The Slaney Novice Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, is a Grade One

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: ...

hurdle race in Ireland. It is run in January at

Naas Racecourse Naas Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, approximately 18 miles from Dublin. The course stages both Flat racing and National Hunt racing and in 2010 fifteen race meetings were held there. The Naas Races Company ...

, over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres) and during its running there are 11 flights of hurdles to be jumped. The race is often contested by horses who go on to compete at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Ra ...

, such as the 1978 winner,

Golden Cygnet Golden Cygnet (1972 - 1978) was a racehorse who was described in the 1979 Irish Racing Annual by legendary Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien as "the best hurdler I've ever seen." His hurdling career lasted less than 5 months, as a result of the f ...

, who went on to win the

Supreme Novices' Hurdle The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of a ...

and 2021 winner, Bob Olinger, who went on to win the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle. The race was run over 2 miles and 3 furlongs until 1995. It was awarded Grade 3 status in 1993, raised to Grade 2 in 2005 and then to Grade 1 in 2015. The race is currently sponsored by Lawlor's Hotel.

Records

Leading jockey since 1983 (4 wins): *

Ruby Walsh Rupert Walsh (born 14 May 1979 in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland) is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Walsh is the third most prolific winner in Brit ...

– '' Homer Wells (2005), Mikael D'haguenet (2009), Briar Hill (2014), Bellshill (2016)'' Leading trainer since 1983 (8 wins): * Willie Mullins - '' Homer Wells (2005), Mikael D'haguenet (2009), Gagewell Flyer (2011), Briar Hill (2014), Mckinley (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018), Champ Kiely (2023)''

Winners since 1983

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 ...

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Records

Winners since 1983

See also

References