TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE

The Turners Novices’ Chase is the opening race on Day 3 of the Festival and thus the first race to be run on the New Course. 

Established in 2011, its registered title is the Golden Miller Novices' Chase.

Grade 1 | 5yo+ novices | Thursday 13.30
2 miles 4 furlongs | 17 fences | New Course
Weight: 11st 2lb (4yo) / 11st 4lb (6yo+) | Allowance: 7lb for mares
Prize money (2022): £175,000 | 1st: £98,473

First sponsored by Jewson and then known as both the JLT and the Marsh Novices' Chase, Turners (a transport company) was announced as the new sponsor for 2022. 

It gives trainers an alternative to running their best novices in either the Arkle Chase or the Brown Advisory Chase.  

The standard of runners has been on the rise, with recent renewals fought out by the likes of Defi du Seuil, Lostintranslation, Samrco, Melon and Faugheen. 

TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE TRENDS

9/12 winners were Irish trained
10/12 winners ran at the previous year's Festival
11/12 winners were aged 6 or 7
7 of the last 8 winners were rated 151+
Gordon Elliott has trained 2 winners from 3 runners
11/12 winners were at single figure odds
4/12 favourites won (1 co-favourite)
Updated to include 2022 renewal

Course experience is key, with most Turners Novices’ Chase winners having raced in a novice hurdle at the Festival 12 months earlier.

Five winners had run in the previous season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

There have been just three winning outright favourites thus far: Vautour (2015), Yorkhill (2017) and Defi Du Seuil (2019), plus one co-favourite Black Hercules (2016).

But 9 of the 12 winners were 4/1 or shorter.

TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE 2024 ODDS

LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA

YEAR
AGE
OFFICIAL RATING
WEIGHT
2023
7
152
11-7
2022
7
161
11-4
2021
7
151
11-4
2020
8
157
11-4
2019
6
151
11-4

PREVIOUS WINNERS

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
2023
Stage Star
Harry Cobden / Paul Nicholls
15/2
2022
Bob Olinger
Rachael Blackmore / Henry De Bromhead
6/5
2021
Chantry House
Nico de Boinville / Nicky Henderson
9/1
2020
Samcro
Davy Russell / Gordon Elliott
4/1
2019
Defi Du Seuil
Barry Geraghty / Philip Hobbs
3/1f
2018
Shattered Love
Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott
4/1
2017
Yorkhill
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
6/4f
2016
Black Hercules
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
4/1cf
2015
Vautour
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
6/4f
2014
Taquin Du Seuil
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
7/1
2013
Benefficient
Bryan Cooper / Tony Martin
20/1
2012
Sir Des Champs
Davy Russell / Willie Mullins
3/1
2011
Noble Prince
Tony McCoy / Paul Nolan
4/1

Stage Star 2023

There was a dramatic ending to the 2022 Turners Chase as Galopin Des Champs slipped and ditched Paul Townend onto the ground after jumping the last 12 lengths clear.

That handed victory to Bob Olinger, who thus secured back-to-back Festival wins after his Ballymore triumph of 2021.

But winning trainer Henry de Bromhead was quick to acknowledge that the unlucky faller was comfortably the better horse on the day:

‘I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HIM OFF THE BRIDLE SO SOON, OBVIOUSLY THE OTHER ONE IS SOMETHING ELSE. I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE ANOTHER HORSE DO THAT TO HIM’

Envoi Allen was bidding for a third successive Festival win in 2021, having won the Champion Bumper and the Ballymore previously.

But the 4/9 shot crashed out at the fourth fence, leaving the way clear for Chantry House to run out an impressive winner in his absence.

Of Envoi Allen's early exit, winning jockey Nico de Boinville said:

‘I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE HAD COME DOWN. I WAS WONDERING WHEN HE WAS GOING TO COME AND PICK ME UP IN THE STRAIGHT’

There was a epic battle in 2020 as Samcro, Melon and Faugheen fought it out up the hill.

Samcro, ridden by Davy Russell, eventually saw off the gallant Melon in a pulsating finish, with dual Festival winner Faugheen a length back:

‘HE’S BRAVE, HE’S AS BRAVE AS A LION AND HE GOT BACK UP WITH THE LAST STRIDE’

Defi Du Seuil, winner of the Triumph Hurdle two years earlier, got the better of old rival Lostintranslation in 2019 to record a 20th Festival winner for trainer Philip Hobbs:

‘HE’S VERY, VERY TOUGH AND HIS JUMPING IS FANTASTIC. SOMETIMES THESE SMALLER HORSES ARE BETTER AT THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE ATHLETIC’

Shattered Love became the first mare to win the race in 2018, despite a mistake at the last:

Yorkhill 2017

Black Hercules 2016

The mighty Vautour cruised to victory back in 2015, the second of his three Festival wins.

The race was effectively a procession turning for home and the 6/4 favourite flew the final two fences under Ruby Walsh:

Taquin Du Seuil 2014

Benefficient 2013

Sir Des Champs 2012