The Kingmaker Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Warwick over a distance of about 1 miles 7½ (1 mile 7 furlongs and 119 yards, or 3,126 metres), and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The event was established in 1991, and it was originally contested in May over a distance of 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (4,124 metres). It was switched to February in 1996, and at the same time its length was cut to 2 miles. This was extended by 110 yards in 2000. The race was abandoned at Warwick in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and it was transferred on each occasion to Wincanton. At this venue it was run over 2 miles, and there were thirteen fences to jump. This distance was kept when it returned to Warwick in 2008.
The title of the race refers to the 16th Earl of Warwick, who was known as the "Kingmaker" during the Wars of the Roses.
Records Leading jockey (3 wins): Robert Thornton – Flagship Uberalles (1999), Kadount (2005), Voy Por Ustedes (2006)
Leading trainer (5 wins): Paul Nicholls - Lake Kariba (1998), Flagship Uberalles (1999), Whitenzo (2001), Armaturk (2002), Vibrato Valtat (2015)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1991 Anti Matter 6 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Milford Quay 9 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1993 Flashthecash 7 Adrian Maguire Toby Balding 1994 Boscean Chieftain 10 Richard Dunwoody Jackie Retter 1995 no race 1995 1996 Arctic Kinsman 8 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies 1997 Mulligan 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1998 Lake Kariba 7 Richard Johnson Paul Nicholls 1999 Flagship Uberalles 5 Robert Thornton Paul Nicholls 2000 Cenkos 6 Jimmy McCarthy Oliver Sherwood 2001 Whitenzo 5 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2002 Armaturk 5 Timmy Murphy Paul Nicholls 2003Abandoned due to frost 2004Abandoned due to frost 2005 Kadount 7 Robert Thornton Alan King 2006 Voy Por Ustedes 5 Robert Thornton Alan King 2007 Ursis 6 Dominic Elsworth Steve Gollings 2008 Kruguyrova 5 Jimmy McCarthy Charles Egerton 2009 Gauvain 7 Noel Fehily Charlie Mann 2010 Long Run 5 Sam Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson 2011 Finian's Rainbow 8 Andrew Tinkler Nicky Henderson 2012 no race 2012 2013 Majala 7 Jason Maguire Tom George 2014 Balder Succes 6 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 2015 Vibrato Valtat 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2016 Violet Dancer 6 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2017 Flying Angel 6 Willy Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2018 Saint Calvados 5 Aidan Coleman Harry Whittington 2019 Glen Forsa 7 Jonathan Burke Mick Channon 2020 Rouge Vif 6 Gavin Sheehan Harry Whittington 2021 Allmankind 5 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton 2022 Edwardstone 8 Tom Cannon Alan King 2023 Jonbon 7 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson 2024 no race 2024 2025 L'Eau du Sud 7 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton 2026 Steel Ally 8 Dylan Johnston Sam Thomas
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Kingmaker Novices' Chase.