The Fort Leney Novice Chase, currently run as the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) at Leopardstown and during its running there are 17 fences to be jumped. It takes place annually during the Christmas Festival meeting.
The race was previously run as a Grade 3 and Grade 2 race, before being awarded Grade 1 status in 2003. The 2014 race was run as the Topaz Novice Chase. From 2015 to 2013 it was sponsored by Neville Hotels and usually took place on 29 December. In 2024 the Racing Post took over the sponsorship and the race was moved to Saint Stephen's Day.
Records Leading jockey (3 wins): Davy Russell – Cailin Alainn (2006), Delta Work (2018), Battleoverdoyen (2019) Paul Townend - Monkfish (2020), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2022), Grangeclare West (2023)
Leading trainer (6 wins): Gordon Elliott – No More Heroes (2015), Shattered Love (2017), Delta Work (2018), Battleoverdoyen (2019), Fury Road (2021), Croke Park (2024)
Winners since 1996 Year Winner Jockey Trainer 1996 Dorans Pride Shane Broderick Michael Hourigan 1997 Boss Doyle Tony McCoy Mouse Morris 1998 Nick Dundee Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady 1999 Saxophone Tom Treacy Jim Dreaper 2000 Over The Furze Conor O'Dwyer John Berry 2001 Give Over David Casey Edward Hales 2002 Be My Belle Timmy Murphy Sean Treacy 2003 Pizarro Barry Geraghty Edward O'Grady 2004 Forget The Past Denis Cullen Michael O'Brien 2005 Southern Vic Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh 2006 Cailin Alainn Davy Russell Charles Byrnes 2007 Notre Pere Andrew Lynch Jim Dreaper 2008 Casey Jones Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2009 Pandorama Davy Condon Noel Meade 2010 Bostons Angel Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2011 Last Instalment Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2012 Back in Focus Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2013 Carlingford Lough Tony McCoy John Kiely 2014 Don Poli Bryan Cooper Willie Mullins 2015 No More Heroes Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott 2016 Our Duke Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2017 Shattered Love Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott 2018 Delta Work Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2019 Battleoverdoyen Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2020 Monkfish Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2021 Fury Road Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2022 Gaillard Du Mesnil Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 Grangeclare West Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Croke Park Sam Ewing Gordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,