The Top Novices' Hurdle is a Grade One 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 2 miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 103 yards, or 3,313 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 Grand National meeting in early April.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and the last to achieve victory in both events was Browne's Gazette in 1984. The Top Novices' Hurdle was upgraded to Grade One by the British Horseracing Authority from its 2016 running.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1976 Beacon Light 5 Bob Turnell Andy Turnell 1977 Irish Rambler 6 Joe Crowley Joe Crowley 1978 Prousto 5 Jonjo O'Neill Alan Jarvis 1979 Rimondo 4 Jonjo O'Neill Ted Carter 1980 Jugador 5 Ron Davies Derek Kent 1981 Burns 5 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn 1982 Bright Oasis 6 Allen Webb Kim Bailey 1983 Very Promising 5 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell 1984 Browne's Gazette 6 Dermot Browne Michael Dickinson 1985 Sailor's Dance 5 Jimmy Duggan Fred Winter 1986 I Bin Zaidoon 5 Graham McCourt Jenny Pitman 1987 Convinced 5 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1988 Faraway Lad 5 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood 1989 Young Benz 5 Lorcan Wyer Peter Easterby 1990 Fidway 5 Steve Smith Eccles Tim Thomson Jones 1991 Granville Again 5 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Carobee 5 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1993 Roll a Dollar 7 Paul Holley David Elsworth 1994 Jazilah 6 Graham McCourt Reg Akehurst 1995 Sweet Mignonette 7 Peter Niven Mary Reveley 1996 Tragic Hero 4 Jonothan Lower Martin Pipe 1997 Midnight Legend 6 Richard Johnson David Nicholson 1998 Fataliste 4 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 1999 Joe Mac 5 Conor O'Dwyer Christy Roche 2000 Phardante Flyer 6 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2001 Ilico II 5 Adrian Maguire Philip Hobbs 2002 In Contrast 6 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2003 Limerick Boy 5 Tony Dobbin Venetia Williams 2004 Royal Shakespeare 5 Robert Thornton Steve Gollings 2005 Mighty Man 5 Richard Johnson Henry Daly 2006 Straw Bear 5 Tony McCoy Nick Gifford 2007 Blythe Knight 7 Tony McCoy John Quinn 2008 Pierrot Lunaire 4 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 El Dancer 5 Dominic Elsworth Lucy Wadham 2010 General Miller 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2011 Topolski 5 Daryl Jacob David Arbuthnot 2012 Darlan 5 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2013 My Tent Or Yours 6 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2014 Josses Hill 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2015 Cyrus Darius 6 Brian Hughes Malcolm Jefferson 2016 Buveur d'Air 5 Noel Fehily Nicky Henderson 2017 Pingshou 7 Robbie Power Colin Tizzard 2018 Lalor 6 Richard Johnson Kayley Woollacott 2019 Felix Desjy 6 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott no race 2020 2021 Belfast Banter 6 Kevin Sexton Peter Fahey 2022 Jonbon 6 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson 2023 Inthepocket 6 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead 2024 Mystical Power 5 Mark Walsh Willie Mullins 2025 Salvator Mundi 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2026 Storming George 6 Jack Quinlan Neil King
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide. pedigreequery.com – Top Novices' Hurdle – Aintree.