Game Spirit Chase
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The event is named in memory of Game Spirit, a successful racehorse who was owned by the Queen Mother. During the 1970s Game Spirit won 21 races in six seasons. He also finished third in the 1974 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the 1976 Champion Chase. He died from a lung haemorrhage after racing at Newbury in March 1977.
The Game Spirit Chase has held Grade 2 status since 1992. Before then it was classed at Listed level and run as a limited handicap. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and run as the Betfair Super Saturday Chase.
Winners since 1988
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Very Promising | 10 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1989 | Mr Key | 8 | Simon Sherwood | David Murray Smith |
| 1990 | Feroda | 9 | Tom Taaffe | Arthur Moore |
| no race 1991 [1] | ||||
| 1992 | Waterloo Boy | 9 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1993 | Waterloo Boy | 10 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1994 | Viking Flagship | 7 | Adrian Maguire | David Nicholson |
| 1995 | Nakir | 7 | Jamie Osborne | Simon Christian |
| 1996 | Viking Flagship | 9 | Adrian Maguire | David Nicholson |
| 1997 | Double Symphony | 9 | Jamie Osborne | Charlie Brooks |
| 1998 | Ask Tom | 9 | Russ Garritty | Tom Tate |
| 1999 | Celibate | 8 | Mick Fitzgerald | Charlie Mann |
| 2000 | Flagship Uberalles | 6 | Joe Tizzard | Paul Nicholls |
| 2001 | Function Dream | 9 | Anthony Ross | Mary Reveley |
| 2002 | Lady Cricket | 8 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2003 | Kadarann | 6 | Joe Tizzard | Paul Nicholls |
| 2004 | Azertyuiop | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | Azertyuiop | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2006 | Don't Be Shy [2] | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe |
| 2007 | Well Chief | 8 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe |
| 2008 | Master Minded | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| no race 2009 [3] | ||||
| 2010 | Master Minded | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | French Opera | 8 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2012 | Sprinter Sacre | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2013 | Wishfull Thinking | 10 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
1 The race was abandoned in 1991 due to frost.
2 The 2006 running took place at Lingfield Park.
3 The 2009 edition was cancelled because of snow.
References
- pedigreequery.com – Game Spirit Chase – Newbury.
- theoxfordtimes.net – "A Passion for the Races".