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

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).

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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.

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.

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.

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!

There are more races in December that you might enjoy, so make sure you check them out.

Check out our Ascot tips page if you enjoy watching races at Ascot Racecourse.