brendan Powell JnrJamie Snowden
2015Irish Cavalier611-07Paul TownendRebecca Curtis
2016Ballyalton911-10Brian HughesIan Williams
2017Tully East711-08Denis O'ReganAlan Fleming
2018Mister Whitaker611-02Brian HughesMick Channon
2019A Plus Tard511-07Rachael BlackmoreHenry de Bromhead
2020Imperial Aura711-05David BassKim Bailey
2021Farinet610-05Charlie DeutschVenetia Williams
2022Killer Kane711-01Brendan Powell JnrColin Tizzard
2023Hudson De Grugy610-05Jamie MooreGary Moore
2024Scarface710-13Brendan Powell JnrJoe Tizzard

See also

References

----

----

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dietz . Andrew . Nicholls and Walsh back introduction of new mares' chase at Cheltenham Festival . Racing Post . 7 October 2020 . 7 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase to replace Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival . British Horseracing Authority . 30 December 2020 . 7 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season . British Horseracing Authority . 6 February 2023.