The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs {2 miles 4 furlongs and 40 yards, or 4,060 metres) at Punchestown in December.
The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973. It has been run over the present distance since then apart from in 1993 and 1994, when it was run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs. The race was renamed in December 1998 in memory of John Durkan (1967-1998), an amateur jockey and assistant racehorse trainer who died of leukemia in January 1998.
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Min - 2018, 2019, 2020
Most successful jockey (4 wins): Ruby Walsh - Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Djakadam (2015, 2016), Min (2018)
Most successful trainer (11 wins): Willie Mullins - Florida Pearl (2001), Arvika Ligeonniere (2013), Djakadam (2015, 2016), Min (2018, 2019, 2020), Allaho (2021), Galopin Des Champs (2022), Fact To File (2024), Gaelic Warrior (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1968 Bold Fencer 7 Joe Crowley A S O'Brien 1969 Kinloch Brae 6 Timmy Hyde Willie O'Grady 1970 East Bound Sean Barker Tom Dreaper 1971 Straight Fort 8 Eddie Wright Jim Dreaper 1972 Straight Fort 9 Eddie Wright Jim Dreaper 1973 Lean Forward 7 P McLoughlin Jim Dreaper 1974 Lough Inagh 7 Sean Barker Jim Dreaper 1975 Captain Christy 8 Bobby Coonan Pat Taaffe 1976 Fort Fox Frank Berry J R Cox 1977 Fort Fox Thomas McGivern J R Cox 1978 Jack Of Trumps 5 Mr. Niall Madden Sr. Edward O'Grady 1979 Jack Of Trumps 6 Mr. Niall Madden Sr. Edward O'Grady 1980 Chinrullah 8 Mr. Niall Madden Sr. Mick O'Toole 1981 Tacroy 7 Tommy Carmody Michael O'Brien 1982 Chorelli 9 P Walsh Michael O'Brien 1983 Ballinacurra Lad 8 P Leech John Fowler 1984 Bobsline 8 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1985 Dawn Run 7 Anthony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1986 Bobsline 10 Frank Berry Francis Flood 1987 Excursion John Queally G Stewart 1988 Hungary Hur 9 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern 1989 Maid Of Money 7 Anthony Powell John Fowler 1990 Carvill's Hill 8 Kevin Morgan Jim Dreaper 1991 Garamycin 9 Brendan Sheridan Willie Deacon 1992 Gold Options 10 Mark Dwyer Peter McCreery 1993 Cahervillahow 9 Norman Williamson Mouse Morris 1994 Merry Gale 6 Kevin O'Brien Jim Dreaper 1995 Merry Gale 7 Richard Dunwoody Jim Dreaper 1996 Royal Mountbrowne 8 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1997 Dorans Pride 8 Richard Dunwoody Michael Hourigan 1998 Imperial Call 9 Paul Carberry Raymond Hurley 1999 Buck Rogers 10 Ken Whelan Victor Bowens 2000 Native Upmanship 7 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2001 Florida Pearl 9 Paul Carberry Willie Mullins 2002 Native Upmanship 9 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2003 Beef or Salmon 7 Timmy Murphy Michael Hourigan 2004 Kicking King 6 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe 2005 Hi Cloy 8 Andrew McNamara Michael Hourigan 2006 In Compliance 6 Barry Geraghty Michael O'Brien 2007 The Listener 8 Daryl Jacob Robert Alner 2008 Noland 7 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls 2009 Joncol 6 Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2010 Tranquil Sea 8 Andrew McNamara Edward O'Grady 2011 Rubi Light 6 Andrew Lynch Robert Alan Hennessy 2012 Flemenstar 7 Andrew Lynch Peter Casey 2013 Arvika Ligeonniere 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 Don Cossack 7 Brian O'Connell Gordon Elliott 2015 Djakadam 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Djakadam 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Sizing John 7 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2018 Min 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2019 Min 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2020 Min 9 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2021 Allaho 7 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Galopin Des Champs 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 Fastorslow 7 JJ Slevin Martin Brassil 2024 Fact To File 7 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2025 Gaelic Warrior 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
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