The Pendil 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 Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles and furlongs (2 miles, 4 furlongs and 110 yards, or ), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late February.
The event is named after Pendil, a dual-winner of Kempton's King George VI Chase in the 1970s. It used to be named after an earlier "King George" winner, Galloway Braes. For a period the Galloway Braes Novices' Chase was contested over 2 miles, and it was extended to miles in 1990. It was renamed and increased to its present length in 1993.
Records Leading jockey (6 wins): Ruby Walsh – Natal (2007), Oslot (2008), Herecomesthetruth (2009), The Nightingale (2010), Cristal Bonus (2012), Grandioso (2013)
Leading trainer (14 wins): Paul Nicholls – Napolitain (2006), Natal (2007), Oslot (2008), Herecomesthetruth (2009), The Nightingale (2010), Cristal Bonus (2012), Grandioso (2013), Irish Saint (2015), Frodon (2017), Cyrname (2018), Tamaroc Du Mathan (2021), Pic D'Orhy (2022), Solo (2023), Rubaud (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1965Solbina8Eddie HartyFred Winter1966Stalbridge Colonist7Stan MellorKen Cundell1967China6David NicholsonFrenchie Nicholson1968Vital Moment5Eddie HartyFred Winter1969Charter Flight7Jeff KingBob Turnell1970Into View7Paul KellewayFred Winter1971Stradivarius7Bill SmithLes Kennard1972Pendil7Richard PitmanFred Winter1973Cinvultrist7G McNallyG Bach1974(D1)Merry Maker9Anthony Mildmay-WhiteG Doidge1974(D2)Remigio6C GoldsworthyJ O'Donoghue1975Uncle Byng6S MayG Doidge1976Brawny Scot6John FrancomeFred Winter1977Young Arthur8Bill SmithDerek Kent1978Dyscole6Peter HaynesDerek Kent1979Dramatist8Bill SmithFulke Walwyn1980Doddington Park7Jeff KingNick Gaselee1981Balmers Coombe9Oliver SherwoodN Mitchell1982Water Rock7R HoareJohn Thorne1983Branding Iron6Robert EarnshawMichael Dickinson1984Mossy Moore8John FrancomeB Chinn1985Abandoned because of frost1986Abandoned because of frost1987Panto Prince6Brendan PowellLes Kennard 1988 Saffron Lord 6 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford 1989 Brookmount 7 Peter Hobbs Josh Gifford 1990 Combermere 6 Richard Frost Jimmy Frost 1991 Remittance Man 7 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1992 Tinryland 8 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson 1993 Snitton Lane 7 Richard Dunwoody John Edwards 1994 Monsieur Le Cure 8 Norman Williamson John Edwards 1995 Brief Gale 8 Philip Hide Josh Gifford 1996 Draborgie 5 Chris Maude Martin Pipe 1997 Land Afar 10 Adrian Maguire Paul Webber 1998 Stormy Passage 8 Richard Dunwoody Philip Hobbs 1999 Makounji 5 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2000 Serenus 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2001 Crocadee 8 Norman Williamson Venetia Williams 2002 Golden Goal 6 Norman Williamson Venetia Williams 2003 Hand Inn Hand 7 Richard Johnson Henry Daly 2004 Calling Brave 8 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2005 Limerick Boy 7 Sam Thomas Venetia Williams 2006 Napolitain 5 Christian Williams Paul Nicholls 2007 Natal 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2008 Oslot 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 Herecomesthetruth 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 The Nightingale 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 Captain Chris 7 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2012 Cristal Bonus 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2013 Grandioso 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2014 Balder Succes 6 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 2015 Irish Saint 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2016 Killala Quay 9 Richard Johnson Charlie Longsdon 2017 Frodon 5 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2018 Cyrname 6 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls 2019 Bags Groove 8 Noel Fehily Harry Fry 2020 Who Dares Wins 8 Tom Cannon Alan King 2021 Tamaroc Du Mathan 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2022 Pic D'Orhy 7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2023 Solo 7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2024 Blow Your Wad 6 Stan Sheppard Tom Lacey 2025 Rubaud 7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2026 Jax Junior 7 Tom Cannon Lucy Wadham
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1989-2005) youtube.com pedigreequery.com – Pendil Novices' Chase – Kempton.