Mildmay Novices' Chase
Encyclopedia
The Mildmay 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 on the Mildmay course at Aintree
over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 metres), and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice
chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National
meeting in early April.
The event was established in 1981, and its first two winners – Bregawn and Burrough Hill Lad
– both went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. The race used to be regularly sponsored by Mumm, but it has had several different sponsors since 2001. The latest of these, Matalan
, began supporting the event in 2009.
The Mildmay Novices' Chase usually features horses which ran previously in the RSA Chase, and the last to win both races was Star de Mohaison in 2006.
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 on the Mildmay course at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 metres), and during its running there are nineteen 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 during 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...
meeting in early April.
The event was established in 1981, and its first two winners – Bregawn and Burrough Hill Lad
Burrough Hill Lad
Burrough Hill Lad was a top class national hunt chaser of the 1980s winning the Welsh National in 1983 and also winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1984.Trained by Jenny Pitman he is one of the highest rated chasers in history....
– both went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. The race used to be regularly sponsored by Mumm, but it has had several different sponsors since 2001. The latest of these, Matalan
Matalan
Matalan is a British retailer that specialises in shoes and clothes. It was founded by John Hargreaves in 1985. It currently has 200 stores across the UK. The 200th store opened on 22 September 2006 in Croydon...
, began supporting the event in 2009.
The Mildmay Novices' Chase usually features horses which ran previously in the RSA Chase, and the last to win both races was Star de Mohaison in 2006.
Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1981 Bregawn 7 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson 1982 Burrough Hill Lad Burrough Hill LadBurrough Hill Lad was a top class national hunt chaser of the 1980s winning the Welsh National in 1983 and also winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1984.Trained by Jenny Pitman he is one of the highest rated chasers in history....6 Phil Tuck Jenny Pitman Jenny PitmanJenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...1983 Everett 8 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1984 Baron Blakeney 7 Mr Oliver Sherwood Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin 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....1985 Rhyme 'n' Reason 6 Graham Bradley David Murray Smith 1986 Stearsby 7 Graham Bradley Jenny Pitman Jenny PitmanJenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...1987 Against the Grain 6 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas 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...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....1988 Delius 10 Bruce Dowling Richard Lee 1989 Swardean 7 Bruce Dowling Richard Lee 1990 Royal Athlete Royal AthleteRoyal Athlete was a British-bred racehorse, whose most famous victory was the 1995 Grand National at Aintree when ridden by 24-year-old Irishman, Jason Titley at the generous odds of 40/1....7 Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman Jenny PitmanJenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...1991 Sparkling Flame 7 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas 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...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky 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...1992 Bradbury Star 7 Eamon Murphy Josh Gifford Josh GiffordJosh 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 Cab on Target 7 Peter Niven Mary Reveley 1994 Monsieur Le Cure 8 Peter Niven John Edwards 1995 Banjo 5 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas 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...Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin 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....1996 Addington Boy 8 Brian Harding Gordon W. Richards Gordon W. RichardsThis article is about the racehorse trainer. For the jockey, see Gordon Richards----Gordon W. Richards was a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing...1997 Cyborgo 7 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas 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...Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin 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....1998 Boss Doyle 6 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....Mouse Morris Mouse MorrisMichael '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...1999 Spendid 7 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...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....2000 High Game 6 Norman Williamson Norman WilliamsonNorman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :...Simon Sherwood 2001 What's Up Boys 7 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....2002 Barton 9 Tony Dobbin Tony DobbinTony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...Tim Easterby Tim EasterbyTim Easterby is a British racehorse trainer based in North Yorkshire.TIM EASTERBY took over the famous Habton Grange stables in North Yorkshire from his father, Peter Easterby, in February 1996...2003 Irish Hussar 7 Mick Fitzgerald Mick FitzgeraldMick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky 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...2004 Simply Supreme 7 Richard McGrath Sue Smith 2005 Like-a-Butterfly 11 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....Christy Roche Christy RocheChristy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...2006 Star de Mohaison 5 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry 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...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 Aces Four Aces FourAces Four, foaled on March 30, 1999 in Ireland, is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Fourstars Allstar and dam, Special Trix. He is owned by the DPRP Aces Partnership, trained by Ferdy Murphy, and his primary jockey was Graham Lee....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 Big Buck's Big Buck'sBig Buck's is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls and specialising in racing over hurdles. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdles, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths...5 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...2009 Killyglen 7 Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson 2010 Burton Port 6 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry 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...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky 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...2011 Quito De La Roque 7 Davy Russell Davy RussellDavy 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...Colm Murphy