Reynoldstown Novices' Chase
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Reynoldstown Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above novices run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) at Ascot Racecourse in February. There are twenty fences to be jumped in the race.
The race is named in honour of Reynoldstown, winner of the Grand National in 1935 and 1936. Prior to redevelopment at Ascot between 2004 and 2006, the race was run over a distance of 3 miles 110 yards (4,929 metres).
The race is seen as a major trial for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase held at the Cheltenham Festival. However, no horse has won both races since 1973. Despite this six winners have started outright favourite for that race (plus one who started joint favourite) since 1988. The 2007 winner started favourite for the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at the Festival but failed to win.
[edit] Winners since 1988
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1988 | Kissane | 7 | Tom Morgan | John Edwards |
| 1989 | Vulgan Warrior | 7 | Jamie Osborne | Simon Christian |
| 1990 | Royal Athlete | 7 | Mark Pitman | Jenny Pitman |
| 1991 no race | ||||
| 1992 | Danny Harrold | 8 | Mark Pitman | Jenny Pitman |
| 1993 | Capability Brown | 6 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
| 1994 | One Man | 6 | Neale Doughty | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1995 | Sweet Duke | 8 | Tom Jenks | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1996 | Mr Mulligan | 8 | Richard Johnson | Noel Chance |
| 1997 | Djeddah | 6 | Adam Kondrat | François Doumen |
| 1998 | The Toiseach | 7 | Tony Dobbin | James Fanshawe |
| 1999 | Lord of the River | 7 | Jamie Osborne | Oliver Sherwood |
| 2000 | Beau | 7 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2001 | Bacchanal | 7 | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson |
| 2002 | Jimmy Tennis | 5 | Norman Williamson | Venetia Williams |
| 2003 | Keen Leader | 7 | Liam Cooper | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2004 | Our Vic | 6 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe |
| 2005 | Distant Thunder * | 7 | Andrew Thornton | Robert Alner |
| 2006 | Montgermont * | 6 | Mark Bradburne | Lavinia Taylor |
| 2007 | Gungadu | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
* The 2005 and 2006 races took place at Lingfield Park while Ascot was closed for re-development.
