Events / Malcolm Pannett / 29 January 2009 /

Malcolm Pannett tells the history of Sandown's big novice chase, which takes place this Saturday.

The race being run this Saturday at Sandown as the Toteswinger Challengers Novices' Chase is more commonly known as the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. The race has thrown up some superstars over the years but more recently it has become a race that Paul Nicholls wins with a horse that then loses at the Cheltenham Festival.

The first running was in 1964 when Johnny Haine-partnered Buona notte to victory and immediately stamped the race's Festival credentials by following up over an extra mile in the Sun Alliance Chase (now RSA).

In 1970, the talented Royal Relief won under Johnny Cook and, carrying the famous halved colours of Edward Courage, went on to win two Champion Chases.

The brilliant Killiney, trained by Fred Winter and ridden by Richard Pitman, won in a canter by ten lengths at 1-10 in 1973 before extended his winning run to eight in the Totalisator Champion Chase (now RSA). However two days later it all started to go wrong for Winter and Pitman.

Firstly Pendil, who looked assured of victory in the Gold Cup, lost by the narrowest of margins to The Dikler. Leading at the last fence, Pendil faltered on the run-in, possibly startled by the noise of the crowd, allowing The Dikler past but he managed to rally and only just failed to get back up.

Two weeks later, Crisp put up one of the finest displays of front-running and jumping ever seen in the Grand National only to agonisingly lose out to Red Rum who was receiving 23lb. And then the next week, to complete the sequence of woe, Killiney fell at Ascot. Pitman was badly concussed and dislocated his shoulder while tragically Killiney broke his shoulder and had to be destroyed.

In 1988 the distance of the Scilly Isles was increased from two miles and 18 yards to two miles four furlongs and 110 yards with Josh Gifford's Yeoman Broker winning the spoils from Southernair and Bonanza Boy. The latter went on to win a memorable renewal of the Welsh Grand National the following season. Yeoman Broker himself was not disgraced in the Sun Alliance finishing in the frame behind The West Awake and Bob Tisdall.

Best Mate won in 2001 but was foiled in his attempt to follow up at Cheltenham when the whole meeting was abandoned due to the foot and mouth epidemic. He did of course go on to win the next three Gold Cups.

Five runnings of the Scilly Isles have been lost to bad weather while the 1982 race, won by Sea Image, was run at Kempton Park.

Other notable winners through the years include Kilbrittain Castle, Bradbury Star, Young Hustler and Senor El Betrutti.

25 years ago: The diminutive Norton Cross, trained by Peter Easterby, won a thrilling battle of the greys outpointing Carved Opal after favourite Gambir had fallen two out when still in contention. Easterby won the race again the next year with Karenomore having won it previously with Clayside in 1981 who went on to win that year's Arkle Chase.

10 years ago: A change of tactics paid dividends for the Paul Webber-trained Hoh Express. Jamie Osborne took his charge, who had previously been held up in his races, to the lead early on to beat No Retreat by three and a half lengths. This was to be the last trip to the winners' enclosure for Hoh Express, who had been a decent dual purpose servant, the runner-up went on to become a very useful hunter chaser.

Five years ago: Paul Webber won again this time with Patricksnineteenth who beat L'Aventure by six lengths. Patricksnineteenth finished a distant fourth behind Rule Supreme in the RSA while L'Aventure, the 2005 Welsh Grand National winner, continues to ply her trade in the top staying events.

Last Year: Silverburn completed a hat-trick in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls. Denman's half-brother easily accounted for The Market Man who was returning to action after 784 days on the sidelines. However, like Napolitain and New Little Bric, Silverburn could not follow up at Cheltenham where a mistake at the fourth last put paid to his chances in the RSA won by Albertas Run.

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