Centenary Novices Handicap Chase

The Centenary Novices Handicap Chase run over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 10 yards and 16 fences was first run in 2005 when the race was sponsored by Jewson and named the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase. At the 2011 Festival the sponsors Jewson decided to sponsor a new race, the Jewson Novices Chase which became the Golden Miller Novices Chase, and more recently the Turner Novices Chase, while the former race became known as the Centenary Novices Handicap Chase to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cheltenham Festival. This race continued as part of the Festival card until 2020 and was transferred to Sandown Park in 2021.

Early history:-The Jewson Novices Handicap Chase, which morphed into the Centenary Novices Handicap Chase, was first contested on Thursday 17th March 2005 over 2 miles 5 furlongs and was won by King Harald (9/1) owned by P J D Pottinger, trained by Mark Bradstock and ridden by Mattie Bachelor, beating Lacdoudal (12/1) and See You Sometime (12/1).
Centenary Novices Handicap Chase 2005 Listed 2 miles 4 furlongs 10 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 KING HARALD Mattie Batchelor Mark Bradstock Piers Pottinger & Partners 9/1
2 LACDOUDAL Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mrs R J Skan 12/1
3 SEE YOU SOMETIME Andrew Thornton Seamus Mullins Ire Mr J A G Meaden 12/1
4 SIR OJ Paul Carberry Noel Meade Ire Mr Brian Keenan 18/1
5 LE PASSING Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Mrs Townshend 22/1
6 ERIC'S CHARM Leighton Aspell Oliver Sherwood Mr M G St Quinton 20/1
7 QUAZAR A P McCoy Jonjo O'Neill Mr C D Carr 14/1
8 ST MATTHEW Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith Mr Keith Nicholson 80/1
9 LIVERPOOL ECHO Mark Bradburne Henry Daly Million in Mind Partners 11/1
10 SONEVAFUSHI Sam Thomas Venetia Williams Mr Tom Bannister 50/1
11 BIZET John Cullen Francis Flood Ire Mr Aidan Foley 10/1
12 TANA RIVER Noel Fehily Emma Lavelle The Frisky Fillies 16/1
BD COPSALE LAD Marcus Foley Nicky Henderson Swallow Partnership 25/1
F BALL O MALT Padge Whelan Richard Fahey Declan Kinahan 25/1
F BIG ROB Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell P H Betts 16/1
PU CAPTAIN CORELLI Timmy Murphy Mark Pitman Patrick Bancroft 8/1 fav
PU JOES EDGE Brian Harding Ferdy Murphy Chemipetro Ltd 9/1
PU SLEEP BAL Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson M Blackford 14/1
UR GRAPHIC APPROACH Jimmy McCarthy Charles Egerton Mr & Mrs Peter Orton 25/1
        Over round 119%
This race was staged on Thursday 17th March 2005 when King Harald beat Lacdoudal and See You Sometime by 4 lengths and 5 lengths