The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
During the 1990s the event was sponsored by the Bank of Ireland and Tripleprint. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1998, and its sponsorship was taken over by Swordlestown Stud in 2000. Ryanair sponsored the race from 2010 to 2021 and the present sponsor, Barberstown Castle, began supporting the race in 2022.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, and the last to win both races was El Fabiolo in 2023.
Records Leading jockey since 1992 (4 wins): Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2002), Big Zeb (2008), Lucky William (2012), God's Own (2014) Ruby Walsh - Le Roi Miguel (2003), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016)
Leading trainer since 1992 (13 wins): Willie Mullins - Barker (2009), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Great Field (2017), Footpad (2018), Chacun Pour Soi (2019), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024), Majborough (2025), Salvator Mundi (2026)
Winners since 1992 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1992 Classical Charm 9 Ken Morgan Al O'Connell 1993 Viking Flagship 6 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1994 Oh So Grumpy 6 Jamie Osborne Jessica Harrington 1995 Strong Platinum 7 Conor O'Dwyer Paddy Burke 1996 Ventana Canyon 7 Richard Dunwoody Edward O'Grady 1997 Jeffell 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore 1998 Direct Route 7 Paul Carberry Howard Johnson 1999 Sydney Twothousand 9 Norman Williamson Noel Meade 2000 Tiutchev 7 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2001 Alcapone 7 David Casey Mouse Morris 2002 Moscow Flyer 8 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2003 Le Roi Miguel 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2004 Say Again 8 John Cullen Paul Nolan 2005 War of Attrition 6 Conor O'Dwyer Mouse Morris 2006 Accordion Etoile 7 John Cullen Paul Nolan 2007 Another Promise 8 Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy 2008 Big Zeb 7 Barry Geraghty Colm Murphy 2009 Barker 8 David Casey Willie Mullins 2010 Captain Cee Bee 9 Tony McCoy Eddie Harty 2011 Captain Chris 7 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2012 Lucky William 8 Barry Geraghty Thomas Cooper 2013 Arvika Ligeonniere 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 God's Own 6 Barry Geraghty Tom George 2015 Un de Sceaux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Douvan 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Great Field 6 Jody McGarvey Willie Mullins 2018 Footpad 6 Daryl Jacob Willie Mullins 2019 Chacun Pour Soi 7 Robbie Power Willie Mullins no race 2020 2021 Energumene 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2022 Blue Lord 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 El Fabiolo 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Il Etait Temps 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2025 Majborough 5 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2026 Salvator Mundi 6 Harry Cobden Willie Mullins
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , pedigreequery.com – Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase – Punchestown. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).