The Navan Novice Hurdle is a Grade Two National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run in mid-December at Navan in Ireland, over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres).
The race was first run in 1999 over a distance of 2 miles, before being increased to its present distance in 2000. It was originally run as a Grade 3 race, before being given Grade 1 status in 2004. It was downgraded again from the 2014 running. The race is usually contested by some of the season's top novice hurdlers, who often go on to contest top races at both the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival later in the season. Prior to 2010 it was run as the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle. A race with a similar title was run in 1998, but was not restricted to novices.
Records Leading jockey (5 wins): Ruby Walsh - Boston Bob (2011), Pont Alexandre (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Bellshill (2015), Easy Game (2018)
Leading trainer (8 wins): Willie Mullins - Mikael D'Haguenet (2008), Boston Bob (2011), Pont Alexandre (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Bellshill (2015), Next Destination (2017), Easy Game (2018), Doctor Steinberg (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1999 Aldino 5 Charlie Swan Ronald O'Leary 2000 Harbour Pilot 5 Barry Geraghty Noel Meade 2001 Over The Bar 5 Charlie Swan Edward O'Grady 2002 Solerina 5 Paul Carberry James Bowe 2003 Newmill 5 Barry Geraghty Thomas O'Leary 2004 Petertheknot 6 Conor O'Dwyer Patrick Sinnott 2005 Travino 6 John Cullen Margaret Mullins 2006 Aran Concerto 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2007 Trafford Lad 5 Tom Doyle Dusty Sheehy 2008 Mikael D'Haguenet 4 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2009 Shinrock Paddy 5 Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2010 Oscars Well 5 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2011 Boston Bob 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2012 Pont Alexandre 4 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2013 Briar Hill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 No More Heroes 5 Barry Geraghty Gordon Elliott 2015 Bellshill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Death Duty 5 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott 2017 Next Destination 5 David Mullins Willie Mullins 2018 Easy Game 4 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2019 Latest Exhibition 6 Bryan Cooper Paul Nolan 2020 Ashdale Bob 5 Paddy Kennedy Jessica Harrington 2021 Ginto 5 Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott 2022 Inthepocket 5 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead 2023 Slade Steel 5 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead 2024 The Yellow Clay 5 Sam Ewing Gordon Elliott 2025 Doctor Steinberg 5 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
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