The 2023/24 Grade 1 race calendar and results for the UK and Ireland National Hunt seasons

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Grade 1 winners in the 2023/24 UK and Ireland National Hunt seasons

 

May

 

Punchestown Festival (Apr 30-May 4)

 

Friday, May 3

State Man claimed his 10th Grade One triumph with another straightforward success when seeing off old rival Irish Point in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. Full report

Ballyburn had to work harder than expected for victory in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, but still helped Willie Mullins become the most successful trainer in Irish racing history.

Lossiemouth cruised to victory in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle to complete a Cheltenham-Punchestown double for the second straight season.

Kargese came with a flying finish to claim the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

 

Thursday, May 2

Teahupoo became the first horse this century to win the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and follow it up at the Punchestown Festival. Full report

Il Etait Temps claimed another top-level prize when prevailing in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.

 

Wednesday, May 1

Fastorslow once again got the better of Galopin Des Champs to land the Punchestown Gold Cup. Full report

Redemption Day came from last to first to give rider Jody Townend a first Grade One win in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.

 

April

 

Tuesday April 30

Spillane’s Tower made it back-to-back Grade One victories for trainer Jimmy Mangan with a determined display in the Champion Novice Chase.

Banbridge got up in the final stride to deny Captain Guinness a Champion Chase double in a pulsating renewal of the feature event at the Punchestown Festival.

Mystical Power finished with a flourish to reverse Cheltenham Festival form with Slade Steel in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle.

Dancing City had to dig deep to repel the challenge of fellow Willie Mullins runner High Class Hero in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle.

 

Saturday, April 27

Jonbon emerged a convincing victor in his long-awaited clash with El Fabiolo in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

 

Grand National Festival (April 11-13)

 

Saturday, April 13

I Am Maximus was an emphatic winning favourite of the Grand National, storming clear of his rivals to give the all-conquering Willie Mullins a second victory in the Aintree showpiece. Full report

Freshness was the order of the day as Strong Leader landed a telling blow in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Full report.

Brighterdaysahead proved appropriately named when a bloodless winner of the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. Full report

Found A Fifty was the epitome of bravery in a pulsating finish to the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

 

Friday, April 12

Jonbon was back to his best when adding another Grade 1 to his collection in the shape of the Melling Chase at Aintree. Full report

Dancing City claimed a comfortable success in the Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. Full report

Mystical Power held off a strong challenge from Firefox to win the TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle. Full report

Inothewayurthinkin stormed to an impressive victory in the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. Full report

 

Thursday, April 11

Impaire Et Passe was eventually declared the winner of a thrilling Aintree Hurdle after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry. Full report

A gutsy performance from Gerri Colombe saw Gordon Elliott’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up claim the William Hill Bowl Chase at Aintree. Full report

Sir Gino kept his unbeaten record after a comfortable victory in Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. Full report.

Il Etait Temps was too strong for his rivals as he landed the first Grade 1 of Aintree’s Grand National meeting in the Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase. Full report

 

 

March

 

Sunday, March 31

Spillane’s Tower put Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan back in the big-race winner’s enclosure after claiming the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

Jade De Grugy bounced back from a first career defeat at the Cheltenham Festival to claim an appropriate success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

 

Cheltenham Festival (March 12-15)

Friday, March 15

Galopin Des Champs romped to victory in the 100th Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival as trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend both claimed their fourth triumph in this famous Grade 1 race. Full report

 

Stellar Story pounced in the very last stride to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and deny Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man at the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

Willie Mullins was back among the winners after Majborough announced himself as a star of the future to win Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

 

Thursday, March 14

Gordon Elliott notched back-to-back victories in the Stayers’ Hurdle as Teahupoo stormed up the Cheltenham hill for Festival glory. Full report

 

Protektorat proved dropping back in trip was no issue when producing a brilliant display to claim the Ryanair Chase for the red-hot Dan Skelton team at the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

Grey Dawning continued Dan Skelton’s fabulous Cheltenham Festival with a brilliant victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase. Full report

 

Wednesday, March 13

Captain Guinness came out on top in a dramatic renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in which red-hot favourite El Fabiolo was pulled up. Full report

 

Fact To File maintained his huge reputation with a straightforward success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase for Willie Mullins. Full report

 

Ballyburn made impressively light work of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

Tuesday, March 12

 

Lossiemouth cruised to victory in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

State Man justified his short odds as he claimed victory in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

Gaelic Warrior came out on top in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase, to get Willie Mullins off the mark on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Full report

 

Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead kicked off proceedings with a win as Slade Steel impressively won the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Full report

 

February

 

Saturday, February 17

Harry Cobden excelled as Pic D’Orhy put in a faultless display of jumping to make every yard of the running in the Betfair Ascot Chase. Full report

 

Sunday, February 4

Fact To File cruised to victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown after only rival Gaelic Warrior fell at the final fence. Full report

 

Ballyburn claimed a comfortable victory in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. Full report

 

El Fabiolo is on course to provide Willie Mullins with a third successive victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham after a dominant display in the Dublin Chase. Full report

 

State Man defended his Irish Champion Hurdle crown at Leopardstown to give Willie Mullins his eighth Grade 1 triumph of the Dublin Racing Festival weekend. Full report

 

Saturday, February 3

Nickle Back galloped to a memorable Grade One vicory in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown following a bold front-running ride from James Best. Full report

 

The Dublin Racing Festival started with a Willie Mullins-trained winner as Dancing City beat Predators Gold in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle. Full report

 

Kargese came out on top of the Willie Mullins battalion in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, with the trainer sending out the first four home. Full report

 

It Etait Temps completed a dream hour for Danny Mullins when winning the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown, where Marine Nationale was a huge disappointment back in fifth place. Full report

 

Galopin Des Champs is odds on for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after registering back-to-back success in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. Full report

 

January

 

Saturday, January 27

There was a huge shock in the Clarence House Chase as Elixir De Nutz battled back to beat Jonbon, providing jockey Freddie Gingell and trainer Joe Tizzard with a first Grade One win. Full report

 

Friday, January 12

Readin Tommy Wrong was a surprise winner of the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle as Willie Mullins sent out the first three home. Full report

December

 

Saturday, December 30

Captain Teague extended Paul Nicholls’ stranglehold on the Challow Hurdle with a battling success at Newbury.

 

Friday, December 29

State Man was too strong for stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Grangeclare West claimed a runaway success in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown over favourite Corbetts Cross. Full report

 

Thursday, December 28

Galopin Des Champs put himself in box seat for a second Cheltenham Gold Cup after a stunning display in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Irish Point delivered an authoritative display to claim the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Willie Mullins will have to decide which race Gaelic Warrior runs in at Cheltenham in March after a fine victory in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick. Full report

 

Wednesday, December 27

Willie Mullins and owner JP McManus claimed a one-two-three as Dinoblue claimed the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Caldwell Potter landed Grade 1 glory for Gordon Elliott with victory in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Tuesday, December 26

 

Hewick, who cost just £800, came from last to first to complete a stunning victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Full report

 

National Hunt superstar Constitution Hill made a brilliant return to action as he eased to victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Full report

 

Facile Vega produced an underwhelming run as Found a Fifty claimed Grade One honours in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Full report

 

Il Est Francais put up a sparkling jumping display to win the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on his British debut at Kempton.

 

Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie battled on gamely to see off Favour And Fortune to win the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

 

Saturday, December 23

Crambo came out on top in a breathtaking battle of the ages with Paisley Park to claim Howden Long Walk Hurdle glory at Ascot. Full report

 

December 9

Not So Sleepy eased to victory in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown after reigning champion Constitution Hill and stablemate Shishkin were pulled out just hours before the race. Full report

 

Le Patron handed jockey David Noonan his first ever grade one victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown. Full report

 

Jonbon showed a different side to his character as he ran out the winner in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Full report

 

December 3

Farren Glory claimed the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse after a superb ride from Jack Kennedy.

 

Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus returned to Fairyhouse to claim the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse for trainer Willie Mullins.

 

A year after ending Honeysuckle’s unbeaten run Teahupoo claimed back-to-back wins in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse beating favourite Impaire Et Passe.

 

November

 

November 25

Paul Nicholls made no excuses for Bravemansgame after his six-and-a-half-length defeat to Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase and is still planning to head to Kempton for the King George VI Chase. Full report

 

State Man strolled to victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

 

Fastorslow inflicted a second successive shock defeat on Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs with a comeback victory in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. Full report

 

Gerri Colombe beat both Envoi Allen and Conflated to win the Ladbrokes Champions Chase at Down Royal.