The Dovecote Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race 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 (), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late February.
The race was first run in 1988 as a Listed event and was raised to Grade 2 in 1991.
The leading contenders sometimes go on to compete in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March. The most recent horse to achieve victory in both events was Flown in 1992.
Records Leading jockey (3 wins): Robert Thornton – Senorita Rumbelita (2006), Trenchant (2009), Grumeti (2012) Barry Geraghty – Forgotten Voice (2013), Days of Heaven (2015), Winter Escape (2016)
Leading trainer (8 wins): Nicky Henderson – Over The Counter (1988), Flown (1992), Kimanicky (1996), Premier Generation (1999), Shatabdi (2007), Forgotten Voice (2013), Days of Heaven (2015), River Wylde (2017)
Winners since 1988 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1988 Over the Counter 6 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson 1989 Decided 6 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood 1990 Stratford Ponds 5 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1991 Granville Again 5 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Flown 5 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1993 Roll a Dollar 7 Gary L. Moore David Elsworth 1994 Jazilah 6 Graham McCourt Reg Akehurst 1995 Balanak 4 Adrian Maguire David Gandolfo 1996 Kimanicky 6 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 1997 Sanmartino 5 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1998 Buddy Marvel 4 Richard Dunwoody Oliver Sherwood 1999 Premier Generation 6 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2000 Hariymi 5 Barry Fenton Richard Rowe 2001 St Pirran 6 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2002 Hitman 7 Barry Fenton Mark Pitman 2003 Puntal 7 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Abandoned due to frost 2005 Abandoned due to snow 2006 Senorita Rumbalita 5 Robert Thornton Alan King 2007 Shatabdi 5 Sam Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson 2008 Pigeon Island 5 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies 2009 Trenchant 4 Robert Thornton Alan King 2010 Escort'men 4 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 Sire De Grugy 5 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2012 Grumeti 4 Robert Thornton Alan King 2013 Forgotten Voice 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2014 Irving 6 Nick Scholfield Paul Nicholls 2015 Days of Heaven 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2016 Winter Escape 5 Barry Geraghty Alan King 2017 River Wylde 6 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2018 Global Citizen 6 Daryl Jacob Ben Pauling 2019 Southfield Stone 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2020 Highway One O Two 5 Tom Cannon Chris Gordon 2021 Cape Gentleman 5 Jonjo O'Neill Jr Emmet Mullins 2022 Aucunrisque 6 Tom Cannon Chris Gordon 2023 Rubaud 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2024 Lump Sum 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Sam Thomas 2025 Tripoli Flyer 6 Jonathan Burke Fergal O'Brien 2026 Klub De Reve 6 Paul O'Brien Harry Derham
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1983-2003) youtube.com pedigreequery.com – Dovecote Novices' Hurdle – Kempton.