The Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and half a furlong (4,964 metres), and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April.
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1988 |
Race type | Hurdle race |
Sponsor | Cavani Menswear |
Website | Aintree |
Race information | |
Distance | 3m 149y (4,964 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
Weight | 10 st 8 lb (4yo); 11 st 7 lb (5yo+) Allowances 7 lb for fillies and mares |
Purse | £100,000 (2022) 1st: £56,270 |
2024 | ||
Dancing City | The Jukebox Man | Cherie D'am |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2023 | ||
Apple Away | Maximilian | Iroko |
2022 | ||
Gelino Bello | Gentleman At Arms | Haute Estime |
2021 | ||
Ahoy Senor | Bravemansgame | Oscar Elite |
1990-1988 | ||
---|---|---|
1990 | ||
Dwadme | What's The Crack | Tinryland |
1989 | ||
Boreen Belle | King's Harvest | Royal Athlete |
1988 | ||
Rustle | Nick The Brief | Vulgan Warrior |
The event was established in 1988, and it was originally called the White Satin Novices' Hurdle. For a period it was classed at Grade 2 level. The race was given its present title in 1993, and it was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1995.
In recent years the Sefton Novices' Hurdle has usually featured horses which ran in the previous month's Spa Novices' Hurdle, and the last to achieve victory in both races was at Fishers Cross in 2013.
Records
editLeading jockey (3 wins):
- Tony McCoy – Unsinkable Boxer (1998), Black Jack Ketchum (2006), At Fishers Cross (2013)
- Barry Geraghty – Sackville (2000), Iris's Gift (2003), Beat That (2014)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- Nicky Henderson – Rustle (1988), Beat That (2014), Santini (2018), Champ (2019)
Winners
edit- ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]
See also
edit- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1988 – this race is included under its original title, White Satin Novices' Hurdle.
References
edit- ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.
- aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide.
- pedigreequery.com – Sefton Novices' Hurdle – Aintree.