John Francome Novices' Chase

The John Francome Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 7½ furlongs (2 miles 7 furlongs and 86 yards, or 4,706 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.

Worcester Novices' Chase

2019
Danny Whizzbang	Reserve Tank	Ardlethen

Previous years
2018
Santini	Rocky's Treasure	Le Breuil
2017
Elegant Escape	Black Corton	Sir Ivan
2016
Thistlecrack	Bigbadjohn	Ibis Du Rheu
2015
Native River	Un Temps Pour Tout	Port Melon
2014
Carraig Mor	Southfield Theatre	My Silver Cloud
2013
Just A Par	Third Intention	Ardkilly Witness
2012
Harry Topper	Benefficient	Highland Lodge
2011
Grands Crus	Sonofvic	Viking Blond
2010
Aiteen Thirtythree	Voramar Two	Be There in Five
2009
Michel Le Bon	Bench Warrent	Pettifour
2008
Gone To Lunch	Tartak	Hold Em
2007
Joe Lively	Here's Johnny	Only two finished
2006
Boychuk	Gungadu	Wee Robbie
2005
Darkness	Iris's Gift	Unleash
2004
Cornish Rebel	Distant Thunder	St Matthew
2003
Ballycassidy	Native Emperor	Celestial Gold

The race was first run in 1990 and was originally held at Worcester, where it was contested over distances of up to 2 miles and 7½ furlongs and run as the Worcester Novices' Chase. It was transferred to Newbury and extended to its present length in 2000.

In 2017 the race was renamed in honour of John Francome, with the press release explaining that the race "was transferred from Worcester racecourse 17 years ago, so the geographical connection with the Pitchcroft is no longer relevant."[1]

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1990	Killbanon	8	Simon Earle	Chris Trietline
1991	Captain Dibble	6	Peter Scudamore	Nigel Twiston-Davies
1992	Barton Bank	6	Richard Dunwoody	David Nicholson
1993	See More Indians	6	Graham Bradley	Paul Nicholls
1994	Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1995	Betty's Boy	6	Richard Dunwoody	Kim Bailey
1996	Pleasure Shared	8	Chris Maude	Philip Hobbs
1997	Ottowa	7	Timmy Murphy	Paul Nicholls
1998	Ocean Hawk	6	Carl Llewellyn	Nigel Twiston-Davies
1999	Connor Macleod	6	Norman Williamson	Mark Pitman
2000	Shotgun Willy	6	Joe Tizzard	Paul Nicholls
2001	Valley Henry	6	Timmy Murphy	Paul Nicholls
2002	Lucky Bay	6	Jim Culloty	Henrietta Knight
2003	Ballycassidy	7	Richard Johnson	Peter Bowen
2004	Cornish Rebel	7	Tony McCoy	Paul Nicholls
2005	Darkness	6	Barry Fenton	Charles Egerton
2006	Boychuk	5	Richard Johnson	Philip Hobbs
2007	Joe Lively	8	Joe Tizzard	Colin Tizzard
2008	Gone to Lunch	8	Tony McCoy	Jeremy Scott
2009	Michel Le Bon	6	Tony McCoy	Paul Nicholls
2010	Aiteen Thirtythree	6	Noel Fehily	Paul Nicholls
2011	Grands Crus	6	Tom Scudamore	David Pipe
2012	Harry Topper	5	Timmy Murphy	Kim Bailey
2013	Just A Par	6	Daryl Jacob	Paul Nicholls
2014	Carraig Mor	6	Noel Fehily	Alan King
2015	Native River	5	Brendan Powell	Colin Tizzard
2016	Thistlecrack	8	Tom Scudamore	Colin Tizzard
2017	Elegant Escape	5	Harry Cobden	Colin Tizzard
2018	Santini	6	Nico de Boinville	Nicky Henderson
2019	Danny Whizzbang	6	Harry Cobden	Paul Nicholls

See also

• Horse racing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races

References

1. "Jump Pattern Book Blog 2017/18". BHA. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.

• Racing Post:
  • 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
  • 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

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• pedigreequery.com – Worcester Novices' Chase – Newbury.