Barberstown Castle Novice Chase

The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
Grade 1 race
LocationPunchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorBarberstown Castle
WebsitePunchestown
Race information
Distance2 miles (3,219 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 12 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse125,000 (2022)
1st: €73,850
Ryanair Novice Chase
2024
Yellow, purple stars, purple cap, yellow star Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap
Il Etait Temps Gaelic Warrior Hercule Du Seuil
Previous years
2023
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Royal blue, yellow hoop, yellow armlet, yellow star on cap Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star
El Fabiolo Dysart Dynamo Indiana Jones
2022
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Maroon and white stripes, maroon cap, white hoop Yellow, black stars, black sleeves, dark blue cap, light blue star
Blue Lord Coeur Sublime Gabynako
2021
Royal blue, white seams, white and royal blue hooped cap Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap Pink and white halved, black sleeves, black cap, pink star
Energumene Janidil Zarkareva
2020-2011
2019
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Red, pink hoop, pink armlet, red cap
Chacun Pour Soi Defi Du Seuil Duc Des Genievres
2018
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Red, emerald green disc, emerald green sleeves, red stars Royal blue, emerald green triple diamond,royal blue cap, emerald green diamonds
Footpad Optimus Prime Asthuria
2017
Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap Maroon and white stripes, maroon cap, white hoop Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star
Great Field Ordinary World Ball D'arc
2016
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap
Douvan The Game Changer Sizing John
2015
Light blue, orange star, orange stars on sleeves, orange star on cap Red, white hoop, white sleeves, red cap, white hoop Emerald green, yellow sleeves, white cap, yellow spots
Un De Sceaux Just Cameron Ted Veale
2014
Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap Royal blue, red epaulettes and sleeves, red cap, white star Red, emerald green disc, emerald green sleeves, red stars, red cap
God's Own Moscow Mannon Balder Succes
2013
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Pink, black sash, pink cap Royal blue, white stars, red and white striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars
Arvika Ligeonniere Oscars Well Special Tiara
2012
Yellow, royal blue hollow box, yellow sleeves, light blue stars, light blue cap, yellow stars Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star
Lucky William Blackstairmountain First Lieutenant
2011
Dark blue, light blue hoop, check sleeves and cap Royal blue, white cross sashes, striped sleeves and cap Maroon and white chevrons, maroon sleeves, qtd cap
Captain Chris Realt Dubh Saludos
2010-2003
2010
Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap Yellow, large royal blue spots, royal blue spots on sleeves, yellow cap, royal blue spots Red and emerald green hoops, emerald green sleeves, red cap
Captain Cee Bee Let Yourself Go Sports Line
2009
Royal blue and white hoops, white sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars Red and white stripes, hooped sleeves, striped cap Orange, black star, diabolo on sleeves, white and black hooped cap
Barker Forpadydeplasterer Made In Taipan
2008
PURPLE, yellow spots, purple sleeves, yellow spots on cap EMERALD GREEN, royal blue panel and sleeves, emerald green cap RED, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star
Big Zeb Thyne Again J'y Vole
2007
Emerald Green, White sleeves, Emerald Green and White check cap White, red stars, red and white hooped sleeves, white cap, red stars Dark green, yellow seams, yellow cap, green stars
Another Promise Royal Shakespeare Carthalawn
2006
BROWN, pink star, pink sleeves and cap Maroon and White stripes, White sleeves, Maroon cap, White spots DARK BLUE, yellow panel, check cap
Accordion Etoile Justified In Compliance
2005
MAROON, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star Light tan, red hoop, black sleeves, red hoop, red cap Green, white diamonds and sleeves, white cap, green spots
War Of Attrition Watson Lake Strike Back
2004
Red, green sleeves, white cap, red spots ROYAL BLUE, yellow spots, royal blue sleeves, check cap ORANGE, black star, diabolo on sleeves, white and black hooped cap
Say Again Commonchero Emperors Guest
2003
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap GREY, pink star, hooped cap
Le Roi Miguel Impek Rathgar Beau
 

During the 1990s the event was sponsored by the Bank of Ireland and Tripleprint. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1998, and its sponsorship was taken over by Swordlestown Stud in 2000. Ryanair sponsored the race from 2010 to 2021 and the present sponsor, Barberstown Castle, began supporting the race in 2022.

The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, and the last to win both races was El Fabiolo in 2023.

Records

edit

Leading jockey since 1992 (4 wins):

  • Barry GeraghtyMoscow Flyer (2002), Big Zeb (2008), Lucky William (2012), God's Own (2014)
  • Ruby Walsh - Le Roi Miguel (2003), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016)

Leading trainer since 1992 (11 wins):

  • Willie Mullins - Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024)

Winners since 1992

edit
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1992 Classical Charm 9 Ken Morgan Al O'Connell
1993 Viking Flagship 6 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1994 Oh So Grumpy 6 Jamie Osborne Jessica Harrington
1995 Strong Platinum 7 Conor O'Dwyer Paddy Burke
1996 Ventana Canyon 7 Richard Dunwoody Edward O'Grady
1997 Jeffell 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore
1998 Direct Route 7 Paul Carberry Howard Johnson
1999 Sydney Twothousand 9 Norman Williamson Noel Meade
2000 Tiutchev 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2001 Alcapone [a] 7 David Casey Mouse Morris
2002 Moscow Flyer 8 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2003 Le Roi Miguel 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2004 Say Again 8 John Cullen Paul Nolan
2005 War of Attrition 6 Conor O'Dwyer Mouse Morris
2006 Accordion Etoile 7 John Cullen Paul Nolan
2007 Another Promise 8 Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy
2008 Big Zeb 7 Barry Geraghty Colm Murphy
2009 Barker 8 David Casey Willie Mullins
2010 Captain Cee Bee 9 Tony McCoy Eddie Harty
2011 Captain Chris 7 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2012 Lucky William 8 Barry Geraghty Thomas Cooper
2013 Arvika Ligeonniere 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 God's Own 6 Barry Geraghty Tom George
2015 Un de Sceaux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2016 Douvan 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Great Field 6 Jody McGarvey Willie Mullins
2018 Footpad 6 Daryl Jacob Willie Mullins
2019 Chacun Pour Soi 7 Robbie Power Willie Mullins
no race 2020 [b]
2021 Energumene 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2022 Blue Lord 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2023 El Fabiolo 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2024 Il Etait Temps 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins
  1. ^ The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
  2. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

See also

edit

References

edit