Noel Novices’ Chase

The Noel Novices’ Chase is a Grade 2 race over two miles and five furlongs at Ascot in December.

The Noel Novices’ Chase takes place on Friday 22nd December 2023.

It is a significant trial for the top novice events at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Famous previous winners include Bonanza Boy (1987), Remittance Man (1990), The Listener (2005), Simonsig (2012) and Politologue (2016).

Find out Noel Novices Chase:

Noel Novices’ Chase

Race Overview – Noel Novices Chase

The Noel Novices’ Chase is a novices chase, which is run at Ascot over a distance of roughly 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles, 5 furlongs, and 8 yards, or 4,231 metres). It takes place every December.

Noel Novices’ Chase 2023 Odds

The Noel Novices’ Chase odds are listed below:

The odds for this race have not yet been released.

Noel Novices’ Chase 2023 Tips

The Noel Novices’ Chase tips are below:

2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Many Noel Novices’ Chase horses will race in more races throughout the years. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Noel Novices’ Chase Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1987Bonanza Boy6Peter HobbsPhilip Hobbs
1988Larchwood7Kevin MooneySimon Christian
1989The Proclamation6Richard DunwoodyNicky Henderson
1990Remittance Man6Richard DunwoodyNicky Henderson
1991no race 1991 [a]
1992Retail Runner7Declan MurphyJosh Gifford
1993Easy Buck6Chris MaudeNick Gaselee
1994Book of Music I6Norman WilliamsonKim Bailey
1995Senor El Betrutti6Graham BradleySusan Nock
1996Simply Dashing5Richard DunwoodyMick Easterby
1997Chief's Song7Richard DunwoodySimon Dow
1998Kurakka5Richard DunwoodyJosh Gifford
1999Toto Toscato5Richard JohnsonAlan King
2000Galant Moss6Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
2001Seebald6Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
2002Tarxien8Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
2003Supreme Prince8Paul FlynnPhilip Hobbs
2004See You Sometime[b]9Andrew ThorntonSeamus Mullins
2005The Listener[b]6Andrew ThorntonRobert Alner
2006Briareus6Mark BradburneAndrew Balding
2007Hobbs Hill8Tony McCoyCharlie Egerton
2008Deep Purple7Paul MoloneyEvan Williams
2009no race 2009 [c]
2010no race 2010 [d]
2011Zaynar6James ReveleyNick Williams
2012Simonsig6Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2013Fox Appeal6Aidan ColemanEmma Lavelle
2014Ptit Zig5Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls
2015Le Mercurey5Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls
2016Politologue5Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls
2017Benatar5Jamie MooreGary Moore
2018Vinndication5David BassKim Bailey
2019Angels Breath5Nico de BoinvilleNicky Henderson
2020Allart6Nico de BoinvilleNicky Henderson
2021Pic D'Orhy6Harry CobdenPaul Nicholls
2022no race 2022 [e]

Famous Noel Novices Chase Winners

Among the earlier winners of the Noel Novices Chase, Bonanza Boy (1987) and Remittance Man (1990) stand out.

Bonanza Boy went on to win the Welsh Grand National twice for Martin Pipe and Peter Scudamore in 1988 and 1989.

Remittance Man would become an outstanding two-mile chaser, winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 1991 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following year.

2005 winner The Listener went on to win the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup, the John Durkan Memorial Chase and the Lexus Chase. The talented grey seemed unable to reproduce the same level of form at the major festivals in Britain but his career earnings still topped £400,000.

Simonsig (2012) was an odds-on winner of the Arkle Trophy in 2013 but his career was blighted by injury. He returned to action after almost three years but was not able to fulfil the promise of his novice chasing career.

Politologue (2016) became a multiple Grade 1 winner for Paul Nicholls. His career victories include the Tingle Creek Chase (2017 and 2020), the Melling Chase (2018) and the Queen Mother Champion Chase (2020).

Key Noel Novices Chase Trials

Seven of the last eleven Noel Novices’ Chase winners had won last time out. All but two of them had raced within the previous 41 days.

Although it is not possible to pinpoint a specific trial, it is clear that fitness is a key factor for winners of this event.

There are several options for the winner of this race.

Ptit Zig won the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham next time.

Other winners ran in the Altcar Novices Chase at Haydock and the Scilly Isles Novices Chase.

Five of the last eleven winners ran in the Marsh Novices’ Chase, now known as the Turners, at the Cheltenham Festival, but all were beaten.

Noel Novices Chase Betting Trends

The market leaders have dominated this race for the past eleven seasons.

Remarkably, all eleven renewals have been won by either the favourite or second favourite.

There were four odds-on winners; Simonsig (2012), Politologue (2016), Vindication (2018) and Angels Breath (2019).

Horses aged five and six accounts for all eleven winners.

Noel Novices Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer in the history of the Noel Novices’ Chase with five winners; The Proclamation (1989), Remittance Man (1990), Simonsig (2012), Angels Breath (2019) and Allart (2020).

Paul Nicholls has moved to within one of that tally with four winners in the past eight seasons; Ptit Zig (2014), Le Mercurey (2015), Politologue (2016) and Pic D’Orhy (2021).

The leading jockey is Richard Dunwoody with five Noel Novices’ Chase victories; The Proclamation (1989), Remittance Man (1990), Simply Dashing (1996), Chief’s Song (1997) and Kurakka (1998).

Tony McCoy won it four times aboard Galant Moss (2000), Seebald (2001) and Tarxien (2002), all trained by Martin Pipe, and Hobbs Hill (2007), trained by Charlie Egerton.

Betting on the Noel Novices Chase

The Noel Novices’ Chase has been totally dominated by the market leaders in recent seasons.

It has also produced two future champion chasers and numerous other top performers.

The form can be followed with confidence.

Noel Novices Chase Facts

  • The Noel Novices Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older.
  • It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs, and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped.
  • The race was first run in 2005 and was named after the racehorse trainer Noel Chance.
  • The race is sponsored by the betting company BetVictor, who have sponsored the race since 2018.

Popular Questions

What are important facts about Noel Novices’ Chase?

Here are some important facts about Noel Novices’ Chase:

  • The Noel Novices’ Chase is run at Ascot Racecourse, Great Britain
  • The Noel Novices’ Chase is a National Hunt Steeplechase in Great Britain
  • The Noel Novices’ Chase distance is 2 miles and 5 furlongs

Summary of the Noel Novices Chase

Thank you for reading our Noel Novices’ Chase guide.

The race often attracts a small but high-class field of runners with many going on to become champions.

In our review we have looked at the race history, previous winners, the betting, tips and more!

Resources

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As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.