Herald Champion Novice Hurdle

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
Grade 1 race
Location Punchestown
Co. Kildare, Ireland
Race type Hurdle race
Sponsor Evening Herald
Website Punchestown
Race information
Distance 2 miles (3,219 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Right-handed
Qualification Five-years-old and up
Weight 11 st 12 lb
Allowances
5 lb for mares
Purse 95,000 (2015)
1st: €57,000
Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
2015
Douvan Sizing John Blair Perrone

The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race 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 nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The event was formerly open to horses aged four or older, and for a period it was sponsored by BMW. The minimum age was raised to five in 1992, and Country Pride took over the sponsorship in 1993. The race was promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status in 1998.

The Evening Herald became the usual sponsor of the race in 2000. The event was subsequently backed by VC Bet, but the Evening Herald returned as sponsor in 2009. The race was rebranded as the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in 2013.

Records

Leading jockey since 1980 (4 wins):

Leading trainer since 1980 (5 wins):


Winners since 1980

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1980 Deep Gale 7 Mr Frank Codd Edward O'Grady
1981 Tie Anchor 4 Tommy McGivern Paddy Prendergast, Jr.
1982 Bustineto 4 Niall Madden Mick O'Toole
1983 Dawn Run 5 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1984 Gav's Delight 6 Ken Morgan Michael Cunningham
1985 Hungary Hur 6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1986 Barney Burnett 6 Brendan Sheridan R. Walsh
1987 High Plains 5 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1988 El-Sid Senor 5 Frank Berry Francis Flood
1989 The Proclamation 6 Richard Dunwoody Paddy Prendergast, Jr.
1990 Vestris Abu 4 Charlie Swan Jim Bolger
1991 Young Pokey 6 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1992 Fortune and Fame 5 Brendan Sheridan Dermot Weld
1993 Bayrouge 5 Richard Dunwoody Anne-Marie O'Brien
1994 Klairon Davis 5 Trevor Horgan Arthur Moore
1995 Hotel Minella 8 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
1996 Dance Beat 5 John Shortt Jessica Harrington
1997 Midnight Legend 6 Richard Johnson David Nicholson
1998 His Song 5 Tony McCoy Mouse Morris
1999 Cardinal Hill 5 Charlie Swan Noel Meade
2000 Moscow Flyer 6 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2001 Ned Kelly [1] 5 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady
2002 Scottish Memories 6 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2003 Back In Front 6 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady
2004 Brave Inca 6 Barry Cash Colm Murphy
2005 Wild Passion 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2006 Iktitaf 5 Ruby Walsh Noel Meade
2007 Clopf 6 Barry Geraghty Edward O'Grady
2008 Jered 6 Tony McCoy Noel Meade
2009 Hurricane Fly 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2010 Blackstairmountain 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2011 Shot From The Hip 7 Tony McCoy Edward O'Grady
2012 Alderwood 8 Tony McCoy Thomas Mullins
2013 Jezki 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2014 Faugheen 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2015 Douvan 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins

1 The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse.

See also

References