Six runners have been confirmed for the Drinmore Novice Chase, one of the two Grade 1s at Fairyhouse this Sunday, 1st December. It is a race Gordon Elliott has won in five of the past nine seasons, so fittingly, he has five of the nine confirmations for the 2024 renewal.
Among those are the first and second from the Florida Pearl Novice Chase run at Punchestown last weekend in which all three were trained by Elliott and owned by Gigginstown House Stud. Stellar Story narrowly held off Search For Glory that day and the former will line up here.
Of the remaining Cullentra-based trio, Firefox is the most notable. The six-year-old was runner-up in two Grade 1 novice hurdles to Mystical Power last season and made a serene chase debut with victory at Down Royal early in November.
Croke Park is another potential Elliott-Gigginstown representative having also won on his first chasing start, with the mare Shecouldbeanything rounding off the trainer’s quintet. She would be seeking a fifth straight success if lining up.
Willie Mullins won it last year but has no runners left entered for this season’s running. Instead, Henry De Bromhead may put up the sternest challenge against Elliott’s brigade with recent Wexford winner Heart Wood his chief hope. He beat Corbetts Cross that day and was also third in Grade 1 company at Aintree in April. Grade 3 winner Gorgeous Tom is searching for a third win in four chase starts and could also line up for De Bromhead.
Drinmore Novice Chase 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Croke Park | Gordon Elliott |
| 2 | Firefox | Gordon Elliott |
| 3 | Gorgeous Tom | Henry De Bromhead |
| 4 | Heart Wood | Henry De Bromhead |
| 5 | Stellar Story | Gordon Elliott |
| 6 | Shecouldbeanything | Gordon Elliott |