Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location |
Punchestown Co. Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Race type | Hurdle race |
| Sponsor | The Herald |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 100y (3,219 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 12 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse |
€100,000 (2017) 1st: €59,000 |
The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong (2 miles and 100 yards, or 3,310 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The event was formerly open to horses aged four or older, and for a period it was sponsored by BMW. The minimum age was raised to five in 1992, and Country Pride took over the sponsorship in 1993. The race was promoted from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status in 1998.
The Evening Herald became the usual sponsor of the race in 2000. The event was subsequently backed by VC Bet, but the Evening Herald returned as sponsor in 2009. The race was rebranded as the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in 2013 after the sponsoring newspaper change its name.
Leading jockey since 1980 (4 wins):
Leading trainer since 1980 (5 wins):
1 The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse.
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