The Pendil Novices Chase in run at Kempton on Racing Plus Chase Day in the second half of February.
The race has Grade 2 status and is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs. Given this distance it should be a pointer to the Jewson Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but no horse has doubled up in these two races. Captain Chris did win here before winning the 2011 Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase. The most notable horse on the roll of honour of probably Nicky Henderson’s Remittance Man who won the Arkle and Champion Chase in the early 1990s.
The race name remembers Pendil a two time King George winner. The famous racehorses website describes Pendil as:
“Fred Winter’s best steeplechaser and was one of a very few great horses who, along with Carvill’s Hill, Thomond, and One Man never won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Pendil won the King George VI Chase at Kempton in a canter in 1972 and 1973 and destroyed them in the 1973 Massey Ferguson Gold Cup defying 12st 7lbs and giving 34lbs to Helmsman. When he beat Game Spirit at Newbury in October 1974 he had won 16 of 18 races over fences.
He started as odds on favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cups of 1974 and 1975. In 1974 he was going too well, rounded the home turn, went to the front, jumped the last in the lead, briefly lost his concentration and allowed The Dickler to pass him, only to rally close to the line to be beaten a short half head. In 1975 he was cruising down the hill, when brought down when High Kenn fell.”
We have a clip of Pendil in action from the 1973 Gold Cup:
Pendil Novices Chase Trends
- Ruby/Paul Nicholls have been the dominant jockey/trainer combo winning 7 of the last 9
- Favourites/Joint Favourites have won the last 4
- 11 of the last 12 winners had an SP of 3-1 or less
- Last 6 winners had an OR of 140+
- 6 and 7 year olds have won 10 of the last 12
Pendil Novices Chase Winners 2003-2014
| Year | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | OR | SP | FOF |
| 2014 | Balder Succes | 6 | Wayne Hutchinson | Alan King | 151 | 9-4 | 3 |
| 2013 | Grandioso | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 142 | 9-4 | 2 |
| 2012 | Cristal Bonus | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 157 | 15-8 | 1/PU |
| 2011 | Captain Chris | 7 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs | 153 | 2-5 | 1 |
| 2010 | The Nightingale | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 146 | 4-5 | 1 |
| 2009 | Herecomesthetruth | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 150 | 8-13 | 1 |
| 2008 | Oslot | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | – | 11-2 | F |
| 2007 | Natal | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 148 | 5-2 | 1 |
| 2006 | Napolitain | 5 | Christian Williams | Paul Nicholls | 139 | 2-1 | 2 |
| 2005 | Limerick Boy | 7 | Sam Thomas | V Williams | – | 12-1 | 3 |
| 2004 | Calling Brave | 8 | Tony McCoy | N J Henderson | – | Evens | 1 |
| 2003 | Hand Inn Hand | 7 | Richard Johnson | Henry Daly | 138 | 3-1 | 3/5 |
