The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.
The event is named after Royal Bond, a successful National Hunt horse trained by Arthur Moore in the early 1980s. It was established in 1994, and held Grade 1 status until 2023. It is usually staged on the same afternoon as the Drinmore Novice Chase and the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.
Records Leading jockey (4 wins): Charlie Swan – Thats My Man (1995), Istabraq (1996), Liss A Paoraigh (2000), Like-a-Butterfly (2001) Paul Carberry – Gambolling Doc (1994), Wild Passion (2004), Iktitaf (2005), Muirhead (2007) Ruby Walsh - Alexander Banquet (1998), Sous les Cieux (2011), Long Dog (2015), Quick Grabim (2018) Danny Mullins - The Tullow Tank (2013), Airlie Beach (2016), Statuaire (2021), Tounsivator (2024) Jack Kennedy - Mengli Khan (2017), Ballyadam (2020), Farren Glory (2023), Koktail Brut (2025)
Leading trainer (10 wins): Willie Mullins - Alexander Banquet (1998), Hurricane Fly (2008), Zaidpour (2010), Sous les Cieux (2011), Nichols Canyon (2014), Long Dog (2015), Airlie Beach (2016), Quick Grabim (2018), Statuaire (2021), Tounsivator (2024)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1994 Gambolling Doc 4 Paul Carberry Paddy Mullins 1995 Thats My Man 5 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1996 Istabraq 4 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1997 Feathered Leader 5 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 1999 Moscow Flyer 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2000 Liss A Paoraigh 5 Charlie Swan John Kiely 2001 Like-A-Butterfly 7 Charlie Swan Christy Roche 2002 Hardy Eustace 5 Kieran Kelly Dessie Hughes 2003 Newmill 5 Garrett Cotter Thomas Gerard O'Leary 2004 Wild Passion 4 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2005 Iktitaf 4 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2006 Hide the Evidence 5 Andrew Leigh Jessica Harrington 2007 Muirhead 4 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2008 Hurricane Fly 4 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2009 Dunguib 6 Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2010 Zaidpour 4 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2011 Sous les Cieux 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2012 Jezki 4 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2013 The Tullow Tank 5 Danny Mullins Philip Fenton 2014 Nichols Canyon 4 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2015 Long Dog 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Airlie Beach 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2017 Mengli Khan 4 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2018 Quick Grabim 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2019 Envoi Allen 5 Davy RussellGordon Elliott 2020 Ballyadam 5 Jack KennedyGordon Elliott 2021 Statuaire 6 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Marine Nationale 5 Michael O'Sullivan Barry Connell 2023 Farren Glory 6 Jack KennedyGordon Elliott 2024 Tounsivator 5 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2025 Koktail Brut 5 Jack KennedyGordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , pedigreequery.com – Royal Bond Novice Hurdle – Fairyhouse.