The Winter Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 173 yards, or 3,980 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 in early December.
Between 1992 and 1999 the distance of the race was 2 miles and 6 furlongs, and prior to 1992 it was run over 2 miles 5 furlongs and 75 yards. The only winner to subsequently win the championship event in this division is Barton, who won the 1999 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle. From 2011 to 2016 the race was sponsored by Neptune Investment Management and run under the title of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle. It was sponsored by the Ballymore Group from 2017 to 2022, and by Betfair since 2023.
Records Leading jockey since 1983 (3 wins): Tony McCoy – See More Business (1995), Lightning Strike (2007), Taquin de Seuil (2012) Richard Johnson - What's Up Boys (1999), Fingal Bay (2011), Killala Quay (2013) Wayne Hutchinson - Manyriverstocross (2009), Label Des Obeaux (2015), Alsa Mix (2018) Harry Cobden - Enrilo (2019), Henri the Second (2022), No Drama This End (2025)
Leading trainer since 1983 (6 wins): Paul Nicholls - See More Business (1995), Ladalko (2004), Neptune Collonges (2005), Enrilo (2019), Henri the Second (2022), No Drama This End (2025)
Winners since 1983 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1983 Catch Phrase 5 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford 1984 Sutton Prince 6 Richard Linley Fred Winter 1985 Oceanus 4 Chris Grant Denys Smith 1986 Buckskin's Best 4 C Jones Robin Dickin 1987 Slalom 6 John White Michael Robinson 1988 Man on the Line 5 Peter Scudamore Reg Akehurst 1989 no race 1989 1990 Tyrone Bridge 4 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe 1991 Arabian Sultan 4 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Glen Lochan 7 Jamie Osborne Henrietta Knight 1993 Top Spin 4 Adrian Maguire John Jenkins 1994 Roberty Lea 6 Peter Niven Mary Reveley 1995 See More Business 5 Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls 1996 Yahmi 6 Jamie Osborne Jim Old 1997 Song of the Sword 4 Graham Bradley Jim Old 1998 Barton 5 Lorcan Wyer Tim Easterby 1999 What's Up Boys 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2000Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course 2001 Rouble 5 Leighton Aspell Josh Gifford 2002 Coolnagorna 5 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill 2003 Inglis Drever 4 Graham Lee Howard Johnson 2004 Ladalko 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2005 Neptune Collonges 4 Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls 2006 Labelthou 7 Barry Fenton Emma Lavelle 2007 Lightning Strike 4 Tony McCoy Venetia Williams 2008 Junior 5 Robert Thornton Alan King 2009 Manyriverstocross 4 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 1989 no race 2010 2011 Fingal Bay 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2012 Taquin de Seuil 5 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill 2013 Killala Quay 6 Richard Johnson Charlie Longsdon 2014 Vyta Du Roc 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2015 Label Des Obeaux 4 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 2016 Messire Des Obeaux 4 Daryl Jacob Alan King 2017 On The Blind Side 5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2018 Alsa Mix 6 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 2019 Enrilo 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2020 Star Gate 4 Nico de Boinville Evan Williams 2021 Lossiemouth 6 Stan Sheppard Tom Lacey 2022 Henri the Second 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2023 Deafening Silence 6 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton 2024 Bill Joyce 5 Jonjo O'Neill Jr Jonjo O'Neill 2025 No Drama This End 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Winter Novices' Hurdle – Sandown.