The Topham Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt handicap chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles 5 furlongs and 19 yards, or 4,242 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.
From 1989 to 2001 the race was named to commemorate the late clerk of the course John Hughes.
In April 2012 the race was won for the third consecutive year by Always Waining, trained by Peter Bowen and ridden by Tom O'Brien.
History The inaugural running of the Topham was in 1949. The Topham is now one of three races run over the Grand National fences at the Aintree Festival, the other two races being the Foxhunters' Chase for amateur jockeys and the Grand National itself. The Topham Chase is currently run on the second day of the meeting.
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins): Always Waining – 2010, 2011, 2012
Leading jockey (3 wins): Richard Dunwoody – Glenrue (1986), Won't Be Gone Long (1990), The Antartex (1992) Barry Geraghty – Triolo D'Alene (2013), Ma Filleule (2014), Eastlake (2016)
Leading trainer (5 wins): Nicky Henderson - Won't Be Gone Long (1990), Liberthine (2006), Triolo D'Alene (2013), Ma Filleule (2014), Rajdhani (2015) Peter Bowen - Dunbrody Millar (2007), Always Waining (2010, 2011, 2012), Mac Tottie (2022)
Winners Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer1949Cadamstown911-04Jimmy BroganJ Powell1950Culworth910-12Dick CurranW (Charlie) Hall1951Culworth1011-06Dick CurranW (Charlie) Hall1952Ballymagillan610-09Pat TaaffeTom Dreaper (Ir)1953Irish Lizard1010-04Dick FrancisFrenchie Nicholson1954Little Yid1210-11George SlackBobby Renton1955Stormhead1111-12Paddy FarrellW (Charlie) Hall1956John Jacques910-08Jimmy PowerWalter Wharton1957Roughan1011-00Harry EastNeville Crump1958Roughan1111-02Fred WinterNeville Crump1959Clanyon1111-04Grenville UnderwoodW Johns-Powell1960Fresh Winds911-01Stan MellorRoy Whiston1961Cupid's Charge611-03Bill ReesPeter Cazalet1962Dagmar Gittell710-11Josh GiffordBobby Renton1963Barberyn811-09Michael ScudamoreW (Arthur) Stephenson1964Red Tide710-06Jeff KingBob Turnell1965Hopkiss710-12E P HartyAlec Kilpatrick1966Walpole1011-05Josh GiffordRyan Price1967Georgetown710-07P MahoneyNoel Kusbish1968Surcharge1010-08S DavenportJohn Barclay1969Dozo810-05Eddie HartyToby Balding1970Charter Flight811-12Johnny HaineBob Turnell1971Rigton Prince1011-01John EnrightW (Arthur) Stephenson1972Sunny Lad810-08Ken WhiteFred Rimell1973Inch Arran911-02David MouldPeter Cazalet1974Clear Cut1011-08Jonjo O'NeillW (Charlie) Hall1975Our Greenwood712-00Tommy CarberryJim Dreaper (Ir)1976Lictor910-00David SunderlandEdward Courage1977Churchtown Boy1010-00Chris ReadTaffy Salaman1978Canit810-00Colin TinklerFred Rimell1979Artic Ale810-08John FowlerDan Moore (Ir)1980Uncle Bing1111-11John FrancomeRichard Head1981Mr Marlsbridge810-10Paul BartonDavid Gandolfo1982Beacon Time810-09Kevin MooneyFulke Walwyn1983Tiepolino1110-04Hywel DaviesKevin Bishop1984Fabulous1110-00Andrew StringerJ S Wilson1985Smith's Man710-00Mark PerrettJenny Pitman1986Glenrue910-02Richard DunwoodyTerry Casey1987Strath Leader911-10Tom MorganJohn Edwards 1988 Wiggburn 9 10-02 Mike Williams Anne Hewitt 1989 Villierstown 10 11-10 Simon Sherwood W (Arthur) Stephenson 1990 Wont Be Gone Long 8 11-07 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1991 J-J-Henry 12 10-10 Anthea Farrell Peter Beaumont 1992 The Antartex 9 10-02 Richard Dunwoody Gordon W. Richards 1993 Sirrah Jay 13 10-00 Adrian Maguire Toby Balding 1994 Indian Tonic 8 10-04 Chris Maude Nigel Twiston-Davies 1995 Dublin Flyer 9 12-00 Brendan Powell Snr Tim Forster 1996 Joe White 10 11-00 Paul Carberry Howard Johnson 1997 Bells Life 8 11-04 Glen Tormey Philip Hobbs 1998 Cyfor Malta 5 11-01 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 1999 Listen Timmy 10 11-08 Tony Dobbin Steve Brookshaw 2000 Northern Starlight 9 11-05 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2001 Gower-Slave 9 10-07 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2002 Its Time For A Win 10 10-12 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2003 Clan Royal 8 10-02 Liam Cooper Jonjo O'Neill 2004 Cassia Heights 9 10-00 Jim Culloty Steve Brookshaw 2005 Cregg House 10 10-05 Davy Russell Shane Donohoe 2006 Liberthine 7 10-04 Sam Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson 2007 Dunbrody Millar 9 10-00 Jamie Moore Peter Bowen 2008 Gwanako 5 11-08 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 Irish Raptor 10 10-00 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies 2010 Always Waining 9 10-00 Brian Hughes Peter Bowen 2011 Always Waining 10 10-04 Tom O'Brien Peter Bowen 2012 Always Waining 11 10-11 Tom O'Brien Peter Bowen 2013 Triolo D'Alene 6 10-07 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2014 Ma Filleule 6 11-07 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2015 Rajdhani Express 8 11-08 Sam Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson 2016 Eastlake 10 10-11 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill 2017 Ultragold 9 10-05 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard 2018 Ultragold 10 11-01 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard 2019 Cadmium 7 11-01 Paul Townend Willie Mullins no race 2020 2021 Livelovelaugh 11 11-00 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Mac Tottie 9 10-00 Sean Bowen Peter Bowen 2023 Bill Baxter 7 10-04 Sam Twiston-Davies Warren Greatrex 2024 Arizona Cardinal 8 10-10 Ciaran Gethings Stuart Edmunds 2025 Gentleman De Mee 9 11-11 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2026 Will The Wise 7 10-08 Conor Stone-Walsh Gavin Cromwell
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1981-2010)