Pendil Novices’ Chase

The Pendil Novices Chase is a Grade 2 race over an extended two-and-a-half miles at Kempton in late February.

It is named after a dual winner of Kempton’s King George VI Chase and is regarded as a significant trial for the staying novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival.

Notable past winners include Remittance Man (1991), Frodon (2017) and Cyrname (2018).

Find out more about the Pendil Novices Chase:

Race Overview – Pendil Novices Chase

Horses five years old or older may compete in the Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase known as the Pendil Novices’ Chase.

There are sixteen fences to jump during the race, which is run at Kempton Park over a distance of around 2 miles and 412 furlongs (2 miles, 4 furlongs, and 110 yards, or 4,124 metres).

This is an important horse race in February.

If you are looking for more racing tips for events taking place at Kempton Racecourse then check out our Kempton racing tips page.

For all Kempton races, our finest racing tipsters give free horse racing tips!

Famous Pendil Novices Chase Winners

The Pendil Novices Chase was originally named the Galloway Braes Novices Chase with the inaugural running taking place over two miles in 1965.

The 1966 renewal was won by Stalbridge Colonist who famously denied Arkle a hat-trick of Hennessy Gold Cup victories in 1966 when receiving 35lbs from the legendary chaser.

The 1991 race was won by Nicky Henderson’s Remittance Man who won the Arkle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The distance was increased in 1990 which meant it made more appeal to potential stayers.

John Edwards trained the winner in successive seasons with Snitton Lane (1993) and Monsieur Le Cure (1994).

Paul Nicholls dominated the Pendil with a run of six victories in seven seasons from 2006 to 2013. He has continued to run his most exciting novices in this race and has since taken his tally to a remarkable 12 victories. These include subsequent Ryanair Chase and King George VI winner Frodon (2017) and Cyrname (2018) who would go on to be the highest-rated steeplechaser in training. He famously defeated Altior in the 1965 Chase at Ascot in November 2019, ending a record 19-race winning streak over fences for Nicky Henderson’s stable star.

Key Pendil Novices Chase Trials

The best trial for the Pendil in recent seasons has been the Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown. Four of the last twelve winners ran in that race, three of them were placed but none of them had been successful.

Five of the last twelve winners ran at the Cheltenham Festival that season. Only Captain Chris managed a victory in the 2011 Arkle Chase.

Two were beaten in the JLT Novices Chase and two finished well beaten in festival handicaps.

Four of the winners ran at Aintree in the Manifesto Novices Chase but all were defeated. Balder Succes (2014) won the Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree next time.

Pendil Novices Chase Previous Result

Pendil Novices Chase Betting Trends

There have been five successful outright favourites and one joint-favourite in the past twelve seasons. Captain Chris (2011), Irish Saint (2015), Frodon (2017), Cyrname (2018) and Tamaroc Du Mathan (2021) all justified favouritism, three of them starting odds-on. Cristal Bonus started 15-8 joint-favourite when winning here in 2012.

The only surprise winner in recent years was 10-1 chance Who Dares Wins in 2020, trained by Alan King and ridden by Tom Cannon.

The winning age has varied between five (Frodon) and nine (Killala Quay in 2016).

The oldest winner in the history of the Pendil Novices Chase was Land Afar (1997) at the age of ten.

Pendil Novices Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Paul Nicholls is out on his own in this race with a record twelve victories; Napolitain (2006), Natal (2007), Oslot (2008), Herecomesthetruth (2009), The Nightingale (2010), Cristal Bonus (2012), Grandioso (2013), Irish Saint (2015), Frodon (2017), Cyrname (2018), Tamaroc Du Mathan (2021) and Pic D’Orhy (2022).

Ruby Walsh leads the jockey standings with six winners, all trained by Nicholls between 2007 and 2013.

Betting on the Pendil Novices Chase

The Pendil Novices Chase invariably goes to a fancied runner and very often one from the Paul Nicholls stable. Any entries from the Ditcheat Trainer must be noted although caution is advised when it comes to following the form at the big Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.

Facts about the Pendil Novices’ Chase

• The Pendil Novices’ Chase is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain that is open to horses aged five years or older.
• The race is run on the New Course at Kempton Park over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running, there are sixteen fences to be jumped.
• The Pendil Novices’ Chase is a Grade 2 race and it currently offers a prize fund of £50,000.
• The race was first run in 1965.
• The most successful trainer in the history of the race is Paul Nicholls, who has won it six times.

Summary of the Pendil Novices’ Chase

Thank you for reading our Pendil Novices’ Chase guide.

A high-class novice chase The Pendil has thrown up many good winners over the years. Many have used his as a stepping stone towards the big national festivals later in the year.

Related February Horse Racing Posts

Here are all of February’s horse racing related posts: