A novice in National Hunt horse racing is a horse which has not won in a particular type of race prior to the start of the current season. A novice hurdler has not won a hurdle race before the start of the current season, while a novice chaser has not won a steeplechase before the start of the current season. A modern development has seen a concession whereby horses that record their first win in a given sphere in March or April may contest novice events up to 31st October of that year.