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Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase: Past Winners, Stats & History

Contenders Day
Course:
Sandown
Chase Course
Grade:
Grade 1
Length:
2m 4f
Last Winner:
L'Homme Presse @ 8/13
Prize Money:
£80,000 (2022)

The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 contest over 2 miles 4 furlongs. Despite the title, the race isn’t named after the islands off the Cornish coast, it is in fact named after an infamous roundabout close to Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey, where the race is run.

This is the last Grade 1 Novices’ Chase before the Cheltenham Festival so plays a crucial part of the season for many promising new chasers. The first running took place in 1964, with familiar past winners including Best Mate, Oscar Whisky and Bristol De Mai.

Scilly Isles Novices' Chase Course Map (Chase Course)

Sandown Chase Racecourse Map

Scilly Isles Novices' Chase Past Winners

Year Winner SP Trainer Jockey
2022 L'Homme Presse 8/13 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
2021 Sporting John 14/1 Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson
2020 Itchy Feet 7/1 Olly Murphy Gavin Sheehan
2019 Defi Du Seuil 7/2 Philip Hobbs Barry Geraghty
2018 Terrefort 15/8 Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob
2017 Top Notch 11/4 Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob
2016 Bristol De Mai 10/11 Nigel Twiston-Davies Daryl Jacob
2015 Gitane Du Berlais 9/2 Willie Mullins Daryl Jacobs
2014 Oscar Whisky 1/6 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
2013 Captain Conan 1/2 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
2012* For Non Stop 3/1 Nick Williams Noel Fehily
2011 Medermit 5/2 Alan King Robert Thornton
2010 Punchestowns 4/11 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty
2009 Herecomesthetruth 7/4 Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
2008 Silverburn 10/11 Paul Nicholls Sam Thomas
2007 New Little Bric 10/11 Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
2006 Napolitain 3/1 Paul Nicholls Tony McCoy
2005 El Vaquero 4/1 Henrietta Knight Jim Culloty
2004 Patricksnineteenth 7/2 Paul Webber Tom Doyle
2003 Tarxien 15/8 Martin Pipe Tony McCoy

*Race was run at Newbury due to Sandown abandonment.

About the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase

Scilly Isles Roundabout in Esher, Surrey
Scilly Isles Roundabout, Photo © Hugh Venables (cc-by-sa/2.0)

The novices’ chasing division is one of the most exciting in jumps racing. Many horses graduate from hurdles with big reputations only to fail to make the step up when it comes to the bigger obstacles. At the same time there are always unheralded horses who thrive when given the chance to compete over fences. The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is one of a number of very important races in the exciting novices’ chasing division.

The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase was introduced in 1964. Although you may think it was named after the Isles of Scilly, in fact, the race gets its name from a local roundabout. Races don’t get much more glamourous than that! When the roundabout – which is between the two Surrey towns of Kingston upon Thames and Esher – was introduced, it was known as the ‘silly islands’ by locals hence the name.

A Serious Test

Despite its name, there is nothing silly about the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase. Indeed, this is a very serious race which is run at the Grade 1 level. The race trends show that a previous win in a Graded race isn’t necessarily and important indicator of success in the Scilly Isles Chase whilst those who have experience of Sandown do have a slight statistical edge.

Chart Showing the Previous Experience of Scilly Isles Novices' Chase Winners Between 2000 and 2022

The careers of Scilly Isles competitors can go in a few different directions. That’s because of its distance of 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 10 yards. Two and a half miles is long enough for inexperienced chasers who go on to become stayers yet short enough for quicker horses who stick to this sort of middle distance trip.

Important Cheltenham Pointers

Perhaps the most important element of the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase is its timing. It takes place every year in either late January or early February which is just the perfect place in the schedule. At this stage of the season, the leading contenders in the novices’ chasing division have already made themselves known and the Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner.

For most punters, the best thing about the Scilly Isles Chase is the chance to get some important pointers ahead of Cheltenham. It has had a particularly close relationship with the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase since that race was introduced at Cheltenham in 2011. The record of Scilly Isles winners has improved in recent years with Defi Du Seuil becoming the first winner of both races in 2019.

Scilly Isles Chase Winners at Cheltenham: 2010 – 2021

Year Scilly Isles Chase Winner Cheltenham Race & Position
2021 Sporting John Fell – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2020 Itchy Feet Unseated – Golden Miller (Marsh) Novices’ Chase
2019 Defi Du Seuil 1st – Golden Miller (JLT) Novices’ Chase
2018 Terrefort 2nd – Golden Miller (JLT) Novices’ Chase
2017 Top Notch 2nd – Golden Miller (JLT) Novices’ Chase
2016 Bristol De Mai 2nd – Golden Miller (JLT) Novices’ Chase
2015 Gitane Du Berlais Did Not Run
2014 Oscar Whisky Fell – Golden Miller (JLT) Novices’ Chase
2013 Captain Conan 5th – Golden Miller (Jewson) Novice’s Chase
2012 For Non Stop 3rd – Golden Miller (Jewson) Novice’s Chase
2011 Medermit 4th – The Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
2010 Punchestowns 5th – RSA Chase

It’s not just the proximity in time to Cheltenham that means the Scilly Isles Chase provides so many pointers. Sandown is a particularly tough track for novices to race at. The going is usually soft around this time in the winter and the infamous fences on the railway straight provide a real test of a horse’s jumping.

Although there are plenty of differences between Sandown and Cheltenham – Sandown is a right-handed track and much flatter than Cheltenham – novices who pass the test in the Scilly Isles Chase should be seriously considered for the Festival. This really is one to follow ahead of the March spectacular.

Other Races of Note at Sandown

  • bet365 Celebration Chase
  • bet365 Gold Cup
  • Coral-Eclipse
  • Henry VIII Novices' Chase
  • Imperial Cup
  • Scilly Isles Novices' Chase
  • Tingle Creek Chase
  • Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle

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