Ryanair Novice Chase
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location |
Punchestown Co. Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Ryanair |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles (3,219 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 3 lb (5yo); 11 st 10 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse |
€115,000 (2017) 1st: €67,850 |
The Ryanair Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
During the 1990s the event was sponsored by the Bank of Ireland and Tripleprint. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1998, and its sponsorship was taken over by Swordlestown Stud in 2000. The present sponsor, Ryanair, began supporting the race in 2010.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, and the last to win both races was Douvan in 2016.
Leading jockey since 1992 (4 wins):
Leading trainer since 1992 (5 wins):
1 The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse.
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