Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase

Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase
Premier Handicap race
LocationSandown Park Racecourse
Esher, England
Inaugurated2005
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorPaddy Power
WebsiteSandown Park
Race information
Distance2m 4f 10y (4,033 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Purse£40,000 (2021)
1st: £22,584
Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase
2024
Black, white triple diamond, white and black striped sleeves, black cap, white diamond Purple, red stars, purple cap, red star Orange, dark blue chevrons and armlets, hooped cap
Scarface Invincible Nao Terresita
Previous years
2023
Pink and royal blue diabolo, halved sleeves, pink and royal blue quartered cap Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
Hudson De Grugy Quel Destin No Risk Des Flos
2022
Yellow, dark blue braces Royal blue and yellow (quartered), royal blue sleeves, yellow spots, royal blue cap Mauve and black (quartered), mauve sleeves, white cap
Killer Kane Flic Ou Voyou Dorking Lad
2021
Royal blue and yellow stripes, red sleeves, white stars, red cap, white star White, red chevrons, light blue sleeves and cap Orange, chocolate sleeves
Farinet Up The Straight Lust For Glory
2020-2011
2020
Black, white stars, striped sleeves, black cap Dark blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, red cap Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap
Imperial Aura Galvin Hold The Note
2019
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Maroon and white stripes, maroon cap, white hoop
A Plus Tard Tower Bridge Ben Dundee
2018
Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap Black, white seams, white sleeves, black armlets, black cap White, dark blue star, sleeves and cap
Mister Whitaker Rather Be Rocklander
2017
Yellow, dark blue sash, dark blue cap, yellow star Yellow, purple hoops and armlets, hooped cap Dark blue and white diabolo, emerald green and white check sleeves, white cap, red star
Tully East Gold Present Two Taffs
2016
Light green, royal blue and light green hooped sleeves, white cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap
Ballyalton Bouvreuil Double Shuffle
2015
Light blue, maroon spots and sleeves, light blue cap Maroon, yellow braces, maroon sleeves, yellow stars, maroon cap, yellow star Chocolate, old gold hooped sleeves, old gold cap
Irish Cavalier Thomas Crapper Generous Ransom
2014
Light blue, green sleeves, quartered cap Beige and brown (quartered), brown sleeves Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Present View Attaglance Pendra
2013
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Dark green, white stars, white and red striped sleeves, white cap, red star Dark blue and white (quartered), hooped sleeves, dark blue cap
Rajdhani Express Ackertac Ohio Gold
2012
Red, yellow hoops, light blue sleeves, red cap Dark blue, pink cross of lorraine, pink cap Black, white hoops, white sleeves, black stars, light green cap
Hunt Ball White Star Line Owen Glendower
2011
Red and yellow diamonds, mauve sleeves Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Light blue, white chevrons, white sleeves, light blue armlets, light blue and white striped cap
Divers Quantitativeeasing Tullamore Dew
2010-2005
2010
Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap Red and grey (quartered), hooped sleeves Black, white epaulets, white chevrons on sleeves, black cap
Copper Bleu Othermix The Midnight Club
2009
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Mauve and white diamonds, striped sleeves, white cap Dark green and white stripes, dark green sleeves, white armlets, white cap
Chapoturgeon Isn't That Lucky Crescent Island
2008
Purple, White diamond and sleeves, Purple cap Purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap, gold fringe White, Black braces, Black sleeves, White stars, Black cap, White star
Finger Onthe Pulse Barbers Shop Possol
2007
Royal blue, white hooped sleeves, pink cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, royal blue braces, striped sleeves, hooped cap
L'Antartique Bob Hall Wee Robbie
2006
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Emerald Green, Yellow chevrons, diabolo on sleeves, Emerald Green cap BLACK, red hollow box, check cap
Reveillez Copsale Lad Tumbling Dice
2005
White, large royal blue spots, royal blue cap Light blue and royal blue diabolo, light blue sleeves and cap Light blue, purple hoop, yellow cap
King Harald Lacdoudal See You Sometime
 

The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 10 yards, or 4,033 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. It was a handicap race for novice chasers with a handicap rating between 0 and 145, and it takes place each year in March.

The event was originally run at Cheltenham Racecourse and was established when a fourth day was added to the Cheltenham Festival in 2005. The winning ride by Mattie Batchelor in the inaugural edition subsequently won the Lester Award for Jump Ride of the Year. The race was sponsored by Jewson from 2005 to 2010 and run as the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase on the third day of the Festival. Jewson transferred their sponsorship to a new race at the 2011 Festival, the Jewson Novices' Chase, which remained on the third day while the Novices' Handicap Chase was moved to become the final race on the opening day of the Festival. The race title commemorated the centenary of the Cheltenham Festival in 2011. In 2012 the race was sponsored by Pulteney Land Investments and from 2013 to 2014 by Rewards4Racing. In 2015 it was sponsored by Chaps Restaurants Barbados and from 2016 to 2019 the race was sponsored by Close Brothers Group. The race's sponsors in 2020 were Northern Trust and since 2021 it has been sponsored by Paddy Power.

The Centenary Novices' Chase was removed from the Festival programme in 2021 to make way for a new steeplechase for mares, the Liberthine Mares' Chase[1] and was transferred to the meeting which takes place at Sandown Park a few days before the Cheltenham Festival.[2] The race held Listed status until 2022 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Listed status was removed from handicap races.[3]

  1. ^ Dietz, Andrew (7 October 2020). "Nicholls and Walsh back introduction of new mares' chase at Cheltenham Festival". Racing Post. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase to replace Novices' Handicap Chase at The Festival". British Horseracing Authority. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 6 February 2023.