KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle
The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles and 100 yards, or 3,310 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, 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 | Hurdle race |
| Sponsor | KPMG |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 100y (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: €73,750 |
| 2022 | ||
| Mighty Potter | Gatsby Grey | Sir Gerhard |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||
| Echoes In Rain | Colonel Mustard | Blue Lord |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| Klassical Dream | Felix Desjy | Mister Blue Sky |
| 2018 | ||
| Draconien | Vision Des Flos | Mengli Khan |
| 2017 | ||
| Cilaos Emery | Melon | Pingshou |
| 2016 | ||
| Don't Touch It | Petit Mouchoir | Brain Power |
| 2015 | ||
| Douvan | Sizing John | Blair Perrone |
| 2014 | ||
| Faugheen | Valseur Lido | Sgt Reckless |
| 2013 | ||
| Jezki | Ted Veale | Champagne Fever |
| 2012 | ||
| Alderwood | Trifolium | Simenon |
| 2011 | ||
| Shot From The Hip | Hidden Universe | Far Away So Close |
| 2010-2003 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| Blackstairmountain | Flat Out | Sweeps Hill |
| 2009 | ||
| Hurricane Fly | Kempes | Riverside Theatre |
| 2008 | ||
| Jered | Salford City | Fiveforthree |
| 2007 | ||
| Clopf | Holly Tree | Rindoon |
| 2006 | ||
| Iktitaf | Straw Bear | Jazz Messenger |
| 2005 | ||
| Wild Passion | Kill Devil Hill | In Compliance |
| 2004 | ||
| Brave Inca | Royal Shakespeare | Royal Alphabet |
| 2003 | ||
| Back In Front | Limerick Boy | Fota Island |
The event was formerly open to horses aged four or older, and for a period it was sponsored by BMW. The minimum age was raised to five in 1992, and Country Pride took over the sponsorship in 1993. The race was promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status in 1998.[citation needed]
The Evening Herald became the usual sponsor of the race in 2000. The event was subsequently backed by VC Bet, but the Evening Herald returned as sponsor in 2009. The race was rebranded as the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in 2013 after the sponsoring newspaper changed its name. Ecomm Merchant Solutions took over sponsorship from the 2021 running[citation needed], Bective Stud sponsored in 2022 and the current sponsors, KPMG, took over in 2023.
Records edit
Leading jockey since 1980 (5 wins):
- Ruby Walsh - Iktitaf (2006), Hurricane Fly (2009), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019)
Leading trainer since 1980 (10 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Hurricane Fly (2009), Blackstairmountain (2010), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Cilaos Emery (2017), Draconien (2018), Klassical Dream (2019), Echoes In Rain (2021), Facile Vega (2023), Mystical Power (2024)
Winners since 1980 edit
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Deep Gale | 7 | Frank Codd[a] | Edward O'Grady |
| 1981 | Tie Anchor | 4 | Tommy McGivern | Paddy Prendergast, Jr. |
| 1982 | Bustineto | 4 | Niall Madden | Mick O'Toole |
| 1983 | Dawn Run | 5 | Tony Mullins | Paddy Mullins |
| 1984 | Gav's Delight | 6 | Ken Morgan | Michael Cunningham |
| 1985 | Hungary Hur | 6 | Tony Mullins | Paddy Mullins |
| 1986 | Barney Burnett | 6 | Brendan Sheridan | Ruby Walsh snr |
| 1987 | High Plains | 5 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1988 | El-Sid Senor | 5 | Frank Berry | Francis Flood |
| 1989 | The Proclamation | 6 | Richard Dunwoody | Paddy Prendergast, Jr. |
| 1990 | Vestris Abu | 4 | Charlie Swan | Jim Bolger |
| 1991 | Young Pokey | 6 | Jamie Osborne | Oliver Sherwood |
| 1992 | Fortune and Fame | 5 | Brendan Sheridan | Dermot Weld |
| 1993 | Bayrouge | 5 | Richard Dunwoody | Anne-Marie O'Brien |
| 1994 | Klairon Davis | 5 | Trevor Horgan | Arthur Moore |
| 1995 | Hotel Minella | 8 | Charlie Swan | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1996 | Dance Beat | 5 | John Shortt | Jessica Harrington |
| 1997 | Midnight Legend | 6 | Richard Johnson | David Nicholson |
| 1998 | His Song | 5 | Tony McCoy | Mouse Morris |
| 1999 | Cardinal Hill | 5 | Charlie Swan | Noel Meade |
| 2000 | Moscow Flyer | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington |
| 2001 | Ned Kelly [b] | 5 | Norman Williamson | Edward O'Grady |
| 2002 | Scottish Memories | 6 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
| 2003 | Back In Front | 6 | Norman Williamson | Edward O'Grady |
| 2004 | Brave Inca | 6 | Barry Cash | Colm Murphy |
| 2005 | Wild Passion | 5 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
| 2006 | Iktitaf | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Noel Meade |
| 2007 | Clopf | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Edward O'Grady |
| 2008 | Jered | 6 | Tony McCoy | Noel Meade |
| 2009 | Hurricane Fly | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2010 | Blackstairmountain | 5 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2011 | Shot From The Hip | 7 | Tony McCoy | Edward O'Grady |
| 2012 | Alderwood | 8 | Tony McCoy | Thomas Mullins |
| 2013 | Jezki | 5 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington |
| 2014 | Faugheen | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2015 | Douvan | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | Don't Touch It | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington |
| 2017 | Cilaos Emery | 5 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2018 | Draconien | 5 | Noel Fehily | Willie Mullins |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | 5 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| no race 2020 [c] | ||||
| 2021 | Echoes In Rain | 5 | Patrick Mullins[a] | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | Mighty Potter | 5 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2023 | Facile Vega | 6 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2024 | Mystical Power | 5 | Mark Walsh | Willie Mullins |
- ^ a b amateur jockey
- ^ 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 edit
References edit
- Racing Post:
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- pedigreequery.com – VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle – Punchestown.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).