The Scilly Isles 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 Sandown Park over a distance of around two miles and four furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs 10 yards, or 4,033 metres). During its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February. It was sponsored by The Tote in 2011 and run as the Totepool Challengers Novices' Chase, and by Betfair in 2012 and run as the Betfair Novices' Chase. The 2013 running was sponsored by Betfred and run as the Betfred Mobile Lotto Challengers' Novice Chase. The Scilly Isles name was restored to the race title from 2014.
The race was first run in 1964 and takes its name from the Scilly Isles, Surrey, an area near to Sandown Park racecourse.
Prior to 1988 the distance of the race was 2 miles and 18 yards (3,235 metres).
Records Leading jockey since 1964 (4 wins): Barry Geraghty – Punchestowns (2010), Captain Conan (2013), Oscar Whisky (2014), Defi Du Seuil (2019) Daryl Jacob – Gitane Du Berlais (2015), Bristol De Mai (2016), Top Notch (2017), Terrefort (2018)
Leading trainer since 1964 (6 wins): Nicky Henderson – First Bout (1987), Punchestowns (2010), Captain Conan (2013), Oscar Whisky (2014), Top Notch (2017), Terrefort (2018)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1964Buona Notte7Johnny HaineBob Turnell1965The Braggart7Terry BiddlecombeHarry Thomson Jones1966Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course1967Bowgeeno7Jeff KingBob Turnell1968Aurelius10Stan MellorKen Cundell1969Abandoned because of snow1970Royal Relief6John CookEdward Courage1971Black Magic7Richard DennardPeter Cazalet1972Potentate7Doug BarrottJosh Gifford1973Killiney7Richard PitmanFred Winter1974Even Up7Graham ThornerMrs D Oughton1975Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course1976Skryne6Ron BarryPeter Bailey1977Flitgrove6Jeff KingDavid Nicholson1978Space Project8Ron HyettR Brown1979Abandoned because of frost1980Beacon Light9Andy TurnellBob Turnell1981Clayside7Alan BrownPeter Easterby1982Sea Image7John FrancomeFred Winter 1983 Kilbrittain Castle 7 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn 1984 Norton Cross 6 Alan Brown Peter Easterby 1985 Karenomore 7 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby 1986 Berlin 7 Dermot Browne Nick Gaselee 1987 First Bout 6 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson 1988 Yeoman Broker 7 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford 1989 The Bakewell Boy 7 Jimmy Frost Richard Frost 1990Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course 1991 Tildarg 7 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1992 Bradbury Star 7 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford 1993 Young Hustler 6 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies 1994 Baydon Star 7 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1995 Banjo 5 Adrian Maguire Martin Pipe 1996 Senor El Betrutti 7 Graham Bradley Susan Nock 1997 Stately Home 6 Norman Williamson Peter Bowen 1998 Jack Doyle 7 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies 1999 Hoh Express 7 Jamie Osborne Paul Webber 2000 Upgrade 6 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2001 Best Mate 6 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight 2002 Golden Goal 6 Norman Williamson Venetia Williams 2003 Tarxien 9 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Patricksnineteenth 7 Tom Doyle Paul Webber 2005 El Vaquero 7 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight 2006 Napolitain 5 Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls 2007 New Little Bric 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2008 Silverburn 7 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls 2009 Herecomesthetruth 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 Punchestowns 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2011 Medermit 7 Robert Thornton Alan King 2012 For Non Stop 7 Noel Fehily Nick Williams 2013 Captain Conan 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2014 Oscar Whisky 9 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2015 Gitane Du Berlais 5 Daryl Jacob Willie Mullins 2016 Bristol De Mai 5 Daryl Jacob Nigel Twiston-Davies 2017 Top Notch 6 Daryl Jacob Nicky Henderson 2018 Terrefort 5 Daryl Jacob Nicky Henderson 2019 Defi Du Seuil 6 Barry Geraghty Philip Hobbs 2020 Itchy Feet 6 Gavin Sheehan Olly Murphy 2021 Sporting John 6 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2022 L'Homme Presse 7 Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams 2023 Gerri Colombe 7 Jordan Gainford Gordon Elliott 2024 Nickle Back 8 James Best Sarah Humphrey 2025 Handstands 6 Ben Jones Ben Pauling 2026 Sixmilebridge 7 Kielan Woods Fergal O'Brien
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Scilly Isles Novices' Chase – Sandown.
External links Race Recordings (1973, 1977, 1981-2009) youtube.com