Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England |
---|---|
Race type | Hurdle race |
Sponsor | Sky Bet |
Website | Cheltenham |
Race information | |
Distance | 2m 87y (3,298 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
Weight | 10 st 13 lb (4yo); 11 st 7 lb (5yo+) Allowances 7 lb for fillies and mares |
Purse | £125,000 (2020) 1st: £71,187 |
2020 | ||
Shishkin | Abacadabras | Chantry House |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2019 | ||
Klassical Dream | Thomas Darby | Itchy Feet |
2018 | ||
Summerville Boy | Kalashnikov | Mengli Khan |
2017 | ||
Labaik | Melon | River Wylde |
2016 | ||
Altior | Min | Buveur D'air |
2015 | ||
Douvan | Shaneshill | Sizing John |
2014 | ||
Vautour | Josses Hill | Vaniteux |
2013 | ||
Champagne Fever | My Tent Or Yours | Jezki |
2012 | ||
Cinders And Ashes | Darlan | Trifolium |
2011 | ||
Al Ferof | Spirit Son | Sprinter Sacre |
2010-2001 | ||
---|---|---|
2010 | ||
Menorah | Get Me Out of Here | Dunguib |
2009 | ||
Go Native | Medermit | Somersby |
2008 | ||
Captain Cee Bee | Binocular | Snap Tie |
2007 | ||
Ebaziyan | Granit Jack | Amaretto Rose |
2006 | ||
Noland | Straw Bear | Buena Vista |
2005 | ||
Arcalis | Wild Passion | Dusky Warbler |
2004 | ||
Brave Inca | War of Attrition | Fleet Street |
2003 | ||
Back in Front | Kicking King | Chauvinist |
2002 | ||
Like-A-Butterfly | Westender | In Contrast |
2000-1991 | ||
---|---|---|
2000 | ||
Sausalito Bay | Best Mate | Youlneverwalkalone |
1999 | ||
Hors La Loi III | Joe Mac | Arctic Fancy |
1998 | ||
French Ballerina | His Song | Gatflax |
1997 | ||
Shadow Leader | Princeful | Nordic Breeze |
1996 | ||
Indefence | Kimanicky | Castle Sweep |
1995 | ||
Tourist Attraction | Ventana Canyon | Simple Arithmetic |
1994 | ||
Arctic Kinsman | Pridwell | Dreams End |
1993 | ||
Montelado | Lemon's Mill | Satin Lover |
1992 | ||
Flown | Halkopous | Fortune And Fame |
1991 | ||
Destriero | Granville Again | Gran Alba |
1990-1989 | ||
---|---|---|
1990 | ||
Forest Sun | Danny Harrold | Rakes Lane |
1989 | ||
Sondrio | Island Set | Cruising Altitude |
It is the first event on the opening day of the Festival, and its start is traditionally greeted by the "Cheltenham Roar", a loud cheer generated by the crowds of onlookers.
History
The race was originally called the Gloucestershire Hurdle, and it used to be split into two or three separate divisions. The Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien recorded ten victories in the race during an eight-year spell in the 1950s.
It became known as the Lloyds Bank Champion Novices' Hurdle in 1974, when Lloyds Bank began a brief period of sponsorship. Its present title was introduced when Waterford Crystal started to back the race in 1978. This association continued until 1990, and since then the event has had several different sponsors. The current sponsor as of 2018 is the bookmaking company Sky Bet.
Records
Leading jockey since 1972 (6 wins):
- Ruby Walsh – Noland (2006), Al Ferof (2011), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019)
Leading trainer since 1972 (6 wins):
- Willie Mullins – Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019)
Winners since 1946
- Separate divisions of the race indicated by (1), (2) and (3).
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1946 (1) | Prince Rupert | 5 | Ron Smyth | Ted Smyth |
1946 (2) | Freetown | 6 | George Archibald | W. Larkin |
1946 (3) | Gremlin | 5 | Phil Canty | George Todd |
no race 1947 [lower-alpha 1] | ||||
1948 (1) | Vulgan | 5 | Rickie Black | John de Moraville |
1948 (2) | Jean's Last | 6 | Bryan Marshall | Fulke Walwyn |
1949 (1) | French Wedding | 4 | Jimmy Brogan | Gerry Wilson |
1949 (2) | Tough Guy | 4 | Denis Dillon | Ivor Anthony |
1950 (1) | Tsaoko | 5 | Martin Molony | Sam Armstrong |
1950 (2) | Sir Charles | 4 | Michael Scudamore[lower-alpha 2] | Geoffrey Scudamore |
1951 (1) | Red Stranger | 4 | Denis Dillon | Ron Smyth |
1951 (2) | Oukileles II | 4 | Fred Winter | George Archibald |
1952 (1) | Cockatoo | 6 | Phonsie O'Brien[lower-alpha 2] | Vincent O'Brien |
1952 (2) | Evian | 4 | Fred Winter | George Archibald |
1953 (1) | Assynt | 5 | Eddie Newman | Danny Morgan |
1953 (2) | Dessin | 7 | Johnny Gilbert | Frank Hudson |
1954 (1) | Stroller | 6 | Pat Taaffe | Vincent O'Brien |
1954 (2) | Tasmin | 4 | René Emery | Henry Count |
1955 (1) | Vindore | 6 | Phonsie O'Brien[lower-alpha 2] | Vincent O'Brien |
1955 (2) | Illyric | 6 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1956 (1) | Boys Hurrah | 8 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1956 (2) | Pelargos | 5 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1957 (1) | Tokoroa | 6 | Dave Dick | Fred Rimell |
1957 (2) | Saffron Tartan | 6 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1958 (1) | Admiral Stuart | 7 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1958 (2) | Prudent King | 6 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1959 (1) | York Fair | 5 | Tommy Burns | Vincent O'Brien |
1959 (2) | Albergo | 5 | Doug Page | Clem Magnier |
1960 (1) | Blue Mountain | 6 | Dick Broadway | George Todd |
1960 (2) | Bastille | 5 | Bill Woods | Tom Masson |
1961 (1) | Beau Normand | 5 | Bill Rees | Bob Turnell |
1961 (2) | Greektown | 5 | Michael Scudamore | Willie Stephenson |
1962 (1) | Tripacer | 4 | Tommy Carberry | Dan Moore |
1962 (2) | Clerical Grey | 4 | Willie Robinson | P. Murphy |
1963 (1) | Honour Bound | 5 | Terry Biddlecombe | Fred Rimell |
1963 (2) | Buona Notte | 6 | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell |
1963 (3) | Deetease | 5 | Clive Chapman | Basil Foster |
1964 (1) | Flyingbolt | 5 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper |
1964 (2) | Elan | 5 | Dave Dick | John Sutcliffe |
1965 (1) | Red Tears | 5 | Stan Mellor | Harry Thomson Jones |
1965 (2) | Havago | 6 | Bobby Beasley | Paddy Sleator |
1966 (1) | Beau Caprice | 12 | Tommy Jennings | Fulke Walwyn |
1966 (2) | Fosco | 5 | David Moore | Mick Goswell |
1967 (1) | Chorus | 6 | Johnny Haine | Harry Thomson Jones |
1967 (2) | Early to Rise | 7 | Jeff King | Bob Turnell |
1968 (1) | King Cutler | 5 | Brian Fletcher | Denys Smith |
1968 (2) | L'Escargot | 5 | Tommy Carberry | Dan Moore |
1969 (1) | Normandy | 4 | Terry Biddlecombe | Fred Rimell |
1969 (2) | Private Room | 5 | Willie Robinson | Fulke Walwyn |
1970 (1) | Ballywilliam Boy | 5 | Bobby Coonan | Paddy Sleator |
1970 (2) | Bula | 5 | Paul Kelleway | Fred Winter |
1971 (1) | Persian Majesty | 4 | Terry Biddlecombe | Ryan Price |
1971 (2) | Barnard | 7 | Johnny Haine | Fulke Walwyn |
1972 | Noble Life | 5 | Tommy Murphy | Christy Grassick |
1973 | King Pele | 4 | David Nicholson | Gavin Pritchard-Gordon |
1974 | Avec Moi | 5 | Roger Rowell | Auriol Sinclair |
1975 | Bannow Rambler | 6 | Frank Berry | Padge Berry |
1976 | Beacon Light | 5 | Andrew Turnell | Bob Turnell |
1977 | Mac's Chariot | 6 | Dessie Hughes | Mick O'Toole |
1978 | Golden Cygnet | 6 | Mr Niall Madden | Edward O'Grady |
1979 | Stranfield | 6 | Tommy Kinane | Des McDonogh |
1980 | Slaney Idol | 5 | Tommy Carmody | Liam Browne |
1981 | Hartstown | 6 | Niall Madden | Mick O'Toole |
1982 | Miller Hill | 6 | Tom Morgan | Dessie Hughes |
1983 | Buck House | 5 | Tommy Carmody | Mouse Morris |
1984 | Browne's Gazette | 6 | Dermot Browne[lower-alpha 2] | Michael Dickinson |
1985 | Harry Hastings | 6 | Chris Grant | John Wilson |
1986 | River Ceiriog | 5 | Steve Smith Eccles | Nicky Henderson |
1987 | Tartan Tailor | 6 | Phil Tuck | Gordon W. Richards |
1988 | Vagador | 5 | Mark Perrett | Guy Harwood |
1989 | Sondrio | 8 | Jonothan Lower | Martin Pipe |
1990 | Forest Sun | 5 | Jimmy Frost | Toby Balding |
1991 | Destriero | 5 | Pat McWilliams | Andy Geraghty |
1992 | Flown | 5 | Jamie Osborne | Nicky Henderson |
1993 | Montelado | 6 | Charlie Swan | Pat Flynn |
1994 | Arctic Kinsman | 6 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
1995 | Tourist Attraction | 7 | Mark Dwyer | Willie Mullins |
1996 | Indefence | 5 | Warren Marston | Jenny Pitman |
1997 | Shadow Leader | 6 | Jamie Osborne | Charles Egerton |
1998 | French Ballerina | 5 | Graham Bradley | Pat Flynn |
1999 | Hors La Loi III | 4 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
2000 | Sausalito Bay | 6 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
no race 2001 [lower-alpha 3] | ||||
2002 | Like-A-Butterfly | 8 | Charlie Swan | Christy Roche |
2003 | Back in Front | 6 | Norman Williamson | Edward O'Grady |
2004 | Brave Inca | 6 | Barry Cash | Colm Murphy |
2005 | Arcalis | 5 | Graham Lee | Howard Johnson |
2006 | Noland | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2007 | Ebaziyan | 6 | Davy Condon | Willie Mullins |
2008 | Captain Cee Bee | 7 | Robert Thornton | Eddie Harty |
2009 | Go Native | 6 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
2010 | Menorah | 5 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
2011 | Al Ferof | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2012 | Cinders And Ashes | 5 | Jason Maguire | Donald McCain |
2013 | Champagne Fever | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2014 | Vautour | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2015 | Douvan | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2016 | Altior | 6 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
2017 | Labaik | 6 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
2018 | Summerville Boy | 6 | Noel Fehily | Tom George |
2019 | Klassical Dream | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2020 | Shishkin | 6 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
- The 1947 edition was abandoned due to snow and frost
- amateur jockey
- The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis
External links
- Supreme Novices' Hurdle – Cheltenham Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 56. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
- Race Recordings Supreme Novices' Hurdle YouTube