December Novices' Chase
Encyclopedia
The December Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt
chase in Great Britain
which is open to horses
aged four years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice
chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in December.
It is presently one of two National Hunt events run at Lingfield Park which have graded status. Both of these races, the December Novices' Chase and the Summit Junior Hurdle
, are contested on the same day.
The 2005 running was abandoned because of frost.
The 2006 and 2008 editions were abandoned due to waterlogging.
The 2010 running was abandoned due to snow.
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 four years or older. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen 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 December.
It is presently one of two National Hunt events run at Lingfield Park which have graded status. Both of these races, the December Novices' Chase and the Summit Junior Hurdle
Summit Junior Hurdle
The Summit Junior Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
, are contested on the same day.
Winners since 1988
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 1988 | Nick the Brief | 6 | T. Costello | J. Costello |
| no race 1989 | ||||
| 1990 | Sparkling Flame | 6 | John White | Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire... |
| 1991 | River Bounty | 5 | Robbie Supple | John Upson |
| 1992 | Midnight Caller | 6 | Mark Richards | Simon Sherwood |
| 1993 | Martomick | 6 | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
Kim Bailey |
| no race 1994–95 | ||||
| 1996 | Foodbroker Star | 6 | Leighton Aspell | 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.... |
| 1997 | Fiddling the Facts | 6 | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire... |
| 1998 | Executive King | 7 | Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to... |
Geoff Hubbard |
| 1999 | Be My Mot | 7 | Jamie Goldstein | Gardie Grissell |
| no race 2000–02 | ||||
| 2003 | Lord Sam | 7 | Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to... |
Victor Dartnall |
| 2004 | L'Ami | 5 | Dean Gallagher | François Doumen François Doumen François Doumen is a French racehorse trainer currently based at Boucé, Orne. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur jockey, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean. He obtained his own training licence in 1977.... |
| no race 2005–06 | ||||
| 2007 | Verasi | 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 |
| no race 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | Burton Port | 5 | Tony McCoy Tony McCoy Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey.... |
Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire... |
| no race 2010 |
The 2005 running was abandoned because of frost.
The 2006 and 2008 editions were abandoned due to waterlogging.
The 2010 running was abandoned due to snow.