The Racing Post Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland. The race is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,419 metres) and during its running there are 11 fences to be jumped.
In July 2025, Horse Racing Ireland announced that the race, which had been removed from the novice chase programme the previous season, would be reinstated at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, with the Fort Leney Novice Chase deleted and the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick extended in distance.
The race is run on 26 December, which is known in Ireland as Saint Stephen's Day, and is one of the feature races of the course's four-day Christmas Festival.
Prior to 2011 Racing Post takes title sponsorship of St Stephen's Day card it was titled the Bord Na Mona With Nature Novice Chase. Prior to 2009 it was titled the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase. During the 1990s the race was known as the Dennys Gold Medal Novice Chase.
Records Leading jockey (3 wins): Paul Townend - Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Ferny Hollow (2021) Mark Walsh - Defy Logic (2013), Le Richebourg (2018), Saint Roi (2022)
Leading trainer (9 wins): Willie Mullins – Missed That (2005), Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere (2012), Douvan (2015), Min (2016), Footpad (2017), Franco De Port (2020), Ferny Hollow (2021), Saint Roi (2022)
Winners since 1987 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1987 Abbey Glen 5 Frank Berry P Hughes 1988 Deep Idol 8 Niall Madden P D Osborne 1989 Blitzkrieg 6 T J Ryan Edward O'Grady 1990 Firions Law 5 C N Bowens Victor Bowens 1991 Valrodian 8 I Lawrence Michael Robinson 1992 Soft Day 7 Tom Taaffe Arthur Moore 1993 Chirkpar 6 Richard Dunwoody Jim Bolger 1994 Klairon Davis 5 F Woods Arthur Moore1995Cancelled due to frozen course 1996 Danoli 8 Tommy Treacy Thomas Foley 1997 Dardjini 7 Kieran Gaule Noel Meade 1998 His Song 5 Shay Barry Mouse Morris 1999 Native Upmanship 6 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2000 Knife Edge 5 Tom Rudd Michael O'Brien 2001 Moscow Flyer 7 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2002 Le Coudray 8 Barry Geraghty Christy Roche 2003 Central House 6 Paul Carberry Dessie Hughes 2004 Mariah Rollins 6 John Cullen Pat Fahy 2005 Missed That 6 David Casey Willie Mullins 2006 Schindlers Hunt 6 Roger Loughran Dessie Hughes 2007 Sky's The Limit 6 Andrew McNamara Edward O'Grady 2008 Follow The Plan 5 John Cullen Oliver McKiernan 2009 Sizing Europe 7 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead 2010 Realt Dubh 7 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2011 Blackstairmountain 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2012 Arvika Ligeonniere 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2013 Defy Logic 6 Mark Walsh Paul Nolan 2014 Clarcam 4 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott 2015 Douvan 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2016 Min 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Footpad 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2018 Le Richebourg 5 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien 2019 Notebook 6 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead 2020 Franco De Port 5 Bryan Cooper Willie Mullins 2021 Ferny Hollow 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2022 Saint Roi 7 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2023 Found A Fifty 6 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2024 Croke Park 6 Sam EwingGordon Elliott 2025 Romeo Coolio 6 Jack KennedyGordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
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