Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase

Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase
ClassGrade 1
LocationPunchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorDooley Insurance Group
WebsitePunchestown
Race information
Distance3m 120y (4,938 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 7 lb (5yo);
11 st 12 lb (6yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse100,000 (2021)
1st: €59,000
Champion Novice Chase
2025
Champ Kiely Ballyburn Stellar Story
Previous years
2024
Spillane's Tower Monty's Star Three Card Brag
2023
Feronily Appreciate It James Du Berlais
2022
Capodanno Lifetime Ambition Fury Road
2021
Colreevy Monkfish Only two finished
2020-2011
2019
Delta Work Discorama A Plus Tard
2018
The Storyteller Monbeg Notorious Jury Duty
2017
Disko Anibale Fly A Genie In Abottle
2016
Zabana Outlander Sub Lieutenant
2015
Valseur Lido Wounded Warrior Apache Stronghold
2014
Carlingford Lough Ballycasey Morning Assembly
2013
Mount Benbulben Tofino Bay Lyreen Legend
2012
Sir Des Champs Shop Dj Ordinary Man
2011
Quito De La Roque Western Charmer Head Of The Posse
2010-2007
2010
Kempes China Rock The Midnight Club
2009
Rare Bob Gone To Lunch Joncol
2008
Air Force One Pomme Tiepy Ballycullen Boy
2007
Offshore Account Knight Legend One Cool Cookie
 

The Dooley Insurance Group Champion 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 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or 4,938 metres), and during its running there are seventeen 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.

The present version of the race was introduced in 2007, when it was sponsored by Ellier Developments. There had been two similar events in the preceding years – a Grade 2 race over a shorter distance (also sponsored by Ellier), and a handicap race over the same length. The new version was backed by Boylesports in 2009, and by Growise from 2010 to 2018.

The Growise Champion Novice Chase is Ireland's equivalent of the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, but no horse has won both races since 2007.