Henry VIII Novices' Chase

Henry VIII Novices' Chase
Grade 1 race
LocationSandown Park Racecourse
Esher, England
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorClose Brothers Group
WebsiteSandown Park
Race information
Distance1 mile 7 furlongs 119 yards (3,126 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 1 lb (4yo)
11 st 7 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£80,000 (2022)
1st: £45,560
Henry VIII Novices' Chase
2024
Red, white stars on sleeves Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
L'eau Du Sud Touch Me Not Down Memory Lane
Previous years
2023
Purple and yellow (quartered), diabolo on sleeves, yellow and purple quartered cap Dark blue, maroon chevron, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap Black, yellow triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves and diamond on cap
Le Patron Colonel Harry JPR One
2022
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Royal blue, white epaulets, white and royal blue halved sleeves, royal blue cap, white star White, grey hoop, white and red hooped cap
Jonbon Boothill Unexpected Party
2021
Dark blue, light blue sleeves, dark blue spots, beige cap, dark blue spots Black, white triple diamond, white and black striped sleeves, black cap, white diamond Black, white cross of lorraine, sleeves and cap
Edwardstone War Lord Third Time Lucki
2020-2011
2020
Yellow, black and yellow striped sleeves, white cap White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap Emerald green, royal blue diamond, diamonds on sleeves, emerald green cap, royal blue diamond
Allmankind Hitman Ga Law
2019
Royal blue, pink hoop White, red stripe Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves
Esprit Du Large Nube Negra Grand Sancy
2018
Royal blue, yellow chevrons, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, royal blue cap, yellow star Emerald green, red disc, hooped sleeves and spots on cap Light blue, maroon hoops and armlets
Dynamite Dollars Ornua Lalor
2017
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Mauve, grey epaulets Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap
Sceau Royal North Hill Harvey Finian's Oscar
2016
Black, dark green and grey striped sleeves Dark blue and yellow (halved), dark blue sleeves, yellow cap Dark blue, pink hoop, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, pink cap
Altior Charbel Max Ward
2015
Dark blue, pink hoops, chevrons on sleeves, dark blue cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Terracotta, grey epaulets
Ar Mad Bristol De Mai As De Mee
2014
Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap Royal blue, pink hoops, armlets and cap
Vibrato Valtat Dunraven Storm Irish Saint
2013
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves
Hinterland Grandouet Taquin Du Seuil
2012
Pink, royal blue cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Emerald green, yellow spots and armlets, hooped cap
Captain Conan Hinterland Third Intention
2011
Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Red, pink epaulets Pink, purple epaulets, striped sleeves, purple and pink hooped cap
Al Ferof For Non Stop Lancetto
2010-2001
2009
Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap Maroon and white (quartered), checked sleeves and cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves
Somersby Crack Away Jack Tchico Polos
2008
Yellow, red spots Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Orange, light green and white hooped sleeves, white cap, orange star
Araldur Free World Astarador
2007
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots White, emerald green chevron, royal blue sleeves and cap Royal blue, white star, royal blue sleeves, white stars and stars on cap
Marodima Mahogany Blaze Pancake
2006
Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap Red, White sleeves, Red spots, Brown cap Dark blue, pink epaulets and star on cap
Fair Along My Way de Solzen New Little Bric
2005
Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Royal blue and orange check, royal blue sleeves, royal blue cap, orange star
Racing Demon Hoo La Baloo Cerium
2004
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Dark blue, yellow star, hooped sleeves and star on cap Dark blue and yellow stripes
Contraband The Last Cast Made in Japan
2003
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Black, red sash, quartered cap
Thisthatandtother Atum Re Chauvinist
2002
Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Brown, red stars, brown sleeves, red cap brown star.
Impek Le Roi Miguel Tysou
2001
Brown, red stars, brown sleeves, red cap brown star. Yellow, Emerald Green Cross of Lorraine, halved sleeves, Emerald Green cap White, mauve stripe, striped cap
Fondmort Returning Krabloonik
2000-1991
2000
White, black seams, yellow and white halved sleeves, yellow cap Yellow, blue sash and cap Scarlet, blue collar, white cap
Crocadee Corniche Sandy Duff
1999
Dark blue, light blue cross-belts, quartered cap Black, pink stripe, striped cap White, large red spots and armlets, red and white quartered cap
Decoupage Wakeel Gloria Victis
1998
Yellow, light blue hoop Light blue, royal blue seams, light blue sleeves and cap Blue, yellow chevron, pink cap
Dines Dawn Leader Billingsgate
1997
Orange, black stars, orange cap, black star Dark Blue, Yellow sleeves, White armlets, White and Yellow quartered cap Red, emerald green star, hooped sleeves, red cap, emerald green star
Direct Route Crack On Queen of Spades
1996
Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Beige, brown spots, pink sleeves, brown cap Dark blue, white diamond, white and dark blue striped sleeves, dark blue and white check cap
Mulligan Land Afar Down The Fell
1995
Dark blue, white hollow box, emerald green and white hooped sleeves and cap Green and yellow diabolo, halved sleeves, black cap Yellow, dark blue seams, hooped sleeves, yellow cap
Certainly Strong Captain Khedive Simple Arithmetic
1994
Blue, yellow diamond on body and cap Light green, black seams on body Green, blue chevrons on body, striped cap
Sound Reveille King Credo Spuffington
1993
Orange, black epaulets, black and orange striped sleeves, black cap, orange star Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Green, white chevron, white sleeves, green armlets, red cap
Baydon Star One More Dream Strong Views
1992
Orange, black epaulets, black and orange striped sleeves, black cap, orange star Emerald green, yellow stars, hooped sleeves, white cap Only two finished
Wonder Man Peace Officer Only two finished
1991
Dark blue, white braces, striped sleeves, yellow cap Pink and purple (quartered), purple sleeves, pink cap Light blue, dark blue sash and cap
Peanuts Pet Deadly Charm Hickelton Lad
1990-1987
1990
White, Eton blue hooped sleeves, hooped cap Pink and grey check, pink sleeves, grey armlets dark blue, pink sash, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap with pink spots
Acre Hill L B Laughs General James
1989
Light blue, red cross belts, red cap Green ansd yellow stripes, white sleeves, green cap Dark green, silver grey hoop and cap with black spots
Deep Flash Wink Gulliver Fuego Boy
1988
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap White, black star, green sleeves, white cap Purple and blue check, blue sleeves, green armlets and cap
The Dragon Master Southernair I'm Bad
1987
Black, scarlet cap Orange and green stripes, hooped sleeves, orange cap Orange, black seams, orange cap, black star
Ballyhane Sassanoco Amrullah
 

The Henry VIII Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 119 yards, or 3,126 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in early December.

The event is named after Henry VIII, who commandeered Esher (the location of Sandown Park) as a royal hunting ground in the sixteenth century. In its analysis of the 2007 running, the Racing Post described the Henry VIII Novices' Chase as: "A race that has a very high standing in the calendar thanks to the exploits of past winners and subsequent Grade 1 stars like Direct Route, Decoupage, Fondmort, Impek, Thisthatandtother, Contraband and Racing Demon." It was raised to Grade 1 status in 2011 having previously been contested at Grade 2 level.

Records

Leading jockey since 1987 (3 wins):

  • Richard Dunwoody – Acre Hill (1990), Wonder Man (1992), Certainly Strong (1995)

Leading trainer since 1987 (7 wins):

  • Paul Nicholls – Dines (1998), Thisthatandtother (2003), Marodima (2007), Al Ferof (2011), Hinterland (2013), Vibrato Valtat (2014), Dynamite Dollars (2018)

Winners since 1987

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
1987 Ballyhane 6 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford
1988 The Dragon Master 6 George Mernagh Robert Waley-Cohen
1989 Deep Flash 6 Tom Morgan John Edwards
1990 Acre Hill 6 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson
1991 Peanuts Pet 6 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon
1992 Wonder Man 7 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1993 Baydon Star 6 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1994 Sound Reveille 6 Graham Bradley Charlie Brooks
1995 Certainly Strong 5 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1996 Mulligan 6 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1997 Direct Route 6 Tony McCoy Howard Johnson
1998 Dines 6 Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls
1999 Decoupage 7 Norman Williamson Charles Egerton
2000 Crocadee [a] 7 Paul Flynn Venetia Williams
2001 Fondmort 5 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2002 Impek 6 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight
2003 Thisthatandtother 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2004 Contraband 6 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe
2005 Racing Demon 5 Timmy Murphy Henrietta Knight
2006 Fair Along 4 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2007 Marodima 4 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls
2008 Araldur 4 Robert Thornton Alan King
2009 Somersby 5 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight
2010 no race 2010 [b]
2011 Al Ferof 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2012 Captain Conan 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2013 Hinterland 5 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls
2014 Vibrato Valtat 5 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls
2015 Ar Mad 5 Joshua Moore Gary Moore
2016 Altior 6 Noel Fehily Nicky Henderson
2017 Sceau Royal 5 Daryl Jacob Alan King
2018 Dynamite Dollars 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2019 Esprit Du Large 5 Adam Wedge Evan Williams
2020 Allmankind 4 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2021 Edwardstone 7 Tom Cannon Alan King
2022 Jonbon 6 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson
2023 La Patron 5 David Noonan Gary Moore
2024 L'Eau Du Sud 6 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
  1. ^ The 2000 running took place at Haydock Park
  2. ^ The 2010 running was abandoned due to snow

See also

References