Worcester Novices' Chase

{{short description|Steeplechase horse race in Britain}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Jockey colours header

| name = Worcester Novices' Chase }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2022

| image1 = File:Owner Giraffa Racing.svg

| alt1 = Black, beige and black striped sleeves

| caption1 = McFabulous

| image2 = File:Owner The Englands And Heywoods.svg

| alt2 = Purple, emerald green hoop, checked sleeves, white cap

| caption2 = Thyme Hill

| image3 = File:Owner Richard Hames and Alex Govorusa.svg

| alt3 = Dark blue, white star, white and dark blue diabolo on sleeves, dark blue cap, white star

| caption3 = Mortlach

}}

|}

{{Jockey colours collapsible header}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2021

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs C Wymer and Mr Pjs Russell.svg

| alt1 = Red, black epaulets and armlets, black cap, red star

| caption1 = Ahoy Senor

| image2 = File:Owner Stephen E McCarthy.svg

| alt2 = White and royal blue (quartered), white sleeves, royal blue seams, check cap

| caption2 = Mr Incredible

| image3 = File:Owner The Gi Gi Syndicate.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, red star, dark green and yellow striped sleeves, orange cap

| caption3 = Flash Collonges

}}

{{Jockey colours no footer}}

{{Jockey colours named collapsible header

| name = 2020-2011 }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2020

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Malcolm C Denmark.svg

| alt1 = Black and white check, yellow sleeves, black and white quartered cap

| caption1 = Next Destination

| image2 = File:Owner Maurice Clifford.svg

| alt2 = Black, white diamond, diamonds on sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = One For The Team

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Andrew L Cohen.svg

| alt3 = Royal blue, white star, royal blue sleeves, white stars and stars on cap

| caption3 = Kalooki

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2019

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs Angela Tincknell.svg

| alt1 = Pink and black stripes, diabolo on sleeves

| caption1 = Danny Whizzbang

| image2 = File:Owner The Reserve Tankers.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, white hoop, royal blue sleeves, dark blue armlets

| caption2 = Reserve Tank

| image3 = File:Owner Mike and Eileen Newbould.svg

| alt3 = Black, white cross of lorraine, sleeves and cap

| caption3 = Ardlethen

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2018

| image1 = File:Owner Mr R Kelvin-Hughes.svg

| alt1 = Grey, white epaulets

| caption1 = Santini

| image2 = File:Owner J Perriss.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, pink star, pink sleeves, royal blue stars, pink cap, royal blue star

| caption2 = Rocky's Treasure

| image3 = File:Owner Miss Emma Collins.svg

| alt3 = Dark blue, pink chevron, dark blue sleeves, pink stars, pink cap, dark blue star

| caption3 = Le Breuil

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2017

| image1 = File:Owner Mr J P Romans.svg

| alt1 = Black, yellow triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves and diamond on cap

| caption1 = Elegant Escape

| image2 = File:Owner The Brooks, Kyle and Stewart Families.svg

| alt2 = Dark blue, royal blue stars, dark blue and red halved sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = Black Corton

| image3 = File:Owner The Eyre Family.svg

| alt3 = Maroon and orange diabolo, orange sleeves, maroon cap, orange star

| caption3 = Sir Ivan

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2016

| image1 = File:Owner John and Heather Snook.svg

| alt1 = Orange, black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves

| caption1 = Thistlecrack

| image2 = File:Owner Mr Nigel Morris.svg

| alt2 = Dark blue, red chevron, armlets and diamond on cap

| caption2 = Bigbadjohn

| image3 = File:Owner Mr J Hales.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star

| caption3 = Ibis Du Rheu

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2015

| image1 = File:Owner Brocade Racing.svg

| alt1 = Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap

| caption1 = Native River

| image2 = File:Owner Prof Caroline Tisdall.svg

| alt2 = Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star

| caption2 = Un Temps Pour Tout

| image3 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg

| alt3 = Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap

| caption3 = Port Melon

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2014

| image1 = File:Owner Masterson Holdings Limited.svg

| alt1 = Red, emerald green disc, emerald green sleeves, red stars

| caption1 = Carraig Mor

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs Angela Yeoman.svg

| alt2 = White, dark blue cross belts, red and white check sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = Southfield Theatre

| image3 = File:Owner Homewoodgate Racing Club.svg

| alt3 = Black and yellow check, halved sleeves

| caption3 = My Silver Cloud

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2013

| image1 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg

| alt1 = Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap

| caption1 = Just A Par

| image2 = File:Owner Mr R G Tizzard.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green, yellow spots and armlets, hooped cap

| caption2 = Third Intention

| image3 = File:Owner Mr C E Stedman.svg

| alt3 = Light blue, brown cross of lorraine, striped sleeves and star on cap

| caption3 = Ardkilly Witness

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2012

| image1 = File:Owner Mr A N Solomons.svg

| alt1 = Black, green hoop and armlets, green cap, black spots

| caption1 = Harry Topper

| image2 = File:Owner A F Shiels.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green and red stripes, red sleeves, quartered cap

| caption2 = Benefficient

| image3 = File:Owner The Unusual Suspects.svg

| alt3 = White, dark blue sash, hooped sleeves, white cap

| caption3 = Highland Lodge

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2011

| image1 = File:Owner Mr R Stanley.svg

| alt1 = Purple, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, red armlets, red cap

| caption1 = Grands Crus

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs Angela Hart.svg

| alt2 = Dark blue, light blue hoops, checked sleeves and checked cap

| caption2 = Sonofvic

| image3 = File:Owner Mrs Caroline Mould.svg

| alt3 = Red, royal blue chevrons, armlets and star on cap

| caption3 = Viking Blond

}}

{{Jockey colours no footer}}

{{Jockey colours named collapsible header

| name = 2010-2001 }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2010

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Paul K Barber.svg

| alt1 = Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap

| caption1 = Aiteen Thirtythree

| image2 = File:Owner Mr R Gibbs.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green, purple cross belts, purple cap

| caption2 = Voramar Two

| image3 = File:Owner Mr S Munir.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap

| caption3 = Be There in Five

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2009

| image1 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg

| alt1 = Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap

| caption1 = Michel Le Bon

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs J M Mayo.svg

| alt2 = Red, dark green armlets, white cap

| caption2 = Bench Warrant

| image3 = File:Owner Mr J B Pettifer.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, black cross of lorraine, black sleeves, yellow armlets, yellow cap, black star

| caption3 = Pettifour

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2008

| image1 = File:Owner Mr G T Lever.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves

| caption1 = Gone To Lunch

| image2 = File:Owner Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd.svg

| alt2 = Red and grey (quartered), hooped sleeves

| caption2 = Tartak

| image3 = File:Owner MR D B T HUGHES.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, large dark green spots, dark green cap

| caption3 = Hold Em

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2007

| image1 = File:Owner Mr R E Dimond.svg

| alt1 = Yellow, red diamond, red and yellow quartered cap

| caption1 = Joe Lively

| image2 = File:Owner Bill Hinge and Gary Smallbone.svg

| alt2 = Maroon, White hoops, Maroon sleeves, White spots, White cap

| caption2 = Here's Johnny

| image3 = File: (at)-white.svg

| alt3 = Only two finished

| caption3 = Only two finished

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2006

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs Diana Whateley.svg

| alt1 = Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap

| caption1 = Boychuk

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs M Findlay.svg

| alt2 = White, purple hooped sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Gungadu

| image3 = File:Owner P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, royal blue braces, striped sleeves, hooped cap

| caption3 = Wee Robbie

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2005

| image1 = File:Owner Lady Lloyd-Webber.svg

| alt1 = Pink and grey diamonds, pink cap

| caption1 = Darkness

| image2 = File:Owner Mr Robert Lester.svg

| alt2 = Mauve, Black sash, Yellow sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Iris's Gift

| image3 = File:Owner Mr M G St Quinton.svg

| alt3 = Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap

| caption3 = Unleash

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2004

| image1 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg

| alt1 = Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap

| caption1 = Cornish Rebel

| image2 = File:Owner Old Moss Farm.svg

| alt2 = Yellow, Black chevron, check sleeves

| caption2 = Distant Thunder

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Keith Nicholson.svg

| alt3 = Orange, black triple diamond, black and orange diabolo on sleeves, orange cap, black diamond

| caption3 = St Matthew

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2003

| image1 = File:Owner Mr R Owen.svg

| alt1 = White, red chevron, emerald green and red striped sleeves, red cap

| caption1 = Ballycassidy

| image2 = File:Owner R and E H Investments Ltd.svg

| alt2 = Light Blue and Orange diamonds, Light Blue sleeves, Light Blue cap, Orange star

| caption2 = Native Emperor

| image3 = File:Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg

| alt3 = Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots

| caption3 = Celestial Gold

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2002

| image1 = File:Owner Executive Racing.svg

| alt1 = Emerald Green, Dark Blue diamond and diamond on cap

| caption1 = Lucky Bay

| image2 = File:Owner Million in Mind Partnership.svg

| alt2 = Emerald green and red diabolo, white sleeves, emerald green diamonds, white cap, red diamond

| caption2 = Joly Bey

| image3 = File:Owner Mr R Gibbs.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green, purple cross belts, purple cap

| caption3 = One Knight

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2001

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Paul K Barber.svg

| alt1 = Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap

| caption1 = Valley Henry

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs P Sherwood.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue and orange (quartered); blue sleeves and cap with orange diamond

| caption2 = Frosty Canyon

| image3 = File:Owner Southern Brick and Tile Co Ltd.svg

| alt3 = Green, white star, diabolo on sleeves, green cap, white spots

| caption3 = Southern Star

}}

{{Jockey colours no footer}}

{{Jockey colours named collapsible header

| name = 2000-1990 }}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 2000

| image1 = File:Owner Mr C G Roach.svg

| alt1 = Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap

| caption1 = Shotgun Willy

| image2 = File:Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots

| caption2 = Take Control

| image3 = File:Owner Mr H R Mould.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star

| caption3 = Bindaree

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1999

| image1 = File:Owner Autofour Engineering.svg

| alt1 = Orange, black star, striped sleeves, star on cap

| caption1 = Connor Macleod

| image2 = File:Owner The Hedonists.svg

| alt2 = Royal Blue, White seams, Black and White hooped sleeves, White cap, Royal Blue spots

| caption2 = Papo Kharisma

| image3 = File:Owner Mel Fordham.svg

| alt3 = Red, white star, striped sleeves, yellow cap

| caption3 = Galapiat Du Mesnil

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1998

| image1 = File:Owner Matt Archer and the Late Miss J Broadhurs.svg

| alt1 = Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap

| caption1 = Ocean Hawk

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs Richard Strachan.svg

| alt2 = Royal blue, white sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = Tiraldo

| image3 = File:Owner Mr C M Batterham.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and maroon (quartered), halved sleeves, emerald green cap

| caption3 = Farfadet

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1997

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Paul K Barber.svg

| alt1 = Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap

| caption1 = Ottowa

| image2 = File:Owner Mr Nicholas Cooper.svg

| alt2 = White, black spots, white sleeves, red cap

| caption2 = Eulogy

| image3 = File:Owner The Racing Hares.svg

| alt3 = Yellow, maroon epaulets, striped sleeves

| caption3 = Edgemoor Prince

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1996

| image1 = File:Owner Tony Eaves.svg

| alt1 = Purple, grey seams, white sleeves, purple cap

| caption1 = Pleasure Shared

| image2 = File:Owner T J Whitley.svg

| alt2 = Navy blue, scarlet sleeves, quartered cap, white cross belts

| caption2 = Around The Gale

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Trevor Hemmings.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap

| caption3 = Mony-Skip

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1995

| image1 = File:Owner Richard Shaw.svg

| alt1 = Black, emerald green spots on cap

| caption1 = Betty's Boy

| image2 = File:Owner Hunt and Co (Bournemouth) Ltd.svg

| alt2 = Black, yellow stars, black sleeves, yellow cap

| caption2 = Cherrynut

| image3 = File:Owner Mrs J K Powell.svg

| alt3 = Royal blue, white epaulets, royal blue sleeves, white stars, royal blue cap, white star

| caption3 = Gospel

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1993

| image1 = File:Owner Mr Paul K Barber.svg

| alt1 = Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap

| caption1 = See More Indians

| image2 = File:Owner Pell-Mell Partners.svg

| alt2 = Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap

| caption2 = Run Up The Flag

| image3 = File:Owner Mr Adrian Paterson.svg

| alt3 = Royal blue, gold seams, blue cap, gold tassel

| caption3 = Craigstown

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1992

| image1 = File:Owner Mr H R Mould.svg

| alt1 = Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star

| caption1 = Barton Bank

| image2 = File:Owner G Henfrey.svg

| alt2 = White, black hollow box, halved sleeves, black cap

| caption2 = Superior Finish

| image3 = File:Owner C T Bouston.svg

| alt3 = White, royal blue cross belts, hooped sleeves, red cap

| caption3 = Petty Bridge

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1991

| image1 = File:Owner Mrs R Vaughan.svg

| alt1 = Red, emerald green star, hooped sleeves, red cap, emerald green star

| caption1 = Captain Dibble

| image2 = File:Owner Mrs Mary Hartop.svg

| alt2 = Red, dark blue chevron, dark blue sleeves, red armlets

| caption2 = Bel Course

| image3 = File:Owner R K Minton-Price.svg

| alt3 = Emerald green, royal blue cross of lorraine and sleeves, red cap

| caption3 = Tochenka

}}

{{Jockey colours row

| year = 1990

| image1 = File:Owner W Ebury.svg

| alt1 = Black, yellow star, striped sleeves, green cap

| caption1 = Killbanon

| image2 = File:Owner Jerry Wright.svg

| alt2 = Dark blue, white triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap

| caption2 = What's The Crack

| image3 = File:Owner Q J Jones.svg

| alt3 = Brown, emerald green sleeves, hooped cap

| caption3 = Chancery Buck

}}

{{Jockey colours footer}}

The Worcester Novices' Chase, later run as the John Francome Novices' Chase, was a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It was run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 7½ furlongs (2 miles 7 furlongs and 86 yards, or 4,706 metres), and during its running there were eighteen fences to be jumped. The race was for novice chasers, and it was scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.

The race was first run in 1990 and was originally held at Worcester, where it was contested over distances of up to 2 miles and 7½ furlongs and run as the Worcester Novices' Chase. It was transferred to Newbury and extended to its later length in 2000.

In 2017 the race was renamed in honour of John Francome, with the press release explaining that the race "was transferred from Worcester racecourse 17 years ago, so the geographical connection with the Pitchcroft is no longer relevant."{{cite web | title = Jump Pattern Book Blog 2017/18 | publisher = BHA | url = http://www.britishhorseracing.com/jump-pattern-book-blog-201718/ | date = 2017-10-11 | accessdate = 2017-10-21}}

In April 2023 the British Horseracing Authority announced the removal of the race from the 2023/24 programme.{{cite web |title=Package of changes agreed to help strengthen performance of British Jump racing |url=https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/package-of-changes-agreed-to-help-strengthen-performance-of-british-jump-racing/ |publisher=British Horseracing Authority |access-date=28 April 2023 |date=27 April 2023}} The race name was reallocated to another novice chase run at the same meeting and previously titled the Berkshire Novices' Chase.