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 2008 Listed 2 miles 4 furlongs 10 yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 FINGER ONTHE PULSE Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe Ire Conor Clarkson 9/1
2 BARBER SHOP Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson HM Queen Elizabeth 12/1
3 POSSOL Mark Bradburne Henry Daly Neville Statham 25/1
4 FLEET STREET Andrew Tinkler Nicky Henderson W H Ponsonby 66/1
5 GODS TOKEN Aidan Coleman Venetia Williams The Silver Cod Partnership 40/1
6 AMBOBO P W Flood Martin Brassil S Mulryan 10/1
7 BIG BUCK'S Nick Schofield Paul Nicholls The Stewart Family 16/1
8 THE HAIRY LEMON Robert Thornton Alan King Hairy Lemon Partnership 11/1
9 PAUILLAC Timmy Murphy David Pipe The Johnson Family 33/1
10 LORD RYEFORD Davy Russell Tom George Five Valleys Racing Partnership 20/1
11 MERRY COWBOY Ms Katie Walsh E Sheehy Sailors Bar Syndicate 100/1
12 NUDGE AND NURDLE Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies The Yes No Wait Sorries 28/1
13 GOLD MEDALLIST Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mrs Diana Whateley 12/1
14 TEMPLER Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs Tony Staple & N Sutton 33/1
F SOMETHING WELLS Liam Treadwell Venetia Wiliams Favourites Racing XVIII 16/1
F MR STRACHAN Jamie Moore Sue Smith Mrs Susan Granger 13/2 fav
PU THE ENTOMOLOGIST Jimmy McCarthy Charles Egerton Ronald Brimacombe 25/1
PU BOOMSHAKALAKA A P McCoy Nicky Henderson The Cigar Bar Partnership 10/1
UR ARTURIO Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls The Sparkes Family 14/1
UR DEAR VILLEZ Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Miss Chloe Roddick 15/2
        Over round 123%
This race was staged on Thursday 13th March 2008 when Finger onthe Pulse beat Barber Shop and Possol by a neck and 1 1/2 lengths