Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-03-02
The Kingmaker Novices' Chase is Warwick's signature race. Run in early February, it's a Grade 2 over two miles that serves as a key trial for the Arkle at Cheltenham. When the best novice chasers in training turn up, the Kingmaker is the race. Past winners include Flagship Uberalles, Voy Por Ustedes, Long Run and Finian's Rainbow — all went on to win at the Festival. If you're looking for Arkle form, the Kingmaker is essential reading.
The race is named after the 16th Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville, known as the "Kingmaker" during the Wars of the Roses. It's a fitting name for a race that has made and unmade Cheltenham Festival aspirations. Win the Kingmaker and you're on the radar for the Arkle. Run poorly and your Festival plans may need revising. Trainers target it deliberately. The prize money and the prestige make it one of the most important novice chases of the winter.
The distance — two miles with 110 yards added — suits a certain type of horse. You need speed and accurate jumping. The track is sharp and left-handed, so handy types tend to excel. The ground is often soft or good to soft. This guide covers the race's history, great winners, the course and conditions, betting angles, and the questions people ask most. For more on Warwick Racecourse, see our complete guide.
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Race History
The Kingmaker Novices' Chase was established in 1991. It was originally run in May over two miles and four and a half furlongs — a longer distance that suited staying novice chasers. The race was part of Warwick's spring programme, and it quickly established itself as a useful trial for horses heading to the end-of-season festivals.
The Move to February
In 1996, the race was moved to February and shortened to two miles. The logic was clear. The Arkle Chase at Cheltenham is run over two miles. A trial at the same distance, six weeks before the Festival, would give connections a clear guide. The move transformed the Kingmaker. It became a proper Arkle trial — the race that trainers wanted to win before heading to Cheltenham. The distance was extended by 110 yards in 2000, and it has stayed at that trip since.
The Wincanton Years
Between 2005 and 2007, the Kingmaker was temporarily transferred to Wincanton. Warwick was undergoing work — the exact nature of the changes varies in the records — and the race needed a home. Wincanton's sharp, left-handed track was a reasonable fit. Voy Por Ustedes won at Wincanton in 2006 before going on to win the Arkle. But the race belonged at Warwick. It returned in 2008 and has remained there since. The Kingmaker and Warwick are now inseparable.
Grade 2 Status
The race holds Grade 2 status. That puts it below the Arkle and the other Championship races at Cheltenham, but above the average novice chase. The prize money reflects that — it's a serious race. The race is also part of the British Horseracing Authority's Graded Race Programme, which means it attracts quality horses and quality fields. The Kingmaker has earned its place in the National Hunt calendar.
Great Winners
The Kingmaker roll of honour is impressive. Flagship Uberalles won in 1999 for Paul Nicholls before finishing second in the Arkle. Voy Por Ustedes won at Wincanton in 2006 — when the race was temporarily transferred — and then won the Arkle at Cheltenham. Long Run won the Kingmaker in 2010 before going on to win the Gold Cup the following year. Finian's Rainbow won in 2012 and then won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. The race finds champions.
Paul Nicholls and the Kingmaker
Paul Nicholls has trained five Kingmaker winners — more than any other trainer. Lake Kariba (1998), Flagship Uberalles (1999), Whitenzo (2001), Armaturk (2002) and Vibrato Valtat (2015). When Nicholls sends a novice chaser to Warwick for the Kingmaker, it's worth taking notice. His horses are often well prepared, and the sharp track suits his style. Nicholls has made the Kingmaker a target — and his record shows it.
Robert Thornton's Three
Robert Thornton rode three Kingmaker winners — Flagship Uberalles (1999), Kadount (2005, at Wincanton) and Voy Por Ustedes (2006, at Wincanton). Thornton was one of the most talented jump jockeys of his generation, and his record in the race reflects that. His ability to get a horse jumping and travelling was perfectly suited to the Kingmaker's demands.
Recent Winners
Recent renewals have continued to produce quality. The race remains a key trial for the Arkle. Horses that win or run well in the Kingmaker often go on to Cheltenham with strong claims. The form holds up. If you're studying the Arkle, the Kingmaker is one of the first races to check.
The Course & Conditions
The Kingmaker is run over approximately two miles and 110 yards. There are twelve fences to jump. The track is left-handed and sharp — the bends come quickly and horses need to jump accurately. The run-in is about two furlongs, so there's time to make up ground if you're behind, but not much. Tactical speed and fluent jumping matter.
Ground Conditions
The race is run in early February. The ground is often soft or good to soft. Warwick's winter meetings rarely run on quick ground. Horses that have proven form on soft ground tend to excel. That said, the best novice chasers often handle a range of conditions — the Arkle hopefuls are classy animals. If the ground is heavy, favour horses that have shown they can handle it. If it's good to soft, the race can suit a slightly different profile.
What Suits the Course
Handy, accurate jumpers tend to excel. The sharp track rewards horses that can quicken into the bends and jump fluently. Long-striding gallopers can struggle. The Kingmaker is a test of technique as much as stamina. Horses that have won at similar sharp tracks — Kempton or Wincanton — often translate their form well. For more on how the track plays, see our betting guide.
Betting Angles & Trends
The Kingmaker often goes to the favourite or a short-priced runner. The best novice chasers in training turn up, and the market usually identifies them correctly. But there's value to be found. The place market can offer better returns — the race often has a small field, and the favourite may win but at odds that don't reward a win bet. Each-way backers can sometimes find value in the second or third favourite.
The Paul Nicholls Angle
When Paul Nicholls sends a runner to the Kingmaker, take notice. He's won it five times. His horses are often well prepared and the track suits his style. If his runner isn't the favourite, there can be value. If it is the favourite, the form is usually strong. Nicholls doesn't send horses to Warwick for a day out — he targets the race.
Form from Similar Tracks
Horses that have won or run well at sharp tracks tend to go well. Form from Kempton, Wincanton or Sandown on the chase course can translate. Form from galloping tracks like Cheltenham or Newbury doesn't always translate. Warwick's sharp circuit rewards a different type of horse. If a horse has shown it can handle sharp tracks, that's a positive.
The Arkle Connection
The Kingmaker is an Arkle trial. Horses that win or run well often go on to Cheltenham. If you're backing a horse in the Kingmaker, consider whether it's likely to run in the Arkle. The form from this race is one of the most reliable guides to the Festival. Backing the Kingmaker winner for the Arkle can sometimes offer value — especially if the Cheltenham market hasn't fully caught up.
Frequently Asked Questions
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