The John Francome Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury, Berkshire, over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles 3 furlongs and 187 yards, or 4,367 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.
The race was originally run over 3 miles until it was reduced in distance from 1973. Prior to 1991 the event was known as the Hopeful Chase, but was then renamed as the Fulke Walwyn Novices' Chase, in memory of the racehorse trainer Fulke Walwyn. It attained Listed status in 2001, and it was promoted to Grade 2 level in 2004. The race was renamed the Berkshire Novices' Chase in 2006. From 2011 to 2016 the race was sponsored by Fuller's Brewery and run as the Fuller's London Pride Novices' Chase. Since 2017 it has been sponsored by Ladbrokes. The race was given its current name in 2023 after the previous John Francome Novices' Chase, a three-mile race, was withdrawn from the calendar.
Records Leading jockey since 1973 (4 wins): John Francome – The Dealer (1977), Snowtown Boy (1980), Brown Chamberlin (1981), Great Light (1984) Barry Geraghty – The Market Man (2008), Punchestowns (2009), Bobs Worth (2011), Champ (2019)
Leading trainer since 1973 (8 wins): Nicky Henderson – Remittance Man (1990), Bacchanal (2000), Katarino (2001), The Market Man (2008), Punchestowns (2009), Bobs Worth (2011), Champ (2019), Caribean Boy (2020)
Winners since 1973 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1973 Spindrift 7 Nigel Wakley H Handel 1974 Isle Of Man 7 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn 1975 Accord 8 Andy Turnell Bob Turnell 1976 Graigue House 8 Nigel Wakley Miss S Morris 1977 The Dealer 7 John Francome Fred Winter 1978 Hesgotit 9 Sandy May Ted Fisher 1979 Kybo 6 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford 1980 Snowtown Boy 5 John Francome Fred Winter 1981 Brown Chamberlin 6 John Francome Fred Winter 1982 Everett 7 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn 1983 Voice Of Progress 5 Peter Scudamore David Nicholson 1984 Great Light 6 John Francome John Jenkins 1985 The Breener 6 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood 1986 Playschool 8 Paul Nicholls David Barons 1987 Private Views 6 Kevin Mooney Nick Gaselee 1988 Sir Blake 7 Brendan Powell Snr David Elsworth 1989 Going Gets Tough 6 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1990 Remittance Man 6 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1991 Granvillewaterford 6 Jamie Osborne Simon Sherwood 1992 Cogent 8 Simon McNeill Andy Turnell 1993 Spirit of Kibris 8 Jamie Osborne Jenny Pitman 1994 The Frog Prince 6 Jamie Osborne Nick Gaselee 1995 Major Summit 6 Simon McNeill Josh Gifford 1996 Buckhouse Boy 6 Chris Maude Nigel Twiston-Davies 1997 Sounds Fyne 8 Mick Fitzgerald Jimmy FitzGerald 1998 Moor Lane 6 Richard Dunwoody Ian Balding 1999 Gloria Victis 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2000 Bacchanal 6 Richard Johnson Nicky Henderson 2001 Katarino 6 Norman Williamson Nicky Henderson 2002 Jair du Cochet 5 Jacques Ricou Guillaume Macaire 2003 Puntal 7 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Vodka Bleu 5 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe 2005 Albuhera 7 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls 2006 Denman 6 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls 2007 Hobbs Hill 8 Tony McCoy Charles Egerton 2008 The Market Man 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2009 Punchestowns 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2010 Cois Farraig 5 Dominic Elsworth Paul Webber 2011 Bobs Worth 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Dynaste 6 Tom Scudamore David Pipe 2013 Wonderful Charm 5 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls 2014 Coneygree 7 Nico de Boinville Mark Bradstock 2015 Three Musketeers 5 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton 2016 Clan des Obeaux 4 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls 2017 Willoughby Court 6 Nico de Boinville Ben Pauling 2018 La Bague Au Roi 7 Richard Johnson Warren Greatrex 2019 Champ 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2020 Caribbean Boy 7 Daryl Jacob Nicky Henderson 2021 Nassalam 4 Jamie Moore Gary Moore 2022 Sebastopol 8 Stan Sheppard Tom Lacey 2023 Hermes Allen 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2024 The Jukebox Man 6 Ben Jones Ben Pauling 2025 Wendigo 6 Gavin Sheehan Jamie Snowden
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , pedigreequery.com – Berkshire Novices' Chase – Newbury.