The Joe Mac Novice Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt novice hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Tipperary over a distance of about 2 miles (3,218 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
The race was awarded Grade 3 status in 2003.
In line with several races at Tipperary, the race is named after a horse owned by J. P. McManus, Joe Mac. Between 2010 and 2016 it was run as the Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.
The race was first run in 1997 and was sponsored for many years by the company owned by J. P. McManus's younger brother, Kevin McManus Bookmakers.
Records Leading jockey (4 wins): Ruby Walsh – Vital Plot (2008), Bachasson (2015), Penhill (2016), Sayar (2017)
Leading trainer (10 wins): Willie Mullins – Bachasson (2015), Penhill (2016), Sayar (2017), Quick Grabim (2018), Shewearsitwell (2020), Purple Mountain (2021), Champ Kiely (2022), Williamstowndancer (2023), Gaucher (2024), Love Me Tender (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1997 Go Roger Go Richard Dunwoody Edward O'Grady 1998 no race 1998 1999 Stage Affair 5 Tony McCoy Dermot Weld 2000 Copernicus 5 Paul Carberry P Hughes 2001 Golden Row 7 P P O'Brien Charles Byrnes 2002 Wouldn't You Agree 6 Paul Moloney Christy Roche 2003 Rupununi 6 Paul Carberry Francis Ennis 2004 Studmaster 4 Tommy Treacy Jessica Harrington 2005 French Accordion 5 Barry Geraghty Paul Nolan 2006 Kalderon 6 David Casey Tom Hogan 2007 Norther Bay 4 David Casey Eoin Griffin 2008 Vital Plot 4 Ruby Walsh Dermot Weld 2009 Fosters Cross 7 Davy Russell Thomas Mullins 2010 Oilily 7 Andrew Leigh Sean Byrne 2011 Tavern Times 7 Davy Russell Thomas Mullins 2012 Whatever Jacksays 7 Robbie Colgan Oliver McKiernan 2013 King of The Picts 4 Andrew McNamara John Patrick Shanahan 2014 Rich Coast 6 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2015 Bachasson 4 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Penhill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Sayar 4 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2018 Quick Grabim 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2019 Turnpike Trip 5 Kevin Brouder Charlie Byrnes 2020 Shewearsitwell 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2021 Purple Mountain 6 Sean O'Keeffe Willie Mullins 2022 Champ Kiely 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2023 Williamstowndancer 5 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2024 Gaucher 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2025 Love Me Tender 4 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,