Classic Chase
Encyclopedia
The Classic Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt
chase in Great Britain
which is open to horses
aged five years or older. It is run at Warwick
over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 metres), and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The present event was introduced in 2004, although a similar race, the Warwick National Chase, had been previously staged until 2000. As with its predecessor, the Classic Chase is usually contested by several horses which subsequently compete in the Grand National
.
The race was abandoned in 2009 because of frost, in 2010 because of snow and in 2011 because of waterlogging.
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 Warwick
Warwick Racecourse
Warwick Racecourse is a horse racing course in Warwick, England. It is a leading flat racing and steeple chasing course, and has a programme of 25 meetings throughout the year, many of which are televised. The first stand was built in 1808, it has recently undergone a major refurbishment of its...
over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 metres), and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The present event was introduced in 2004, although a similar race, the Warwick National Chase, had been previously staged until 2000. As with its predecessor, the Classic Chase is usually contested by several horses which subsequently compete in the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
.
Winners
- Weights given in stones and poundPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
s.Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer 2004 Southern Star 9 10-01 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...Henrietta Knight 2005 Baron Windrush 7 10-03 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....2006 Eurotrek 10 10-09 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby 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...2007 Ladalko 8 11-01 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby 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...2008 D'Argent 11 11-07 Robert Thornton Robert Thornton (jockey)Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....Alan King Alan King (horse racing)Alan King is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at Barbury Castle stables near Wroughton, Wiltshire....no race 2009–10-11
The race was abandoned in 2009 because of frost, in 2010 because of snow and in 2011 because of waterlogging.