Future Champion Novices' Chase

The Future Champion Novices' 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 Ayr, Scotland, over a distance of about 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 110 yards (4,163 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.

Future Champion Novices' Chase
Grade 2 race
LocationAyr Racecourse
Ayrshire, Scotland
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorJordan Electrics
WebsiteAyr
Race information
Distance2m 4½f (4,163 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 0 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Penalties for wins
5 lb for Class 1 wfa chase
3 lb for Class 2 wfa or Class 1 hcap chase
Purse£45,000 (2019)
1st: £25,979
Future Champion Novices' Chase
2019
Secret Investor Louis' Vac Pouch Monbeg Legend

The event was formerly contested over 2 miles, and for a period it was known by various sponsored titles. It was renamed in 1988, and it was extended to 2 miles 4 furlongs and given Grade 1 status in 1991. It returned to its former length for a single running in 1995, and at this point it was relegated to Grade 2 level.

The Future Champion Novices' Chase is run at Ayr on the same afternoon as the Scottish Grand National. The winners Gingembre and Grey Abbey both subsequently achieved victory in the latter race.

Records

Leading jockey since 1968 (3 wins):
  • Ron BarryThe Benign Bishop (1973), Easby Abbey (1975), Little Bay (1981)
  • Jonjo O'NeillCrofton Hall (1977), King Weasel (1978), Night Nurse (1979)
  • Ruby Walsh - Val Solitaire (2003), Natal (2007), Pacha du Polder (2012)

Leading trainer since 1968 (7 wins):

  • Paul Nicholls - See More Indians (1994), Valley Henry (2002), Val Solitaire (2003), Natal (2007), Pacha du Polder (2012), Le Mercurey (2016), Secret Investor (2019)

Winners since 1971

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1971Chorus10Stan MellorHarry Thomson Jones
1972Avondhu9P BroganP Chesmore
1973The Benign Bishop6Ron BarryKen Oliver
1974Winter Rain6Michael DickinsonTony Dickinson
1975Easby Abbey8Ron BarryPeter Easterby
1976Cromwell Road6David GouldingGordon W. Richards
1977Crofton Hall8Jonjo O'NeillJ Dixon
1978King Weasel6Jonjo O'NeillPeter Easterby
1979Night Nurse8Jonjo O'NeillPeter Easterby
1980Don't Forget6Ridley LambArthur Stephenson
1981Little Bay6Ron BarryGordon W. Richards
1982Full Sutton9Bob DaviesDerek Kent
1983Mountain Hays8Alan BrownPeter Easterby
1984Noddy's Ryde7Neale DoughtyGordon W. Richards
1985Buck House7Tommy CarmodyMouse Morris (Ir)
1986Amber Rambler7S YouldenHarry Wharton
1987General Chandos6Johnny Bradburne[lower-alpha 1]Johnny Bradburne
1988 Jim Thorpe 7 Mark Dwyer Gordon W. Richards
1989 Southern Minstrel 6 Chris Grant Arthur Stephenson
1990 Celtic Shot 8 Graham McCourt Charlie Brooks
1991 High Knowl 8 Graham McCourt Martin Pipe
1992 The Illywhacker 7 Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman
1993 Cab on Target 7 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1994 See More Indians 7 Richard Dunwoody Paul Nicholls
1995 Dancing Paddy 7 Richard Dunwoody Ken Cunningham-Brown
1996 Addington Boy 8 Tony Dobbin Gordon W. Richards
1997 Sparky Gayle 7 Brian Storey Colin Parker
1998 Eirespray 7 Richard Guest Sue Smith
1999 Bouchasson 6 Robert Widger[lower-alpha 1] Philip Hobbs
2000 Gingembre 6 Warren Marston Lavinia Taylor
2001 Grey Abbey 7 Brian Harding Barry Murtagh
2002 Valley Henry 7 Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls
2003 Vol Solitaire 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2004 Keltic Bard 7 Noel Fehily Charlie Mann
2005 Locksmith 5 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe
2006 Monet's Garden 8 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards
2007 Natal [lower-alpha 2] 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2008 Starzaan 9 Robert Thornton Hughie Morrison
2009 Deep Purple 8 Paul Moloney Evan Williams
2010 French Opera 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2011 Gilbarry 6 Graham Lee Malcolm Jefferson
2012 Pacha du Polder 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2013 Rajdhani Express 6 Sam Waley-Cohen[lower-alpha 1] Nicky Henderson
2014 Eduard 6 Brian Harding Nicky Richards
2015 Top Gamble 7 Richard Johnson Richard Lee
2016 Le Mercurey 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2017 Cloudy Dream 7 Brian Hughes Malcolm Jefferson
2018 Bigmartre 7 Harry Bannister Harry Whittington
2019 Secret Investor 7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
no race 2020 [lower-alpha 3]
  1. amateur jockey
  2. Yes Sir finished first in 2007, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance
  3. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]

Earlier winners

  • 1968 – Certainement
  • 1969 – Chesapeake Bay
  • 1970 – Mischievous Monk
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See also

References

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