The PRL Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles and 100 yards, or ), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The event was formerly open to horses aged four or older, and for a period it was sponsored by BMW. The minimum age was raised to five in 1992, and Country Pride took over the sponsorship in 1993. The race was promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status in 1998.
The Evening Herald became the usual sponsor of the race in 2000. The event was subsequently backed by VC Bet, but the Evening Herald returned as sponsor in 2009. The race was rebranded as the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in 2013 after the sponsoring newspaper changed its name. Ecomm Merchant Solutions took over sponsorship from the 2021 running, Bective Stud sponsored in 2022 and the current sponsors, KPMG, took over in 2023.
Records Leading jockey since 1980 (5 wins): Ruby Walsh - Iktitaf (2006), Hurricane Fly (2009), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019)
Leading trainer since 1980 (11 wins): Willie Mullins - Hurricane Fly (2009), Blackstairmountain (2010), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Cilaos Emery (2017), Draconien (2018), Klassical Dream (2019), Echoes In Rain (2021), Facile Vega (2023), Mystical Power (2024), Irancy (2025)
Winners since 1980 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1980 Deep Gale 7 Frank Codd Edward O'Grady 1981 Tie Anchor 4 Tommy McGivern Paddy Prendergast, Jr. 1982 Bustineto 4 Niall Madden Mick O'Toole 1983 Dawn Run 5 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1984 Gav's Delight 6 Ken Morgan Michael Cunningham 1985 Hungary Hur 6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1986 Barney Burnett 6 Brendan Sheridan Ruby Walsh snr 1987 High Plains 5 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1988 El-Sid Senor 5 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1989 The Proclamation 6 Richard Dunwoody Paddy Prendergast, Jr. 1990 Vestris Abu 4 Charlie Swan Jim Bolger 1991 Young Pokey 6 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1992 Fortune and Fame 5 Brendan Sheridan Dermot Weld 1993 Bayrouge 5 Richard Dunwoody Anne-Marie O'Brien 1994 Klairon Davis 5 Trevor Horgan Arthur Moore 1995 Hotel Minella 8 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1996 Dance Beat 5 John Shortt Jessica Harrington 1997 Midnight Legend 6 Richard Johnson David Nicholson 1998 His Song 5 Tony McCoy Mouse Morris 1999 Cardinal Hill 5 Charlie Swan Noel Meade 2000 Moscow Flyer 6 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2001 Ned Kelly 5 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady 2002 Scottish Memories 6 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2003 Back In Front 6 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady 2004 Brave Inca 6 Barry Cash Colm Murphy 2005 Wild Passion 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2006 Iktitaf 5 Ruby Walsh Noel Meade 2007 Clopf 6 Barry Geraghty Edward O'Grady 2008 Jered 6 Tony McCoy Noel Meade 2009 Hurricane Fly 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2010 Blackstairmountain 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2011 Shot From The Hip 7 Tony McCoy Edward O'Grady 2012 Alderwood 8 Tony McCoy Thomas Mullins 2013 Jezki 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2014 Faugheen 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2015 Douvan 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Don't Touch It 6 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2017 Cilaos Emery 5 David Mullins Willie Mullins 2018 Draconien 5 Noel Fehily Willie Mullins 2019 Klassical Dream 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins no race 2020 2021 Echoes In Rain 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Mighty Potter 5 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2023 Facile Vega 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Mystical Power 5 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2025 Irancy 7 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2026 Eachtotheirown 7 Sean Flanagan Barry Connell
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , pedigreequery.com – VC Bet Champion Novice Hurdle – Punchestown. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).