The Faugheen Novice Chase is a Grade 1
National Hunt
In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...
race in Ireland. It is run at
Limerick Racecourse
Limerick Racecourse (Greenmount Park) is a horse racing venue in County Limerick, Ireland, which stages both National Hunt and flat racing
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden ...
in December over a distance of about 2 miles and 3½
furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...
s (2 miles 3 furlongs and 160 yards, or 3,968 metres).
The race is run on
St. Stephen's Day
Saint Stephen's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Stephen, is a Christian saint's day to commemorate Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr, celebrated on 26 December in Western Christianity and 27 December in Eastern Chr ...
, during the course's Christmas Festival. It is currently sponsored by Matchbook betting exchange. It was previously contested at Grade 2 level and was raised to Grade 1 status from the 2018 running. Prior to 2020 it was run as the Greenmount Park Novice Chase before being renamed in honour of
Faugheen
Faugheen ( foaled 2 May 2008) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle and back-to-back Christmas Hurdles in 2014 and 2015. His best performance on a racecourse came in the 2016 Irish Champion Hurdle f ...
, the 2019 winner of the race.
Records
Leading
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
(2 wins):
* David Casey – ''Financial Reward (2008), Dancing Tornado (2009) ''
* Emmet Mullins – ''Sir Des Champs (2011), The Paparrazi Kid (2013)''
Leading
trainer (7 wins):
*
Willie Mullins
William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey.
Career
He commenced racehorse training in 1988 having previously worked as an assistant to his father Paddy Mullins and Jim Bolger. Willie is a fo ...
– '' Financial Reward (2008), Sir Des Champs (2011), The Paparrazi Kid (2013), Outlander (2015), Bellshill (2016),
Faugheen
Faugheen ( foaled 2 May 2008) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle and back-to-back Christmas Hurdles in 2014 and 2015. His best performance on a racecourse came in the 2016 Irish Champion Hurdle f ...
(2019), Colreevy (2020) ''
Winners since 1993
See also
*
Horse racing in Ireland
Horse racing in Ireland is intricately linked with Irish culture and society. The racing of horses has a long history on the island, being mentioned in some of the earliest texts. Domestically, racing is one of Ireland's most popular spectator ...
*
List of Irish National Hunt races
A list of notable National Hunt horse races which take place annually in Ireland, under the authority of Horse Racing Ireland
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI; ga, Rásaíocht Capaill na hÉireann) is the governing body of horse racing on the island ...
References
*
Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 6 ...
:
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National Hunt races in Ireland
National Hunt chases
Limerick Racecourse