Sefton Novices' Hurdle

The Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and half a furlong (4,964 metres), and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April.

Sefton Novices' Hurdle
Grade 1 race
LocationAintree Racecourse
Merseyside, England
Inaugurated1988
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorCavani Menswear
WebsiteAintree
Race information
Distance3m 149y (4,964 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight10 st 8 lb (4yo);
11 st 7 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£100,000 (2022)
1st: £56,270
Sefton Novices' Hurdle
2024
YELLOW and BLACK check, YELLOW sleeves, BLACK cap Dark blue, royal blue seams, white sleeves, red and white striped cap Black, silver disc
Dancing City The Jukebox Man Cherie D'am
Previous years
2023
Old gold, white chevron, white cap Mauve, black chevrons on sleeves, black cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Apple Away Maximilian Iroko
2022
Yellow, purple hoops and armlets, hooped cap Light blue, dark blue stripe, yellow sleeves, dark blue armlets, light blue and dark blue striped cap Dark blue, white cross belts, red sleeves, white armlets, hooped cap
Gelino Bello Gentleman At Arms Haute Estime
2021
Red, black epaulets and armlets, black cap, red star White, maroon and purple striped sleeves Orange, pink hoop and armlets, hooped cap
Ahoy Senor Bravemansgame Oscar Elite
2020-2011
2019
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Maroon, orange diamond, diamonds on sleeves, maroon cap, orange diamond Dark green, yellow sleeves, black diamonds, quartered cap
Champ Emitom Lisnagar Oscar
2018
Grey, white epaulets Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star
Santini Roksana Tower Bridge
2017
Royal blue, white hoops, maroon sleeves and cap Pink, emerald green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap Red, black armlets
The Worlds End Beyond Conceit Debece
2016
Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Orange, dark blue cross belts and star on cap
Ballyoptic Bellshill Potters Legend
2015
Orange, black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Maroon, pink sleeves, dark blue cap
Thistlecrack Vyta Du Roc Our Kaempfer
2014
White, black cap Dark green and orange (quartered), dark green sleeves, hooped cap Black, yellow sash, white cap
Beat That Cole Harden Seeyouatmidnight
2013
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap White, red chevron, emerald green and red striped sleeves, red cap
At Fishers Cross Just A Par Buachaill Alainn
2012
Pink and purple check, pink sleeves, black cap Light blue and royal blue diabolo, light blue sleeves and cap Black, black and maroon striped cap
Lovcen Fingal Bay Cotton Mill
2011
Red and grey (quartered), hooped sleeves Gold, white hoops, emerald green cap Black, pink hoops, black sleeves
Saint Are Cantlow Sparky May
2010-2001
2010
Royal blue, yellow hoop, dark blue sleeves, royal blue and yellow quartered cap Yellow, dark blue sash, dark blue cap, yellow star Black, yellow disc, black sleeves, yellow stars, quartered cap
Wayward Prince Western Leader Cannington Brook
2009
Dark blue, yellow cap Royal blue, yellow disc, brown sleeves, orange cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
Ogee Comhla Ri Coig According To Dick
2008
Yellow, Black Cross of Lorraine, Black sleeves, Yellow armlets, Yellow cap, Black star Emerald Green, Light Blue cross belts, striped sleeves Red, White cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
Pettifour Gone To Lunch The Tother One
2007
Dark blue, yellow cross belts, hooped sleeves, yellow cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Black, white stars, striped sleeves, black cap
Chief Dan George Wichita Lineman Imperial Commander
2006
White, mauve stars Orange and yellow check, orange sleeves, yellow cap YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star
Black Jack Ketchum Money Trix Neptune Collonges
2005
BLACK and RED STRIPES, white cap Black and Yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, Yellow cap White, black stripe, halved sleeves, white cap
Asian Maze Brewster Football Crazy
2004
Lilac, rose quartered cap Dark Blue, Flame sleeves, striped cap Dark Blue, Yellow stripe, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue armlets and star on Yellow cap
Accipiter Grey Report Champagne Harry
2003
Mauve, Black sash, Yellow sleeves and cap Maroon and light blue (quartered), maroon sleeves Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap
Iris's Gift Royal Emperor Supreme Prince
2002
Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Stromness Tarxien Stormez
2001
Emerald green and white diamonds Pink, dark blue chevrons, pink sleeves and cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap
Garruth Historic Hindiana
2000-1991
2000
Light green, black epaulets, green cap, black star Maroon and yellow check, striped sleeves, maroon cap, yellow spots Red and black diabolo, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Sackville No Discount What's Up Boys
1999
Turquoise, black braces, cerise cap Dark blue, yellow hoop, diabolo on sleeves, yellow cap Green, white star, diabolo on sleeves, green cap, white spots
King's Road Ballysicyos Santabless
1998
Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Yellow, black star, diabolo on sleeves, diamonds on cap Royal blue and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves, royal blue cap, yellow diamonds
Unsinkable Boxer Brackenheath Cloone Bridge
1997
Dark Blue and Yellow stripes, White sleeves and cap Emerald green and orange diabolo, orange sleeves, emerald green cap, white star Blue, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, blue cap, yellow diamond
Forest Ivory Private Peace Mentmore Towers
1996
Purple, grey seams, white sleeves, purple cap Black, white hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap White, large dark blue spots, red cap
Pleasure Shared Superior Risk Buckhouse Boy
1995
Beige, maroon disc and armlets, diamonds on cap White, light blue hoops, chevrons on sleeves, hooped cap Orange, Royal Blue stars on sleeves and cap
Morgans Harbour Jack Button Conquering Leader
1994
White, maroon cross belts, maroon cap, white star Emerald green and white diabolo, emerald green cap Pink, cherry hearts, pink cap
Corner Boy Corrouge What A Question
1993
Red, black sleeves and cap Royal blue, white epaulets, royal blue sleeves, white stars, royal blue cap, white star Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Cardinal Red Gaelstrom As Du Trefle
1992
Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star Dark blue, emerald green seams, dark blue cap Orange, black epaulets, black and orange striped sleeves, black cap, orange star
Barton Bank Bishop's Island Triple Witching
1991
Cerise, black, white hoop, black sleeves, white collar and cuffs, cerise cap, white hoop Light blue, dark blue chevron, striped sleeves Purple, white sleeves, purple armlets, white cap
Derring Valley Rocktor Montagnard
1990-1988
1990
Emerald green, royal blue sash, yellow cap Dark blue, white triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap White, black cap
Dwadme What's The Crack Tinryland
1989
owned by Ms Adrienne Brolan Light blue, red cross of lorraine and cap Dark Blue, White sleeves, Dark Blue seams, Red cap, Dark Blue spots
Boreen Belle King's Harvest Royal Athlete
1988
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap White, dark green epaulets and star on cap Black and Pink diamonds, Pink sleeves and cap
Rustle Nick The Brief Vulgan Warrior
 

The event was established in 1988, and it was originally called the White Satin Novices' Hurdle. For a period it was classed at Grade 2 level. The race was given its present title in 1993, and it was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1995.

In recent years the Sefton Novices' Hurdle has usually featured horses which ran in the previous month's Spa Novices' Hurdle, and the last to achieve victory in both races was at Fishers Cross in 2013.

Records

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Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Tony McCoyUnsinkable Boxer (1998), Black Jack Ketchum (2006), At Fishers Cross (2013)
  • Barry GeraghtySackville (2000), Iris's Gift (2003), Beat That (2014)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

  • Nicky HendersonRustle (1988), Beat That (2014), Santini (2018), Champ (2019)

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1988 Rustle 6 Michael Bowlby Nicky Henderson
1989 Boreen Belle 7 Charlie Swan Bill Harney
1990 Dwadme 5 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood
1991 Derring Valley 6 Graham McCourt Anthony Jones
1992 Barton Bank 6 Carl Llewellyn David Nicholson
1993 Cardinal Red 6 Ben de Haan Cath Walwyn
1994 Corner Boy 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1995 Morgan's Harbour 9 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1996 Pleasure Shared 8 Paul Carberry Philip Hobbs
1997 Forest Ivory 6 Richard Johnson David Nicholson
1998 Unsinkable Boxer 9 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 King's Road 6 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies
2000 Sackville 7 Barry Geraghty Frances Crowley
2001 Garruth 7 Russ Garritty Tim Easterby
2002 Stromness 5 Robert Thornton Alan King
2003 Iris's Gift 6 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill
2004 Accipiter 5 Tom Best Toby Balding
2005 Asian Maze 6 Ruby Walsh Tom Mullins
2006 Black Jack Ketchum 7 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2007 Chief Dan George 7 Mick Fitzgerald James Moffatt
2008 Pettifour 6 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies
2009 Ogee 6 Jimmy McCarthy Renee Robeson
2010 Wayward Prince 6 Dougie Costello Ian Williams
2011 Saint Are 5 Richard Johnson Tim Vaughan
2012 Lovcen 7 Robert Thornton Alan King
2013 At Fishers Cross 6 Tony McCoy Rebecca Curtis
2014 Beat That 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2015 Thistlecrack 7 Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard
2016 Ballyoptic 6 Ryan Hatch Nigel Twiston-Davies
2017 The Worlds End 6 Adrian Heskin Tom George
2018 Santini 6 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2019 Champ 7 Mark Walsh Nicky Henderson
no race 2020 [a]
2021 Ahoy Senor 6 Derek Fox Lucinda Russell
2022 Gelino Bello 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2023 Apple Away 6 Stephen Mulqueen Lucinda Russell
2024 Dancing City 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
  1. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.