The Skymas Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of about 2 miles and 3½ furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 120 yards, or 3,931 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.
The race was first run in 1999. It was awarded Grade 3 status in 2003 and then raised again in 2009, to Grade 2 status. Prior to 2003 the race was run over 2 miles and 2 furlongs.
The race is named after Skymas, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1976 and 1977, who was trained near Down Royal. It has been run under various sponsored titles since its inauguration.
Records Leading jockey since 1999 (4 wins): Barry Geraghty – Killultagh Storm (2001), Moscow Flyer (2002), Splendour (2003), In Compliance (2006)
Leading trainer since 1999 (7 wins): Paul Nicholls – Noland (2008), Herecomesthetruth (2009), The Nightingale (2010), Kauto Stone (2011), Cristal Bonus (2012), Rolling Aces (2013), Ptit Zig (2015)
Winners since 2001 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1999 Siberian Gale 7 Tommy Treacy Paddy Mullins 2000 Rathbawn Prince 8 Kieran Kelly Dessie Hughes 2001 Killultagh Storm 7 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins 2002 Moscow Flyer 8 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2003 Splendour 8 Barry Geraghty Suzanne Cox 2004 Murphy's Cardinal 8 Seamus Durack Noel Chance 2005 no race 2005 2006 In Compliance 6 Barry Geraghty Michael O'Brien 2007 One Cool Cookie 6 David Casey Charlie Swan 2008 Noland 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 Herecomesthetruth 7 Christian Williams Paul Nicholls 2010 The Nightingale 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2011 Kauto Stone 5 Paul Carberry Paul Nicholls 2012 Cristal Bonus 6 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls 2013 Rolling Aces 7 Nick Scholfield Paul Nicholls 2014 Don Cossack 7 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott 2015 Ptit Zig 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2016 Sub Lieutenant 7 David Mullins Henry de Bromhead 2017 Disko 6 Sean Flanagan Noel Meade 2018 Snow Falcon 8 Sean Flanagan Noel Meade 2019 Real Steel 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2020 Battleoverdoyen 7 Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott 2021 Envoi Allen 7 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead 2022 Fury Road 8 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2023 Ash Tree Meadow 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2024 Found A Fifty 7 Sam Ewing Gordon Elliott 2025 Firefox 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,