The Arkle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January.
The earliest version of the event was established in 1956, and it was originally contested over 2 miles (3,219 metres). Its current title pays tribute to Arkle, a winner of this race in 1963. At the time of Arkle's victory the event was known as the Milltown Novice Chase. The distance was extended by 2 furlongs in 1980, and by another furlong in 1992. It was cut to its present length in 1995.
The race is sometimes referred to as the "Irish Arkle", as there is a different event, similar in both name and format, which takes place in Great Britain in March. Several winners of the Irish version have subsequently achieved victory in its British counterpart, the Arkle Challenge Trophy. The most recent of these is El Fabiolo in 2023.
Records Leading jockey since 1956 (4 wins): Frank Berry - Spanish Tan (1975), Siberian Sun (1977), Bobsline (1984), Barrow Line (1987) Paul Townend - Golden Silver (2009), Footpad (2018), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022)
Leading trainer since 1956 (11 wins): Willie Mullins - Assessed (2002), Missed That (2006), Golden Silver (2009), Un de Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Footpad (2018), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023), Il Etait Temps (2024), Majborough (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1956 Quita Que 7 P. J. Doyle Dan Moore 1957 Proud Charger Toss Taaffe Vincent O'Brien 1958 Casamba Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator 1959 The Major Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator 1960 Kilrory F. Prendergast J. J. Prendergast 1961 Gallant Grey E. D. Delany E. Delany 1962 Limeking 5 Timmy Hyde Danny Morgan 1963 Arkle 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1964 Fort Leney 6 Paddy Woods Tom Dreaper 1965 Flyingbolt 6 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1966 Thorn Gate 7 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper 1967 Stonehaven 7 Sean Barker Tom Dreaper 1968 Herring Gull 6 Joe Crowley Paddy Mullins 1969 Kings Sprite 7 P. Black Georgie Wells 1970 no race 1970 1971 Dim Wit 6 Matt Curran Paddy Mullins 1972 Ormond King Ben Hannon C. J. Powell 1973 Good Review 7 Val O'Brien Jim Dreaper 1974 Ten Up 7 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper 1975 Spanish Tan 8 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1976 Troubled Times 7 Dessie Hughes Peter McCreery 1977 Siberian Sun 6 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1978 Kilmakillogue 9 Niall Madden Edward O'Grady 1979 Chinrullah 7 Dessie Hughes Mick O'Toole 1980 Anaglogs Daughter 7 Martin Mulligan Bill Durkan 1981 Light the Wad 8 Frank Leavy Dessie Hughes 1982 Sean Ogue 6 P. Walsh Michael O'Brien 1983 Pearlstone 7 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1984 Bobsline 8 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1985 Buck House 7 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris 1986 Passage Creeper 9 Ken Morgan Jim Dreaper 1987 Barrow Line 10 Frank Berry Pat Hughes 1988 Wolf of Badenoch 7 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern 1989 Abbenoir 7 R. Byrne Francis Flood 1990 On the Other Hand 7 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern 1991 Garamycin 9 Brendan Sheridan Willie Deacon 1992 General Idea 7 Brendan Sheridan Dermot Weld 1993 Soft Day 8 Tom Taaffe Arthur Moore 1994 Atone 7 Kevin O'Brien Bunny Cox 1995 Klairon Davis 6 Francis Woods Arthur Moore 1996 Manhattan Castle 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore 1997 Mulligan 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1998 Private Peace 8 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1999 His Song 6 Shay Barry Mouse Morris 2000 Frozen Groom 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2001 Well Ridden 7 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2002 Assessed 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2003 Bust Out 7 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2004 Kicking King 6 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe 2005 Ulaan Baatar 8 Timmy Murphy Jessica Harrington 2006 Missed That 7 David Casey Willie Mullins 2007 Schindlers Hunt 7 Roger Loughran Dessie Hughes 2008 Thyne Again 7 Davy Russell Liam Burke 2009 Golden Silver 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2010 An Cathaoir Mor 7 David Casey Henry de Bromhead 2011 Realt Dubh 7 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2012 Flemenstar 7 Andrew Lynch Peter Casey 2013 Benefficient 7 Bryan Cooper Tony Martin 2014 Trifolium 7 Bryan Cooper Charles Byrnes 2015 Un de Sceaux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Douvan 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Some Plan 9 Davy Russell Henry de Bromhead 2018 Footpad 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2019 Le Richebourg 6 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien 2020 Notebook 7 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead 2021 Energumene 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2022 Blue Lord 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 El Fabiolo 6 Daryl Jacob Willie Mullins 2024 Il Etait Temps 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2025 Majborough 5 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2026 Romeo Coolio 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase – Leopardstown.