Home Races
Turners Novices' Chase
Cheltenham 13:30
Grade 1, £175,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
2m 4f 5y, Class 1    
Thursday 14th March 2024

%ALT_TXT%%

1 Grey Dawning 5/2J
2 Ginny's Destiny 11/2
3 Djelo 25/1
11 ran Distances: 2l, 8l, 2½l
Time: 5m 4.64s (slow by 12.64s)

Grey Dawning, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, secured a brilliant victory, adding to the brothers' already impressive week at the festival.

The race unfolded with Paul Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny leading the way, aiming to replicate Stage Star’s win from the previous year. However, Grey Dawning, guided by Harry Skelton, stayed close and as they descended the hill, it became evident that the race would be a thrilling all-British contest up the famous Cheltenham hill.

As the duo approached the final hurdles, they were neck-and-neck. But Grey Dawning, one of the 5-2 joint-favorites, surged ahead at the last jump and powered home to secure victory. This win marked Skelton’s third triumph of the week at the prestigious meeting. Venetia Williams’ Djelo finished third, completing a remarkable one-two-three for the home team, while Zanahiyr represented the best of the Irish in fourth place. The Skelton brothers’ performance was nothing short of magical, leaving fans in awe of their achievements at Cheltenham.

Skelton said: “He was destined to be a chaser from the start and you just want it to happen so bad, so to win a Grade One novice here is great. He’s still got a huge future to look forward to, hopefully.

“We won a Grade One novice chase (at Aintree) with Protektorat, but I just feel like this horse is at least as good and potentially could be better, and that is not taking anything away from the ones we’ve had before. But time moves forward and he’s very important.

“Some people questioned coming for the race, but they can’t now! I just felt the race he ran here against Ginny’s Destiny in December was a very good race and it’s been proven so because they’ve been first and second today. Rule Britannia!”

Trainers Quotes

He added: “I just thought we’re not short of speed and Fact To File did look very good in Ireland so maybe it was the sensible route (to run in this race and not Brown Advisory).

“This is the one we really wanted. He jumped great, Harry was good on him and that was exactly how we wanted the race to go. I think it speaks volumes about the horse that we didn’t need Plan B.

“This week has to be right at the very top – hopefully it’s not over yet.”

The winning rider added: “It’s just magic. Thank you Cheltenham, thank you very much. These people make it special, it is unbelievable this place. He was great today, Dan got the right race, there was a long discussion about it.

“He’s very good, a very good horse. He’s so unassuming, you wouldn’t believe it. He doesn’t know how good he is, but hopefully he’s a bit special.”

%ALT_TXT%%

Turners Novices' Chase
(Registered as The Golden Miller Novices' Chase)
Grade 1, £175,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 4f 5y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Grey Dawning 7 11-7 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/2J
2 2 Ginny's Destiny 8 11-7 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 11/2
3 8 Djelo 6 11-7 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 25/1
4 2½ Zanahiyr 7 11-7 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 17/2
5 1¾ Iroko 6 11-7 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jonjo O'Neill Jr 13/2
6 3 Colonel Harry 7 11-7 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 28/1
7 hd Facile Vega 7 11-7 W P Mullins Paul Townend 5/2J
8 6½ Letsbeclearaboutit 9 11-7 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 12/1
9 31 Sharjah 11 11-7 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 25/1
PU Le Patron 6 11-7 Gary Moore David Noonan 100/1
PU Jamaico 5 11-5 David Pipe Jack Tudor 150/1

Boylesports

Previous results - GOLDEN MILLER NOVICES’ CHASE

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2023 Stage Star 7 11-7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls Owners Group 044 15/2 7

2022  Bob Olinger 7 11-4 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Robcour 6/5 4

2021 Chantry House 7-11-04 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson John P McManus 9/1 8

2020 Samcro 8-11-04 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott Gigginstown House Stud 4/1 12

2019 Defi Du Seuil 6-11-04 Barry Geraghty Philip Hobbs JP McManus 3/1F 10

2018-WINNER-SHATTERED LOVE 5-10-11 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Jack Kennedy; SP-4/1
2ND-Terrefort 5-11-03 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-3/1 Fav
3RD-Benatar 6-11-04 Owner-Ashley Head; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-Jamie Moore; SP-10/1
9 ran, Time-5m 11.80s Dist-7, 12

2017-WINNER-YORKHILL 7-11-04 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Top Notch 6-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-7/2
3RD-Disko 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gigginstown House Stud; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-4/1 8 ran, Time-5m 0.20s Dist-1, 3

2016-BLACK HERCULES 7-11-04 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/1 Co- Fav
2ND-Bristol De Mai 5-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-4/1 Co-Fav
3RD-L’Ami Serge 6-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Nico de Boinville; SP-8/1
9 ran, Time-4m 55.20s Dist-3, 1 4/1 Co-Fav Garde La Victoire (Fell)

2015-VAUTOUR 6-11-04 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Apache Stronghold 7-11-04 Owner-Patricia Hunt; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD-Valseur Lido 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-9/2
8 ran, Time-4m 46.30s Dist-15, sh

2014-TAQUIN DU SEUIL 7-11-04 Owner-Martin Broughton & Friends 1; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-7/1
2ND-Uxizandre 6-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-33/1
3RD-Double Ross 8-11-04 Owner-Options O Syndicate; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-11/1
12 ran, Time-4m 56.72s Dist-¾, 1¼ 7/2 Fav Felix Younger (4th)

2013-WINNER-BENEFFICIENT 7-11-04 Owner-Adrian Shiels & Niall Reilly; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-20/1
2ND-Dynaste 7-11-04 Owner-John White; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-11/8 Fav
3RD-Changing Times 7-11-04 Owner-C J Haughey; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-100/1
13 ran, Time-5m 4.80s Dist-3¼, 1

2012-WINNER-SIR DES CHAMPS 6-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-3/1
2ND-Champion Court 7-11-04 Owner-Martin Boothwright; Trainer-Martin Keighley; Jockey-Alain Cawley; SP-8/1
3RD-For Non Stop 7-11-04 Owner-Chris Giles & Jared Sullivan; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-8/1
10 ran, Time-4m 52.80s Dist-4½, 9

2011-WINNER-NOBLE PRINCE 7-11-04 Owner-Des Sharkey; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-4/1
2ND-Wishfull Thinking 8-11-04 Owner-Diana Whateley; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-7/2 Fav
3RD-Loosen My Load 7-11-04 Owner-Alan & Ann Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry De Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-15/2
11 ran, Time-4m 49.82s Dist-4, 5

Free Racing Tips