Sharp Novices' Hurdle

Sharp Novices' Hurdle
(Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2 race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorSky Bet
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 87y (3,298 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 1 lb (4yo)
11 st 2 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
5 lb for winners of a Class 1 wfa hurdle
3 lb for winners of a Class 2 wfa or Class 1 handicap hurdle
Purse£50,000 (2023)
1st: £28,475
Sharp Novices' Hurdle
2024
Light blue, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap Black and pink diabolo, black sleeves, pink cap, black star Yellow, grey braces
Valgrand Gale Mahler Dancing In Paris
Previous years
2023
Yellow, red braces, red sleeves, yellow armlets, yellow and red hooped cap Red, white chevron, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, white cap Orange, black hoop, white cap
Lookaway Kamsinas Idy Wood
2022
Emerald green, yellow seams, white sleeves, emerald green cap Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap White, mauve stars
Fennor Cross Ukantango Springwell Bay
2021
Maroon, white epaulets and armlets Red and white check, white cap Only two finished
I Like To Move It Washington Only two finished
2020-2011
2020
Pink, white star, pink sleeves, white stars and cap Black, white cross of lorraine, sleeves and cap Red, white diamond, white sleeves, red spots
For Pleasure Third Time Lucki Jungle Junction
2019
Red and white check, white cap Brown, red sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue and yellow (quartered), royal blue sleeves, yellow spots, royal blue cap
Hang In There Pacify Ecco
2018
Yellow, black chevron, check cap Light blue, red braces, white sleeves, red armlets, light blue and red quartered cap Royal blue, white hoops, maroon sleeves and cap
Elixir De Nutz Itchy Feet Seddon
2017
Red, yellow triple diamond, white sleeves, red armlets Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star Black, white seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap
Slate House Summerville Boy Better Getalong
2016
Orange, dark blue star, orange sleeves, dark blue stars, dark blue cap Black and pink diabolo, black sleeves, pink cap, black star Red, white disc, diabolo on sleeves
Moon Racer Mirsaale Ballyandy
2015
Black, dark green and grey striped sleeves Black, black and maroon striped cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Altior Maputo Simon Squirrel
2014
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Pink, white chevron, white cap Beige, dark blue cross of lorraine and sleeves, dark blue cap, beige star
Vyta Du Roc Emerging Talent Pyromaniac
2013
Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star Black, black and maroon striped cap Red and white stripes, black and white striped cap
The Liquidator Sea Lord Minellaforleisure
2012
Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves White, black cap Dark green, dark green and white diabolo on sleeves
Dodging Bullets River Maigue Court Minstrel
2011
Emerald green, black sash and sleeves Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Maroon, yellow cap, maroon spots
Steps To Freedom Prospect Wells Ericht
2010-2001
2010
Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap Orange, purple cross belts, quartered cap
Cue Card Dunraven Storm Ballyadam Brook
2009
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Orange, black star, diabolo on sleeves, white and black hooped cap Dark blue and red (halved), dark blue sleeves, white cap
Loosen My Load Some Present Secret Dancer
2008
Royal blue and white (quartered), red sleeves and cap Dark blue, pink cross belts, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap Red and yellow (quartered), hooped sleeves, emerald green cap
Golan Way Over Sixty American Trilogy
2007
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Dark blue, light blue hoop, check sleeves and cap DARK BLUE, emerald green stars, dark blue sleeves, emerald green star on cap
I'msingingtheblues Snap Tie Dark Bolero
2006
Emerald Green and White check, Emerald Green sleeves, White armlets and star on cap MAROON, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star White and Maroon chevrons, White sleeves, hooped cap
Moon Over Miami War General Mill House Girl
2005
Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Boychuk Buena Vista Two Miles West
2004
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Green, pink and white striped sleeves, pink cap Royal blue, white triple diamond, checked sleeves, royal blue cap, white diamond
Marcel Baby Run Shuhood
2003
Orange, Dark Blue sash, diabolo on sleeves, Orange cap Yellow, purple seams, sleeves and star on cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Self Defense Albuhera Contraband
2002
YELLOW, royal blue epaulettes, yellow cap, royal blue star Light blue and royal blue diabolo, light blue sleeves and cap Orange, black epaulets, hooped sleeves, orange cap
Mutakarrim Jaboune Sud Bleu
2001
Red, grey cross of lorraine and sleeves, red cap Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Pink, Dark Blue seams, Pink cap
Fireball Macnamara Midland Flame Springhill
2000-1991
2000
Light blue, red stars on body and cap ROYAL BLUE, large white spots, striped sleeves, royal blue cap, white spots Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Reiziger Palouse Aerleon Pete
1999
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap DARK GREEN, white star and stars on sleeves, hooped cap
Silence Reigns Doctor Goddard Doon Run
1998
Red, black chevrons, white sleeves, black armlets, white cap Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap Red, black stars and sleeves, green cap
Hoh Invader Ashley Muck Rathbawn Prince
1997
White, orange stars, star on cap Beige, Black hollow box and armlets, quartered cap Green and white checked, red cap
Circus Star Mr Markham Polydamas
1996
Yellow, purple hollow box and armlets Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap Black, white hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap
Kailash Herbert Lodge Green Green Desert
1995
Turquoise, white striped sleeves Purple and yellow diamonds, purple sleeves, yellow cap Dark blue and red diamonds, blue sleeves, red cap, dark blue diamonds
Mandys Mantino Call Equiname Blair Castle
1994
Green and white (quartered), green sleeves, checked cap Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap Light blue, white seams, black cap, white star
Berude Not To Herbert Lodge Sexton Grey
1993
Royal Blue, Pink epaulets, Pink cap Green, maroon chevrons on body, striped cap Royal blue, silver striped sleeves, red and royal blue hooped cap
Large Action Fatack Morceli
1992
Black and white stripes, chevrons on sleeves, black cap, white star Black and white stripes, emerald green and white striped sleeves Yellow, purple stripe, purple and yellow hooped sleeves, striped cap
Satin Lover Dreamers Delight Book of Music
1991
White, red sash, red and white striped cap Black, gold cross and stripe on cap Dark green, beige cross of lorraine
Thetford Forest Song Of Sixpence First Avenue
1989
Maroon, yellow epaulets, armlets and star on cap White, pink stars, white sleeves, white cap, pink star owned by P L Parkinson
Run For Free Xhai Telemahos
1988
Orange, white chevrons, orange sleeves, white cap Red, royal blue cross of lorraine, white sleeves and cap owned by Edmond Kelly
Green Willow Greenhills Joy Lalitpour
1987
Purple and white (halved), sleeves reversed, quartered cap owned by R J Holder Blue, red spots, black cap, white spots
Butt And Ben Gunner Stream Combermere
 

The Sharp Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 m), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

The event was formerly contested over 2 miles, and it used to be held in December. It was extended by a furlong in 1992, and it was cut to its present length and moved to November in 1994. In 2011 the race was renamed as the Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle as part of a sponsorship deal with UK power supplier Opus Energy.[1] Since 2013 the race has been sponsored by Sky Bet and run as the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle.

In April 2023 the British Horseracing Authority announced that the race would be run in October as part of a restructure of the 2023/24 programme.[2]

Winners since 1987

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
1987 Butt and Ben 3 Roger Chapman Fulke Walwyn
1988 Green Willow 6 Peter Hobbs Josh Gifford
1989 Run for Free 5 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1990 no race 1990 [a]
1991 Thetford Forest 4 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1992 Satin Lover 4 Graham McCourt Nigel Tinkler
1993 Large Action 5 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1994 Berude Not To 5 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1995 Mandys Mantino 5 Philip Hide Josh Gifford
1996 Kailash 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1997 Circus Star 4 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1998 Hoh Invader 6 Richard Dunwoody Charlie Mann
1999 Silence Reigns 5 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls
2000 Reiziger 4 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2001 Fireball Macnamara 5 Timmy Murphy Mark Pitman
2002 Mutakarrim 5 Paul Carberry Dermot Weld
2003 Self Defense 6 Barry Keniry Emma Lavelle
2004 Marcel 4 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe
2005 Boychuk 4 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2006 Moon Over Miami 5 Noel Fehily Charlie Mann
2007 I'msingingtheblues 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2008 Golan Way 4 Jamie Goldstein Sheena West
2009 Loosen My Load 5 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead
2010 Cue Card 4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard
2011 Steps to Freedom 5 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
2012 Dodging Bullets 4 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2013 The Liquidator 5 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2014 Vyta Du Roc 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2015 Altior 5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2016 Moon Racer 7 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2017 Slate House 5 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard
2018 Elixir de Nutz 4 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard
2019 Hang In There 5 Adam Wedge Emma Lavelle
2020 For Pleasure 5 Harry Bannister Alex Hales
2021 I Like To Move It 4 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2022 Fennor Cross 5 Simon Torrens John McConnell
2023 Lookaway 6 Jack Quinlan Neil King
2024 Valgrand 6 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
  1. ^ The 1990 running was abandoned because of snow

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cheltenham welcomes shloer and Opus Energy as new sponsors at the open" (PDF). 4 November 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Package of changes agreed to help strengthen performance of British Jump racing". British Horseracing Authority. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.