The Maghull Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlong and 176 yards, or 3,178 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 during the Grand National meeting in early April.
The event was established in 1954, and it has been known by various titles. It is currently named after Maghull, a town located to the north of Aintree. For a period the race was classed at Grade 2 level, and it was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1995.
The Maghull Novices' Chase usually features horses which ran previously in the Arkle Challenge Trophy, and the last to win both events was Shishkin in 2021.
Records Leading jockey since 1977 (3 wins): Ruby Walsh – Le Roi Miguel (2003), Twist Magic (2007), Tataniano (2010)
Leading trainer since 1977 (9 wins): Paul Nicholls – Flagship Uberalles (1999), Armaturk (2002), Le Roi Miguel (2003), Twist Magic (2007), Tataniano (2010), San Benedeto (2017), Diego Du Charmil (2018), Kalif Du Berlais (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1954Evian6Eddie McKenzieVincent O'Brien1955Wise Child7George MilburnVerley Bewicke1956Sir Ken9Tim MolonyWillie Stephenson1957Northern King6Mick PumfreyEric Cousins1958Just Awake6Arthur FreemanPeter Cazalet1959Liquidator7Paddy FarrellCharlie Hall1960Cupid's Charge5Arthur FreemanPeter Cazalet1961Peacetown7Stan MellorGeorge Owen1962Rye Light10Paddy FarrellCharlie Hall1963Border Sparkle7Tommy McGinleyNoel Robinson1964Brand X9Roy EdwardsFrank Cundell1965Oedipe7Stan MellorPeter Cazalet1966Roe Gemmel7Graham MacmillanGeorge Fairbairn1967Glenn6Terry BiddlecombeFred Rimell1968Brian's Best8Roy EdwardsGeorge Owen1969Rainbow Cottage6Stan MurphyArthur Stephenson1970Tenterclef8Barry BroganPeter Ransom1971Vegeo8David NicholsonArthur Stephenson1972Explicit8Tommy StackL Shedden1973Line Regiment9Jimmy BourkeDoug Francis1974Winter Rain6Michael DickinsonTony Dickinson1975Tom Morgan6Colin TinklerKen Oliver1976Vaguely Attractive7John FowlerS Murphy 1977 Siberian Sun 6 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1978 Another Dolly 8 John Burke Fred Rimell 1979 Night Nurse 8 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby 1980 Western Rose 8 Sam Morshead Fred Rimell 1981 Irian 7 Frank Berry Arthur Moore 1982 Brave Fellow 8 Tony Charlton Jimmy FitzGerald 1983 Ryeman 6 Alan Brown Peter Easterby 1984 Noddy's Ryde 7 Neale Doughty Gordon W. Richards 1985 Pan Arctic 6 Philip Hobbs Tom Bill 1986 Pearlyman 7 Paul Barton John Edwards 1987 Dan the Miller 8 Graham Bradley Monica Dickinson 1988 Jim Thorpe 7 Chris Grant Gordon W. Richards 1989 Feroda 8 Tom Taaffe Arthur Moore 1990 Boutzdaroff 8 Derek Byrne Jimmy FitzGerald 1991 Young Benz 7 Lorcan Wyer Peter Easterby 1992 Cyphrate 6 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1993 Valiant Boy 7 Russ Garritty Steve Kettlewell 1994 Nakir 6 Jamie Osborne Simon Christian 1995 Morceli 7 Norman Williamson Howard Johnson 1996 Ask Tom 7 Peter Niven Tom Tate 1997 Squire Silk 8 Jamie Osborne Andrew Turnell 1998 Direct Route 7 Paul Carberry Howard Johnson 1999 Flagship Uberalles 5 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2000 Cenkos 6 David Casey Oliver Sherwood 2001 Ballinclay King 7 Adrian Maguire Ferdy Murphy 2002 Armaturk 5 Timmy Murphy Paul Nicholls 2003 Le Roi Miguel 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2004 Well Chief 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2005 Ashley Brook 7 Paddy Brennan Kevin Bishop 2006 Foreman 8 Tony McCoy Thierry Doumen 2007 Twist Magic 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2008 Tidal Bay 7 Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson 2009 Kalahari King 8 Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy 2010 Tataniano 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 Finian's Rainbow 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Sprinter Sacre 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Special Tiara 6 Bryan Cooper Henry de Bromhead 2014 Balder Succes 6 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King 2015 Sizing Granite 7 Jonathan Burke Henry de Bromhead 2016 Douvan 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2017 San Benedeto 6 Nick Scholfield Paul Nicholls 2018 Diego Du Charmil 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2019 Ornua 8 Davy Russell Henry de Bromhead no race 2020 2021 Shishkin 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2022 Gentleman De Mee 6 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2023 Jonbon 7 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson 2024 Found A Fifty 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2025 Kalif Du Berlais 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2026 Mirabad 7 Tristan Durrell Dan Skelton
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide. pedigreequery.com – Maghull Novices' Chase – Aintree.
External links Race Recordings (1978-2006) youtube.com