The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 92 yards, or 3,308 metres), and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The event was first run in 1953 and is named in memory of Game Spirit, a successful racehorse who was owned by the Queen Mother. During the 1970s Game Spirit won 21 races in six seasons. He also finished third in the 1974 Cheltenham Gold Cup and second in the 1976 Champion Chase. He died from a lung haemorrhage after racing at Newbury in March 1977.
The Game Spirit Chase has held Grade 2 status since 1992. Before then it was classed at Listed level and run as a limited handicap. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and run under various sponsored titles.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1953Marcianus7Dick FrancisGeorge Beeby1954Big Bill8Ted FisherPeter Payne-Gallwey1955Belliquex6E KellyC Cooper1956Abandoned because of frost1957Buttercleugh6George MilburnVerley Bewicke1958Highland Bard7George MilburnVerley Bewicke1959Chatelet7Jumbo WilkinsonBobby Renton1960Threepwood7George MilburnVerley Bewicke1961Richard of Bordeaux6Fred WinterFulke Walwyn1962Sea Horse8Peter JonesBill Marshall1963Abandoned because of snow and frost1964Irish Imp7Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn1965Dunkirk8Dave DickPeter Cazalet1966Flash Bulb9Johnny HaineBob Turnell1967Vulmidas10Terry PinnerJohn Barclay1968Stonehaven8Stan MellorRoddy Armytage1969Abandoned because of frost1970Abandoned because of snow and frost1971Royal Relief7John CookEdward Courage1972Straight Fort9Eddie WrightJim Dreaper (Ir)1973Pendil8Richard PitmanFred Winter1974Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course1975Shock Result9Andy TurnellBob Turnell1976Uncle Bing7John BurkeG Doidge1977Isle of Man10Bill SmithFulke Walwyn1978Abandoned because of frost1979Casbah12Graham ThornerTim Forster1980Gambling Prince7John SuthernMrs G Jones1981Abandoned because of frost1982News King8John FrancomeFred Winter1983Abandoned because of snow and frost1984Ragafan7Robert HughesRon Smyth1985Abandoned because of snow1986Abandoned because of snow1987Pearlyman8Peter ScudamoreJohn Edwards 1988 Very Promising 10 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1989 Mr Key 8 Simon Sherwood David Murray Smith 1990 Feroda 9 Tom Taaffe Arthur Moore 1991 no race 1991 1992 Waterloo Boy 9 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1993 Waterloo Boy 10 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1994 Viking Flagship 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1995 Nakir 7 Jamie Osborne Simon Christian 1996 Viking Flagship 9 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1997 Double Symphony 9 Jamie Osborne Charlie Brooks 1998 Ask Tom 9 Russ Garritty Tom Tate 1999 Celibate 8 Mick Fitzgerald Charlie Mann 2000 Flagship Uberalles 6 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2001 Function Dream 9 Anthony Ross Mary Reveley 2002 Lady Cricket 8 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2003 Kadarann 6 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2004 Azertyuiop 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2005 Azertyuiop 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2006 Don't Be Shy 5 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe 2007 Well Chief 8 Timmy Murphy David Pipe 2008 Master Minded 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 no race 2009 2010 Master Minded 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 French Opera 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Sprinter Sacre 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Wishfull Thinking 10 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2014 Module 7 Paddy Brennan Tom George 2015 Mr Mole 7 Tony McCoy Paul Nicholls 2016 Top Gamble 8 Richard Johnson Kerry Lee 2017 Altior 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2018 Altior 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2009 no race 2019 2020 Altior 10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2021 Sceau Royal 9 Daryl Jacob Alan King 2022 Funambule Sivola 7 Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams 2023 Funambule Sivola 8 Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams 2024 Edwardstone 10 Tom Cannon Alan King 2025 Master Chewy 8 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2026 Lulamba 5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1987-2012) youtube.com pedigreequery.com – Game Spirit Chase – Newbury. '"A Passion for the Races". Oxford Mail