The Wayward Lad Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 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 late December during the course's Christmas Festival.
The event is named in honour of Wayward Lad, a winner of Kempton's most prestigious race, the King George VI Chase, three times during the 1980s. The earliest version of the race was contested over miles, and this was extended by 110 yards in 1992. The race was absent from the National Hunt calendar in 1999, but it returned the following year with a new distance of 2 miles. It was subsequently promoted to Grade 2 status, and it was first run at this level in 2005. From 2009 to 2015 it was sponsored by William Hill and titled the Williamhill.com Novices' Chase. From 2016 to 2018 the race was sponsored by 32Red and since 2019 Ladbrokes have been the sponsors.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1975 Double Negative 5 Ken White Fred Rimell 1976 Don't Hesitate 6 Martin O'Halloran Peter Cundell 1977 Forty Lines 8 Dr D Chesney D Chesney 1978 Ten Dollars More 6 John Francome Fred Winter 1979 Bideford 6 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor 1980 Special Cargo 7 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn 1981Abandoned due to frost 1982 Everett 7 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn 1983 Carved Opal 5 John Francome Fred Winter 1984 Gainsay 5 Peter Scudamore David Nicholson 1985 Bolands Cross 6 Peter Scudamore Nick Gaselee 1986 Tawridge 6 Steve Knight Andrew Turnell 1987 The West Awake 6 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood 1988 Star's Delight 6 Hywel Davies Ron Hodges 1989 Celtic Shot 7 Peter Scudamore Charlie Brooks 1990 Remittance Man 6 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1991 Poetic Gem 6 Mark Perrett Sue Smith 1992 Dusty Miller 6 Mark Richards Simon Sherwood 1993 Bas de Laine 7 Mark Richards Oliver Sherwood 1994 High Baron 7 Richard Dunwoody Robert Alner 1995Abandoned due to frost 1996 Greenback 5 Norman Williamson Philip Hobbs 1997 Angelo's Double 9 Brendan Powell Bob Buckler 1998 Hoh Express 6 Andrew Thornton Paul Webber 1999Abandoned due to security alert 2000 Dusk Duel 5 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2001 Fondmort 5 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2002 Epervier d'Or 4 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2003 Caracciola 6 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2004 no race 2004 2005 Hoo La Baloo 4 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2006 Jack the Giant 4 Tom Doyle Nicky Henderson 2007 Mahogany Blaze 5 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies 2008 Original 6 James Davies Marcel Rolland 2009 Riverside Theatre 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2004 no race 2010 2011 Sprinter Sacre 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Simonsig 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Dodging Bullets 5 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls 2014 Vibrato Valtat 5 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls 2015 Ar Mad 5 Josh Moore Gary Moore 2016 Altior 6 Noel Fehily Nicky Henderson 2017 Cyrname 5 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls 2018 Dynamite Dollars 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2019 Global Citizen 7 David Bass Ben Pauling 2020 Shishkin 6 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2021 Edwardstone 7 Tom Cannon Alan King 2022 Boothill 7 Jonathan Burke Harry Fry 2023 Master Chewy 6 Tom Bellamy Nigel Twiston-Davies 2024 Sir Gino 4 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2025 Mambonumberfive 4 Ben Jones Ben Pauling
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1986-1997, 1999-2015) youtube.com pedigreequery.com – Wayward Lad Novices' Chase – Kempton. breakingnews.ie – "Frost finally beats Kempton" (2004).