The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Punchestown County Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Barberstown Castle |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles (3,219 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 12 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | €125,000 (2022) 1st: €73,850 |
| 2024 | ||
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| Il Etait Temps | Gaelic Warrior | Hercule Du Seuil |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
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| El Fabiolo | Dysart Dynamo | Indiana Jones |
| 2022 | ||
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| Blue Lord | Coeur Sublime | Gabynako |
| 2021 | ||
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| Energumene | Janidil | Zarkareva |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
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| Chacun Pour Soi | Defi Du Seuil | Duc Des Genievres |
| 2018 | ||
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| Footpad | Optimus Prime | Asthuria |
| 2017 | ||
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| Great Field | Ordinary World | Ball D'arc |
| 2016 | ||
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| Douvan | The Game Changer | Sizing John |
| 2015 | ||
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| Un De Sceaux | Just Cameron | Ted Veale |
| 2014 | ||
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| God's Own | Moscow Mannon | Balder Succes |
| 2013 | ||
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| Arvika Ligeonniere | Oscars Well | Special Tiara |
| 2012 | ||
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| Lucky William | Blackstairmountain | First Lieutenant |
| 2011 | ||
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| Captain Chris | Realt Dubh | Saludos |
| 2010-2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Captain Cee Bee | Let Yourself Go | Sports Line |
| 2009 | ||
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| Barker | Forpadydeplasterer | Made In Taipan |
| 2008 | ||
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| Big Zeb | Thyne Again | J'y Vole |
| 2007 | ||
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| Another Promise | Royal Shakespeare | Carthalawn |
| 2006 | ||
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| Accordion Etoile | Justified | In Compliance |
| 2005 | ||
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| War Of Attrition | Watson Lake | Strike Back |
| 2004 | ||
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| Say Again | Commonchero | Emperors Guest |
| 2003 | ||
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| Le Roi Miguel | Impek | Rathgar Beau |
During the 1990s the event was sponsored by the Bank of Ireland and Tripleprint. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1998, and its sponsorship was taken over by Swordlestown Stud in 2000. Ryanair sponsored the race from 2010 to 2021 and the present sponsor, Barberstown Castle, began supporting the race in 2022.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, and the last to win both races was El Fabiolo in 2023.
Records
editLeading jockey since 1992 (4 wins):
- Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2002), Big Zeb (2008), Lucky William (2012), God's Own (2014)
- Ruby Walsh - Le Roi Miguel (2003), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016)
Leading trainer since 1992 (11 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024)
Winners since 1992
edit- ^ The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
- ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
See also
editReferences
edit- pedigreequery.com – Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase – Punchestown.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).