Lightning Novices' Chase
Encyclopedia
The Lightning Novices' 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 Doncaster
over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards (3,319 metres), and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped. The race is for novice
chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.
The event was formerly held at Ascot
, and it used to be contested over 2 miles. It was switched to alternative venues for a three-year period beginning in 2005, and it returned to Ascot with a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong in 2008. The race was transferred to Doncaster in 2010, and at the same time its length was cut by 110 yards.
The 2003 running was abandoned because of frost and snow.
The race was run at Uttoxeter
in 2005, Lingfield Park in 2006, and Huntingdon
in 2007.
The 2011 running was abandoned because of frost.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
chase in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged five years or older. It is run at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards (3,319 metres), and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped. The race is for novice
Novice (racehorse)
A novice in National Hunt horse racing is a horse which has not won in a particular type of race prior to the start of the current season. A novice hurdler has not won a hurdle race before the start of the current season, while a novice chaser has not won a steeplechase before the start of the...
chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.
The event was formerly held at Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
, and it used to be contested over 2 miles. It was switched to alternative venues for a three-year period beginning in 2005, and it returned to Ascot with a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong in 2008. The race was transferred to Doncaster in 2010, and at the same time its length was cut by 110 yards.
Winners since 1988
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 1988 | Saffron Lord | 6 | Richard Rowe Richard Rowe (horse racing) Richard Rowe is a National Hunt racehorse trainer and a former jockey in the United Kingdom.-Career as a jockey:* 1982 - Whitbread Gold Cup winner Shady Deal* 1988 - Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Yeoman Broker... |
Josh Gifford Josh Gifford Josh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career.... |
| 1989 | Sabin du Loir | 10 | Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career... |
Martin Pipe Martin Pipe Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England.... |
| 1990 | Cashew King | 7 | Trevor Wall | Bryan McMahon |
| 1991 | Uncle Ernie | 6 | Mark Dwyer Mark Dwyer Mark Dwyer is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s.... |
Jimmy FitzGerald |
| 1992 | Deep Sensation | 7 | Declan Murphy | Josh Gifford Josh Gifford Josh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career.... |
| 1993 | Valiant Boy | 7 | Russ Garritty | Steve Kettlewell |
| no race 1994 | ||||
| 1995 | Gales Cavalier | 7 | Mark Dwyer Mark Dwyer Mark Dwyer is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s.... |
David Gandolfo |
| 1996 | Certainly Strong | 6 | Adrian Maguire Adrian Maguire Adrian Maguire, born 29 April 1971 in Kilmessan, County Meath, Ireland, is a racehorse trainer and former jockey.Maguire began his career in Irish pony racing at the age of nine, in which he rode more than 200 winners. In 1990 he rode his first winner under rules, at Sligo, before his first victory... |
David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing) David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.... |
| no race 1997 | ||||
| 1998 | Wade Road | 7 | Jason Titley | Henrietta Knight |
| no race 1999 | ||||
| 2000 | Bellator | 7 | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
Venetia Williams Venetia Williams Venetia Williams is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. She is based at stables at Aramstone in Herefordshire, England.... |
| 2001 | Exit to Wave | 5 | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2002 | Il'Athou | 6 | Henry Oliver | Simon Sherwood |
| no race 2003 | ||||
| 2004 | Bal de Nuit | 5 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2005 | My Will | 5 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2006 | Foreman | 8 | Tony McCoy Tony McCoy Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey.... |
Thierry Doumen |
| 2007 | Another Promise | 8 | Graham Lee Graham Lee (jockey) Graham Lee is a successful Irish National Hunt jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to May 2006, he was the main stable jockey for Howard Johnson, but was replaced by Paddy Brennan, allegedly after a disagreement over his return from an injury. Lee became the main stable jockey and deputy... |
Ferdy Murphy |
| 2008 | Wee Robbie | 8 | Noel Fehily | Nick Gifford |
| 2009 | Panjo Bere | 6 | Jamie Moore Jamie Moore (jockey) Jamie Moore is an English National Hunt jockey. He is the brother of champion flat jockey Ryan Moore, and son of successful dual-purpose trainer Gary L. Moore.... |
Gary L. Moore |
| 2010 | Woolcombe Folly | 7 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| no race 2011 |
The 2003 running was abandoned because of frost and snow.
The race was run at Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter Racecourse
Uttoxeter Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire, England.Uttoxeter is a left-handed oval shaped course of one mile two and a half furlongs in circumference....
in 2005, Lingfield Park in 2006, and Huntingdon
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
in 2007.
The 2011 running was abandoned because of frost.