The Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt

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 Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 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 Leopardstown

Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...

 over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,225 metres), and during its running there are fourteen 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 February.

The first version of the race was established in 1989, and during its early years the event was known by various titles. The present name (initially the "Dr P. J. Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase") was introduced in 1998, at which time the race was classed at Grade 2 level. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2002.

Winners of the event sometimes go on to compete in the RSA Chase in March. Two horses have achieved victory in both races – Florida Pearl

Florida Pearl

Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...

 (1998) and Cooldine (2009).

Records

• Most successful jockey
  • Kevin O'Brien, 3 wins (1991, 1994, 1995)
• Most successful trainer
  • Willie Mullins
    Willie Mullins
    Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
    
    , 4 wins (1998, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1989	Mirage Day	6	Mickey Flynn	Michael Cunningham
1990	Cahervillahow	6	Charlie Swan	Mouse Morris Mouse Morris Michael 'Mouse' Morris is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey.As a jockey he rode Skymas to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1976 and 1977 and Billycan to win the 1977 Irish Grand National, while his most notable successes as a trainer have come with Buck House in the 1983 Supreme...
1991	Firions Law	6	Kevin O'Brien	Victor Bowens
1992	Mass Appeal	7	Charlie Swan	Victor Bowens
1993	Flashing Steel	8	Richard Dunwoody Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...	John Mulhern
1994	Merry Gale	6	Kevin O'Brien	Jim Dreaper
1995	Harcon	7	Kevin O'Brien	Jim Dreaper
1996	Major Rumpus	8	Francis Woods	Arthur Moore
1997	Dorans Pride Dorans Pride Dorans Pride is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse.-Racing Career: Dorans Pride joined Michael Hourigan's yard in 1992 and was sold by the trainer to Tom Doran in February 1993, who gave the then nicknamed Padjo, his racing name...	8	Shane Broderick	Michael Hourigan
1998	Florida Pearl Florida Pearl Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...	6	Richard Dunwoody Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
1999	Nick Dundee	7	Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :...	Edward O'Grady
2000	Native Upmanship Native Upmanship Native Upmanship was an ultra consistent National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier.-Early career:...	7	Conor O'Dwyer	Arthur Moore
2001	Sackville	8	David Casey	Frances Crowley
2002	Harbour Pilot	7	Paul Carberry Paul Carberry Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...	Noel Meade Noel Meade Noel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...
2003	Barrow Drive	7	Jim Culloty Jim Culloty Jim Culloty is a racehorse trainer and retired professional National Hunt jockey who won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season....	Tony Mullins
2004	Pizarro	7	Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...	Edward O'Grady
2005	Carrigeen Victor	7	Robbie Power Robbie Power Robbie "Puppy" Power, son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, is the National Hunt jockey who rode 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 14 April 2007 .-Footnotes:...	Jessica Harrington
2006	The Railway Man	7	Davy Russell Davy Russell Davy Russell is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Russell's first win as a professional jockey was for English-based Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy on Inn Antique in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, 12 November 2002...	Arthur Moore
2007	Mister Top Notch	8	Conor O'Dwyer	Davy Fitzgerald
2008	J'y Vole	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:...	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
2009	Cooldine	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:...	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
2010	Citizen Vic	7	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins Willie Mullins Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
2011	Bostons Angel	7	Robbie Power Robbie Power Robbie "Puppy" Power, son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, is the National Hunt jockey who rode 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 14 April 2007 .-Footnotes:...	Jessica Harrington