Towton Novices' Chase

{{Short description|Steeplechase horse race in Britain}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Jockey colours header | name = Towton Novices' Chase }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2023 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg | alt1 = Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, black star | caption1 = City Chief | image2 = File:Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots | caption2 = O'Toole | image3 = File:Owner Ms Sharon Kinsella.svg | alt3 = Black, red sleeves, black spots | caption3 = Bellatrixsa }} |} {{Jockey colours collapsible header}} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2022 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs C Wymer and Mr Pjs Russell.svg | alt1 = Red, black epaulets and armlets, black cap, red star | caption1 = Ahoy Senor | image2 = File:Owner Mr Paul Byrne.svg | alt2 = Light blue, light blue and pink striped cap | caption2 = Noble Yeats | image3 = File:Owner Darren and Annaley Yates.svg | alt3 = Black, silver disc | caption3 = Ashtown Lad }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2020-2011 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2020 | image1 = File:Owner Lady Dulverton.svg | alt1 = Yellow, emerald green epaulets and armlets | caption1 = Newtide | image2 = File:Owner Mike and Eileen Newbould.svg | alt2 = Black, white cross of lorraine, sleeves and cap | caption2 = Ardlethen | image3 = File:Owner Mr A Brooks.svg | alt3 = Light blue, red braces, white sleeves, red armlets, light blue and red quartered cap | caption3 = Dominateur }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2018 | image1 = File:Owner Mr F J Mills.svg | alt1 = Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap | caption1 = Ballyoptic | image2 = File:Owner Mr Trevor Hemmings.svg | alt2 = Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap | caption2 = Vintage Clouds | image3 = File:Owner The Potassium Partnership.svg | alt3 = Royal blue, yellow sash and cap with blue hoop | caption3 = Shades Of Midnight }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2017 | image1 = File:Owner David And Nicky Robinson.svg | alt1 = Red, black and white striped sleeves, red cap, black diamond | caption1 = Baywing | image2 = File:Owner Mr S Munir.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap | caption2 = Calett Mad | image3 = File:Owner Alan and Andrew Turner.svg | alt3 = Light blue, white star, dark blue sleeves, light blue cap, white star | caption3 = Missed Approach }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2016 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs S Such.svg | alt1 = Red, white star, red sleeves, black stars, white cap, red star | caption1 = Blaklion | image2 = File:Owner Mr P J Martin.svg | alt2 = Light green, dark green chevrons, red sleeves, white and red striped cap | caption2 = Definitely Red | image3 = File:Owner Brocade Racing.svg | alt3 = Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap | caption3 = Native River }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2015 | image1 = File:Owner Mr P. J. Dunkley.svg | alt1 = Orange, black star, black and orange striped sleeves | caption1 = Ned Stark | image2 = File:Owner Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings.svg | alt2 = Dark blue, red seams, white cap | caption2 = Kaki De La Pree | image3 = File:Owner Mrs M B Scholey.svg | alt3 = Light blue and yellow (halved), sleeves reversed, light blue and yellow striped cap | caption3 = Straidnahanna }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2014 | image1 = File:Owner Countrywide Vehicle Rentals Taxi Hire.svg | alt1 = Orange, beige spots and sleeves, orange cap | caption1 = Ely Brown | image2 = File:Owner Pinehurst Stud.svg | alt2 = Purple, grey epaulets, halved sleeves | caption2 = Milborough | image3 = File:Owner Mrs T R Kinsey.svg | alt3 = Dark blue, orange diamond, quartered cap | caption3 = Strike Fast }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2013 | image1 = File:Owner Mr R S Brookhouse.svg | alt1 = Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star | caption1 = Goulanes | image2 = File:Owner Mr Andrew Dick.svg | alt2 = Black, grey disc, armlets and cap | caption2 = Super Duty | image3 = File:Owner Mr R Alner.svg | alt3 = Gold, black hoops, scarlet cap | caption3 = Fentara }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2011 | image1 = File:Owner Mr T J Parrott.svg | alt1 = Royal blue, yellow hoop, dark blue sleeves, royal blue and yellow quartered cap | caption1 = Wayward Prince | image2 = File:Owner Mr J David Abell.svg | alt2 = White, light blue spots, white sleeves, light blue cap, white spots | caption2 = Cape Tribulation | image3 = File:Owner Mr M Tedham.svg | alt3 = Yellow, dark blue triple diamond and armlets | caption3 = Captain Americo }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2010-2001 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2010 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Andrew Dick.svg | alt1 = Black, grey disc, armlets and cap | caption1 = Weird Al | image2 = File:Owner Mr W F Trueman.svg | alt2 = White, royal blue hoop, chevrons on sleeves, yellow cap | caption2 = Knockara Beau | image3 = File:Owner Mrs Karen Bowen.svg | alt3 = Maroon, yellow sleeves, white armlets, white cap | caption3 = Mumbles Head }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2009 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs Diana Whateley.svg | alt1 = Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap | caption1 = Kornati Kid | image2 = File:Owner Mr R N C Hall.svg | alt2 = Emerald green and red stripes, white cap | caption2 = Will Be Done | image3 = File:Owner Mr W M G Black.svg | alt3 = Royal blue, large red spots, hooped sleeves, red cap | caption3 = Companero }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2007 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Stephen W Molloy.svg | alt1 = Purple and white (quartered), red and royal blue halved sleeves, white cap, purple star | caption1 = Heltornic | image2 = File:Owner Mr Andrew Wiles.svg | alt2 = Emerald green and maroon (halved), sleeves reversed, emerald green and maroon quartered cap | caption2 = Miko de Beauchene | image3 = File:Owner Mr James Drummond.svg | alt3 = Yellow, red chevrons, yellow cap | caption3 = Heez A Dreamer }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2006 | image1 = File:Owner Miss K. M. Franklin.svg | alt1 = Emerald green, red star, white sleeves, red stars, red cap | caption1 = Halcon Genelardais | image2 = File:Owner Hunt and Co (Bournemouth) Ltd.svg | alt2 = Black, yellow stars, black sleeves, yellow cap | caption2 = Preacher Boy | image3 = File:Owner Mr Andrew Wiles.svg | alt3 = Emerald green and maroon (halved), sleeves reversed, emerald green and maroon quartered cap | caption3 = Mort De Rire }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2005 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Roger Nicholls.svg | alt1 = Light blue, maroon stars and sleeves, light blue cap | caption1 = Ollie Magern | image2 = File:Owner Mr P J D Pottinger.svg | alt2 = White, large royal blue spots, royal blue cap | caption2 = King Harald | image3 = File:Owner Mr Keith Nicholson.svg | alt3 = Orange, black triple diamond, black and orange diabolo on sleeves, orange cap, black diamond | caption3 = Undeniable }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2004 | image1 = File:Owner Widdop Wanderers.svg | alt1 = Maroon and light blue (quartered), maroon sleeves | caption1 = Royal Emperor | image2 = File:Owner R and E H Investments Ltd.svg | alt2 = Light blue and orange diamonds, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, orange star | caption2 = Native Emperor | image3 = File:Owner Mr C H Stevens.svg | alt3 = Dark blue, yellow stars, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap | caption3 = Silver Knight }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2003 | image1 = File:Owner Mrs Stewart Catherwood.svg | alt1 = Claret, grey disc and armlets, quartered cap | caption1 = Keen Leader | image2 = File:Owner Mrs Mary and Miss Susan Hatfield.svg | alt2 = Emerald green, white stripe, white sleeves, emerald green armlets, emerald green and white quartered cap | caption2 = Jungle Jinks | image3 = File:Owner The Wiggin Partnership.svg | alt3 = Maroon, yellow seams and sleeves, hooped cap | caption3 = Haut Cercy }} {{Jockey colours no footer}} {{Jockey colours named collapsible header | name = 2000-1996 }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 2000 | image1 = File:Owner Lady Harris.svg | alt1 = Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves | caption1 = Arctic Camper | image2 = File:Owner Mrs S Tainton.svg | alt2 = Grey, Red sleeves, Black and Red check cap | caption2 = Beau | image3 = File: (at)-white.svg | alt3 = Only two finished | caption3 = Only two finished }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 1999 | image1 = File:Owner D and G Mercer.svg | alt1 = Black, white hoops, checked sleeves, hooped cap | caption1 = Kadou Nonantais | image2 = File:Owner The I B and B D F Partnership.svg | alt2 = Yellow, light blue diamonds on body | caption2 = Scotton Green | image3 = File:Owner Lady Knutsford.svg | alt3 = Black, Orange sleeves, Red cap | caption3 = Edmond }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 1998 | image1 = File:Owner Mr Darren C Mercer.svg | alt1 = Black, white hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap | caption1 = Escartefigue | image2 = File:Owner Mr George A Charlton.svg | alt2 = Tan, black and green hooped sleeves, red cap | caption2 = Radical Choice | image3 = File:Owner S Waite.svg | alt3 = Green, black cross of lorraine, hooped cap, white sleeves | caption3 = Feels Like Gold }} {{Jockey colours row | year = 1996 | image1 = File:Owner Michael Worcester.svg | alt1 = Light blue, black sleeves, red seams, black and light blue quartered cap | caption1 = Mr Mulligan | image2 = File:Owner Mrs Jane Lane.svg | alt2 = Royal blue, red chevrons, white sleeves, blue cap, red hoops | caption2 = Call It A Day | image3 = File:Owner W A Bethell.svg | alt3 = Salmon pink, white check cap | caption3 = Ubu Val }} {{Jockey colours footer}} The '''Towton Novices' Chase''' is a Grade 2 [[National Hunt racing|National Hunt]] [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at [[Wetherby Racecourse|Wetherby]] over a distance of about 3 miles (3 miles and 45 yards, or 4,869 metres), and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped. The race is for [[Novice (racehorse)|novice]] chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.

The event is named after the village of [[Towton]], which is located several miles to the south of Wetherby. It was first run in 1996, and the inaugural winner, Mr Mulligan, went on to win the following year's [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]].

In April 2023 the [[British Horseracing Authority]] announced that the race would be moved to mid-January and run over a reduced distance of two and a half miles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Package of changes agreed to help strengthen performance of British Jump racing |url=https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/package-of-changes-agreed-to-help-strengthen-performance-of-british-jump-racing/ |publisher=British Horseracing Authority |access-date=28 April 2023 |date=27 April 2023}}</ref>

==Winners== {| class = "sortable" | border="1" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%" |- bgcolor="#77dd77" align="center" ! width="36px" | '''Year''' ! width="160px" | '''Winner''' ! width="40px" | '''Age''' ! width="180px" | '''Jockey''' ! width="180px" | '''Trainer''' |- | 1996 | [[Mr Mulligan (horse)|Mr Mulligan]] | 8 | [[Richard Johnson (jockey)|Richard Johnson]] | [[Noel Chance]] |-bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 1997<td colspan="4">Abandoned due to snow</td> |- | 1998 | [[Escartefigue]] | 6 | [[Richard Johnson (jockey)|Richard Johnson]] | [[David Nicholson (horse racing)|David Nicholson]] |- | 1999 | [[Kadou Nonantais]] | 6 | [[Jamie Osborne (jockey)|Jamie Osborne]] | [[Oliver Sherwood]] |- | 2000 | [[Arctic Camper]] | 8 | [[Adrian Maguire]] | [[Venetia Williams]] |-bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2001<td colspan="4">Abandoned due to waterlogged state of course</td> |- |-bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2002<td colspan="4">Abandoned due to waterlogged state of course</td> |- | 2003 | [[Keen Leader]] | 7 | [[Liam Cooper (jockey)|Liam Cooper]] | [[Jonjo O'Neill (jockey)|Jonjo O'Neill]] |- | 2004 | [[Royal Emperor]] | 8 | [[Dominic Elsworth]] | [[Sue Smith (horse racing)|Sue Smith]] |- | 2005 | [[Ollie Magern]] | 7 | [[Carl Llewellyn]] | [[Nigel Twiston-Davies]] |- | 2006 | [[Halcon Genelardais]] | 6 | [[Wayne Hutchinson (jockey)|Wayne Hutchinson]] | [[Alan King (horse racing)|Alan King]] |- | 2007 | [[Heltornic]] | 7 | [[Graham Lee (jockey)|Graham Lee]] | [[Michael Scudamore (racehorse trainer)|Michael Scudamore]] |-bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2008<td colspan="4">Abandoned due to frost</td> |- | 2009 | [[Kornati Kid]] | 7 | [[Tom O'Brien (jockey)|Tom O'Brien]] | [[Philip Hobbs]] |- | 2010 | [[Weird Al (horse)|Weird Al]] | 7 | [[Paddy Brennan (jockey)|Paddy Brennan]] | [[Ian Williams (horse racing)|Ian Williams]] |- | 2011 | [[Wayward Prince]] | 7 | [[Dougie Costello]] | [[Ian Williams (horse racing)|Ian Williams]] |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2012 | ''no race 2012'' {{efn|The 2012 running was abandoned due to frost}}|| || || | |- | 2013 | [[Goulanes]] | 7 | [[Tom Scudamore]] | [[David Pipe (racehorse trainer)|David Pipe]] |- | 2014 | [[Ely Brown]] | 9 | [[Noel Fehily]] | [[Charlie Longsdon]] |- | 2015 | [[Ned Stark (racehorse)|Ned Stark]] | 7 | [[Denis O'Regan (jockey)|Denis O'Regan]] | [[Alan King (horse racing)|Alan King]] |- | 2016 | [[Blaklion]] | 7 | [[Ryan Hatch]] | [[Nigel Twiston-Davies]] |- | 2017 | Baywing | 8 | Ryan Day | [[Nicky Richards]] |- | 2018 | Ballyoptic | 9 | Tom Bellamy | [[Nigel Twiston-Davies]] |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2012 | ''no race 2019'' {{efn|The 2019 running was abandoned due to frost}}<ref>{{cite web |title=William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase |url=https://www.racingbetter.co.uk/race/wetherby/2019/towton_novices_chase.html |website=racingbetter.co.uk |date=2 February 2019}}</ref>|| || || | |- | 2020 | Newtide | 7 | David Bass | Kim Bailey |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | 2012 | ''no race 2021'' || || || | |- | 2022 | Ahoy Senor | 7 | [[Derek Fox (jockey)|Derek Fox]] | [[Lucinda Russell]] |- | 2023 | City Chief | 6 | James Bowen | [[Nicky Henderson]] |- | 2024 | Colonel Harry | 7 | Gavin Sheehan | Jamie Snowden |- | 2025 | Handstands | 6 | [[Ben Jones (jockey)|Ben Jones]] | [[Ben Pauling]] |} {{notelist}}

==See also== * [[Horseracing in Great Britain]] * [[List of British National Hunt races]]

==References== {{Reflist}} * [[Racing Post]]: ** {{Racing Post|66813|1996|01|11|87}}, {{Racing Post|247190|1998|01|15|87}}, {{Racing Post|261641|1999|01|14|87}}, {{Racing Post|275796|2000|01|13|87}}, {{Racing Post|326885|2003|02|01|87}}, {{Racing Post|344492|2004|02|07|87}}, {{Racing Post|368104|2005|02|05|87}}, {{Racing Post|398689|2006|02|04|87}}, {{Racing Post|423280|2007|02|03|87}}, {{Racing Post|473248|2009|01|31|87}} ** {{Racing Post|497576|2010|02|06|87}}, {{Racing Post|522492|2011|02|05|87}}, {{Racing Post|570889|2013|02|02|87}}, {{Racing Post|594075|2014|02|01|87}}, {{Racing Post|617067|2015|01|31|87}}, {{Racing Post|642530|2016|02|06|87}}, {{Racing Post|666913|2017|02|04|87}}, {{Racing Post|692142|2018|02|03|87}}, {{Racing Post|748530|2020|02|01|87}}, {{Racing Post|802212|2022|02|05|87}} **{{Racing Post|830437|2023|02|04|87}}, {{Racing Post|856478|2024|01|13|87}} ---- * [http://www.aberford.net/Racing/wethed042006.pdf aberford.net] – ''"Declared Runners" (2006).'' * [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=7044 pedigreequery.com] – ''Towton Novices' Chase – Wetherby.''

[[Category:National Hunt races in Great Britain]] [[Category:Wetherby Racecourse]] [[Category:National Hunt chases]] [[Category:Horse races established in 1996]]