title: Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle
text: # Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle
  
  The Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Clonmel over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are 14 flights of hurdles to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place each year in February.
  
  The race was first run in 2003, became a Listed race in 2008 and was awarded Grade 3 status in 2013.
  
  ## Records
  
  Leading jockey (4 wins):
  
  * Ruby Walsh – Cooldine (2008), Inish Island (2013), Arkwrisht (2016), Allaho (2019)
  
  Leading trainer (7 wins):
  
  * Willie Mullins – Cooldine (2008), Bishopsfurze (2011), Inish Island (2013), Don Poli (2014), Roi Des Francs (2015), Arkwrisht (2016), Allaho (2019)
  
  ## Winners
  
  * 1 2 3 amateur jockey
  * ↑ The 2020 running took place at Punchestown after the original Clonmel fixture was abandoned
  * ↑ The 2021 running took place at Navan after the original Clonmel fixture was abandoned
  