The Metal Man Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Tramore Racecourse over a distance of about 2 miles and 7 furlongs (2 miles 6 furlongs and 170 yards or 4,581 metres). The race is scheduled to take place each year on New Year's Day and is currently run as the O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey New Year's Day Chase.
The race was previously known as the WIlf Dooly Chase, and had Listed status. It was awarded Grade 3 status in 2020.
Records Most successful horse (4 wins): Al Boum Photo - 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Leading jockey (5 wins):
Paul Townend - Marito (2014), Bachasson (2018), Al Boum Photo (2020, 2021, 2022)
Leading trainer (9 wins): Willie Mullins - Barker (2011), Apt Approach (2012), Marito (2014), Bachasson (2018), Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), Embassy Gardens (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 2005 Cloudy Bays 8 Andrew McNamara Charles Byrnes 2006 Kymandjen 9 J L Cullen Paul Nolan 2007 Cloudy Bays 10 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes 2008 Knight Legend 9 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2009 One Cool Cookie 8 Davy Russell Charlie Swan 2010 The Fonze 9 Shay Barry Eoin Doyle 2011 Barker 10 David Casey Willie Mullins 2012 Apt Approach 9 David Casey Willie Mullins 2013 Roi Du Mee 8 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2014 Marito 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2015 Roi Du Mee 10 Kevin Sexton Gordon Elliott 2017 Champagne West 9 David Mullins Henry de Bromhead 2018 Bachasson 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2019 Al Boum Photo 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2020 Al Boum Photo 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2021 Al Boum Photo 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2022 Al Boum Photo 10 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 Minella Indo 10 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead 2024 Jungle Boogie 10 Darragh O'Keefe Henry de Bromhead 2025 Embassy Gardens 9 Michael O'Sullivan Willie Mullins 2025 Heart Wood 8 Darragh O'Keefe Henry de Bromhead
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,