The JLT Novices’ Chase has only been running for eight years but there have already been some champion winners and it’s proving to be a great form guide for future Cheltenham festivals. 

Vautour and Yorkhill were popular winners for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh, who both scored three consecutive wins from 2015-2017.

The first JLT Novices’ Chase was held in 2011 when it was taken out by Noble Prince for trainer Paul Nolan and jockey AP McCoy, who would later score his second win in the JLT Novices’ Chase aboard Taquin du Seuil. 

With 17 fences to jump throughout the 2m 4f journey, the winners have to be tough and although it’s a novices’ chase, the quality is on show. 

2015 winner Vautour would later win the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and bettors are finding that the form out of the JLT Novices’ Chase stacks up nicely in the following years. 

The JLT Novices’ Chase has largely been dominated by Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. Mullins has trained four winners (Sir Des Champs, Vautour, Black Hercules and Yorkhill), with Ruby Walsh riding all except Sir Des Champs in 2012 when Davy Russell was on board. 

All eight winners to date have either been aged six or seven, with six of the eight winners being a seven-year-old. 

The JLT Novices’ Chase was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2014 when Taquin du Seuil was victorious. 

It is listed as the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase but has always raced under its sponsorship name, which included the Jewson Novices’ Chase.