County Handicap Hurdle

County Handicap Hurdle
Premier Handicap race
Location Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated 1920
Race type Hurdle race
Sponsor McCoy Contractors
Website Cheltenham
Race information
Distance 2m 179y (3,382 metres)
Surface Turf
Track Left-handed
Qualification Five-years-old and up
Weight Handicap
Purse £100,000 (2023)
1st: £56,270
County Handicap Hurdle
2023
Pink, brown epaulets, sleeves and cap Red, white diamond, white sleeves, red diamonds Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Faivoir Pied Piper Filey Bay
Previous years
2022
Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, black star Maroon Red, white diamond, white sleeves, red spots
State Man First Street Colonel Mustard
2021
White, royal blue star, sleeves and star on cap White, emerald green chevrons, red cap Light blue, black and light blue halved sleeves, yellow cap
Belfast Banter Petit Mouchoir Milkwood
2020-2011
2020
EMERALD GREEN, YELLOW hoops, EMERALD GREEN cap, WHITE star Emerald green, maroon chevron, white sleeves, white cap, maroon diamond Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Saint Roi Aramon Embittered
2019
Black, black and pink check sleeves and cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Ch'tibello We Have A Dream Countister
2018
Purple, pink stars, mauve sleeves, pink stars, purple cap, pink star Red and white stripes, red sleeves, white spots Purple, yellow chevron, yellow cap
Mohaayed Remiluc Whiskey Sour
2017
Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Maroon, beige star, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap
Arctic Fire L'Ami Serge Ozzie The Oscar
2016
Maroon, pink epaulets, sleeves and star on cap White, royal blue chevron and sleeves, striped cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap
Superb Story Fethard Player Sternrubin
2015
Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star EMERALD GREEN and yellow HOOPED, Red cap Emerald green, yellow sleeves, white cap, yellow spots
Wicklow Brave Sort It Out Quick Jack
2014
Red, pink hoop and armlets Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star Yellow, red spots
Lac Fontana Arctic Fire Montbazon
2013
Emerald green, yellow sleeves, white cap, yellow spots Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots White, red disc, hooped cap
Ted Veale Tennis Cap Manyriverstocross
2012
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Red, white cap
Alderwood Edgardo Sol Sailors Warn
2011
Dark blue, white diabolo on sleeves, dark blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Red, royal blue stars, white sleeves and cap
Final Approach Get Me Out of Here Nearby
2010-2001
2010
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Light blue, white chevrons, white sleeves, light blue armlets, light blue and white striped cap
Thousand Stars Arcalis Dee Ee Williams
2009
Red and yellow (quartered), hooped sleeves, emerald green cap Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap
American Trilogy Stradbrook Cockney Trucker
2008
Royal Blue, Emerald Green diamonds, Emerald Green sleeves, striped cap Red, Red sleeves, White armlets, White cap, Yellow star Light Blue and Royal Blue diabolo, Light Blue sleeves and cap
Silver Jaro Psycho French Saulaie
2007
Yellow, dark blue sash, dark blue cap, yellow star White, purple hooped sleeves and cap Red, yellow epaulets
Pedrobob Ouninpohja Premier Dane
2006
White, purple hooped sleeves and cap Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap Royal blue, emerald green star, white cap, emerald green star
Desert Quest Noble Request Adamant Approach
2005
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Red, white sleeves and star on cap White, Brown hoops, armlets and quartered cap
Fontanesi Stance Borora
2004
White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap White, blue star, red sleeves, red cap, white hoop Yellow, maroon and yellow hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Sporazene Hawadeth Copeland
2003
Red and dark blue halved, sleeves reversed, striped cap Black, red spots, black cap, white spots Dark Blue, Yellow stars, striped sleeves and star on cap
Spirit Leader Balapour Through The Rye
2002
Yellow, black chevron, check cap Black and Yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, Yellow cap Emerald Green, Yellow stripe, Yellow cap
Rooster Booster Landing Light Geos
2000-1991
2000
Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star White, blue disc, blue sleeves, white armlets, light blue and white hooped cap Yellow, purple hoop, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Master Tern Danegold Spokesman
1999
Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star Dark blue, light blue cross belts, light blue and white quartered cap Black and white stripes, emerald green and white striped sleeves
Sir Talbot Decoupage Toto Toscato
1998
Dark Blue, Yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap Yellow and green (quartered), yellow sleeves, yellow armlets, striped cap Green, red stripe, striped sleeves and cap
Blowing Wind Advocat Bless Me Sister
1997
DARK BLUE, emerald green hoop, dark blue sleeves, quartered cap Maroon Pink, black epaulets, black and pink striped sleeves, hooped cap
Barna Boy Carlito Brigante Penny A Day
1996
White, light blue spots, white sleeves, light blue cap, white spots Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap Red and Yellow diamonds, White sleeves and cap
Star Rage Romancer Non Vintage
1995
Brown and yellow (quartered), halved sleeves, brown cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, green star, green sleeves, yellow armlets, yellow cap, green star
Home Counties Family Way Test match
1994
Dark Blue, Red hoops, striped sleeves, Black cap Pale blue, dark blue seams, quartered cap Blue, gold hoop and cuffs, pink cap
Dizzy Diplomatic Steel Dawn
1993
White, black cap Gold, black hoops, scarlet cap Black, gold cross and stripe on cap
Thumbs Up High Baron Spinning
1992
Brown, orange striped sleeves, orange cap Black and yellow stripes, royal blue sleeves, white cap, light blue spots Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
Dusty Miller Bank View Viking Flagship
1991
Dark blue, large yellow spots, yellow cap Royal blue, gold sleeves, hhoped cap, white cross-belts Black and yellow (quartered), yellow cap, pink spots
Winnie The Witch Celtic Bob One For The Pot
1990-1988
1990
Grey, maroon chevron and sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue, light blue disc and sleeves, red and white check cap Orange, blue stripe, blue cap, orange star
Moody Man Smart Performer Persillant
1989
Yellow, royal blue sleeves, yellow cap, royal blue star Green, yellow epaulets, white cap Emerald green, orange spots, emerald green sleeves, yellow cap
Willsford Travel Mystery Fiefdom
1988
Royal blue and red diamonds Royal blue, black sleeves, white cap, blue hoop Pink, grey spots, pink sleeves and cap
Cashew King Sunbia Rampallion
 

The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 179 yards, or 3,382 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

History

The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title between 1995 and 2016 was the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in honour of Vincent O'Brien, an Irish racehorse trainer who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham festival.

For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.

Records

Most successful horse since 1946:

  • no horse has won this race more than once since 1946

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):

  • Ruby Walsh – Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Final Approach (2011)

Leading trainer since 1946 (6 wins):

  • Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022)

List of renewals

Date
 Winner
 SP
 Age
 Weight (st-lb)
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Runners
1920, 11 March Trespasser 4/7F 4 11-09 George Duller J. M. Bell P. Heybourn 8
1921, 3 March Water Bottle 5/1 — 11–13 F. Croney A. Scott A. Scott 12
1922, 9 March Lukeston 100/30 — 12-02 F. Rees Harrison E. Tattersall 7
1923, 7 March Assaroe 6/1 — 11–10 F. Brown Newey Stanley Howard 7
1924, 12 March Argo 2/1F — 11-08 George Duller Coulthwaite Lord Londesborough 13
1925, 11 March Rosecome 100/7 5 10-06 J. East W. McKie A. Sanders 15
1926, 9 March Checktaker 5/2F 5 11–11 George Duller H. Harrison Harrison 13
1927, 8 March Rolie 7/1 6 11-06 H. Cheshire T. Rimell T. Rimell 11
1928, 14 March Truthful James 7/1 — 11-03 Parvin Powell Milne 15
1929, 13 March Castlederg 8/1 7 11-02 F. Rees Whitelaw Whitelaw 14
1930, 12 March Gonedry 9/2 8 10–11 P. Dennis H. Dyke Dennis Pellerin 15
no race 1931
1932, 3 March Fouquet 11/4 5 10-00 W. Stott F. Wootton S. Wootton 10
1933, 9 March Hightide IV. 20/1 7 11-03 Wilson Bullock T. Richardson 13
1934, 8 March Jack Grange 8/1 5 10-00 W. Hollick Barthropp Sir A. McAlpine 17
1935, 14 March Polly Stephens 2/1F 8 11-00 Ingham Cundell Rieb 15
1936, 12 March Back Isle 7/1 8 11-03 Fulke Walwyn Roberts C. Jones 21
no race 1937
1938, 10 March Prince Rouge 10/1 8 10–12 J. Prendergast W. Stubbs Mrs D. Thomas 17
1939, 9 March Abbot's Own 13/2 8 12-01 H. Nicholson O'Sullivan Mrs E. Scott 17
1940, 20 March Sam Brown 6/1 6 11-01 T. Rimell trained privately M. C. Willes 10
1941, 20 March Celibate II 7/1 9 11-04 Hollick D. Dick Mrs D. P. Dick 19
1942, 21 March Red April 100/8 5 11–13 E. Foley Stalbridge M. Jones 21
no race 1943–45
1946, 14 March Vidi 6/1 5 11–10 Don Butchers Reg Hobbs A. E. Saunders 27
no race 1947
1948, 4 March Cape Light 2/1F 5 11-01 Joe Maguire Ivor Anthony — 21
no race 1949
1950, 9 March Blue Raleigh 25/1 7 10-00 Jimmy Power Bobby Renton Mrs L. Brotherton 19
1951, 25 April Southwick 100/7 7 10-03 George Spann J. Whiting — 21
1952, 6 March Ballymacan 100/7 5 10–12 Bryan Marshall Neville Crump H. D. Waddington 20
1953, 5 March Teapot II 4/1 8 12-07 Pat Taaffe Clem Magnier — 16
1954 Bold Baby 8 12-00 Paddy Powell Michael Dawson
no race 1955
1956 Pommel 9 10–11 Steve Boddy John Waugh
1957 Flaming East 8 10-05 Peter Pickford Ricky Vallance
1958 Friendly Boy 6 10-05 Liam Brennan Joe Osborne
1959 Approval 13 11-02 Derek Leslie Syd Mercer
1960 Albergo 6 12-05 Doug Page Clem Magnier
1961 Most Unusual 6 10-07 Josh Gifford Bill Ransom
1962 Sky Pink 5 10–11 Fred Winter Ryan Price
1963 Bahrain 6 10-06 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore
1964 Icy Wonder 5 10-02 Jeff King Vernon Cross
1965 Mayfair Bill 6 10-04 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell
1966 Roaring Twenties 6 11-02 George Milburn Ken Oliver
1967 Cool Alibi 5 10-09 Roddy Reid Rodney Bower
1968 Jolly Signal 6 10–11 Jimmy Uttley Earl Jones
1969 Gay Knight 5 10-03 Aly Branford Les Kennard
1970 Khan 6 09-11 Lord Petersham Delmer Harty
1971 Carry Off 7 10-01 David Goulding Nigel Angus
1972 Cold Day 6 10-08 Ron Hyett Katie Gaze
1973 Current Romance 7 10-07 David Nicholson Frenchie Nicholson
1974 True Song 5 11-02 Gary Old Donald Underwood
no race 1975
1976 Java Fox 6 10-01 George Jones Roy Cambidge
1977 Kilcoleman 5 10-07 Tommy Kinane Billy Boyers
no race 1978
1979 Monte Ceco 6 10–12 Colin Tinkler Fred Rimell
1980 Prince of Bermuda 5 10-00 Steve Knight Bob Turnell
1981 Staplestown 6 10-07 Tommy Ryan Edward O'Grady
1982 Path of Peace 6 10-06 Jonjo O'Neill Chris Thornton
1983 Robin Wonder 5 10-03 Jeff Davies David Elsworth
1984 Hill's Guard 5 10–11 Andrew Stringer Andrew Scott
1985 Floyd 5 10-05 Colin Brown David Elsworth
1986 Jobroke 6 10-03 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1987 Neblin 8 11-00 Richard Guest Toby Balding
1988, 17 March Cashew King 9/1 5 10-04 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon Mrs J A Wall 24
1989, 16 March Willsford 11/1 6 10-08 Michael Bowlby Jenny Pitman A M Kaplan 21
1990, 15 March Moody Man 9/1 5 11-02 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs James Burley 20
1991, 14 March Winnie the Witch 33/1 7 09-08 David Bridgwater Ken Bridgwater Paddocks Thoroughbred Racing Ltd 26
1992, 12 March Dusty Miller 9/1 6 10-06 Jamie Osborne Simon Sherwood Watership Down Racing 27
1993, 18 March Thumbs Up 16/1 7 10-02 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Michael Buckley 21
1994, 17 March Dizzy 12/1 6 10-00 Tony Dobbin Peter Monteith Lt-Col W L Monteith 24
1995, 16 March Home Counties 14/1 6 10–12 James Moffatt Dudley Moffatt Roxy Cinemas (dalton) 23
1996, 14 March Star Rage 14/1 6 10-00 Dean Gallagher Jimmy Harris J David Abell 28
1997, 13 March Barna Boy 14/1 9 10–12 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Lynn Wilson 20
1998, 19 March Blowing Wind 15/8F 5 11-08 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe P A Deal 27
1999, 18 March Sir Talbot 10/1 5 10-00 Timmy Murphy Jim Old W E Sturt 28
2000, 16 March Master Tern 9/2F 5 10-03 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill John P McManus 21
no race 2001
2002, 14 March Rooster Booster 8/1 8 11-01 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Terry Warner 21
2003, 13 March Spirit Leader 10/1 7 11-07 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington D Thompson 28
2004, 18 March Sporazene 7/1J 5 10–13 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Ged Mason & David Jackson 23
2005, 18 March Fontanesi 16/1 5 10–10 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe The Johnson Family 30
2006, 17 March Desert Quest 4/1J 6 10–10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Mrs M Findlay 29
2007, 16 March Pedrobob 12/1 9 10-00 Philip Carberry Tony Mullins Barry Connell 28
2008, 14 March Silver Jaro 50/1 5 10–13 Noel Fehily Tom Hogan Miss M A Masterson 22
2009, 13 March American Trilogy 20/1 5 11-00 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Fulton,Donlon,Kilduff & Scott-MacDonald 27
2010, 19 March Thousand Stars 20/1 6 10-05 Katie Walsh Willie Mullins Hammer & Trowel Syndicate 28
2011, 18 March Final Approach 10/1 5 10–12 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Douglas Taylor 26
2012, 16 March Alderwood 20/1 8 11-01 Tony McCoy Thomas Mullins John P McManus 26
2013, 15 March Ted Veale 10/1 6 10-06 Bryan Cooper Tony Martin John Breslin 28
2014, 14 March Lac Fontana 11/1 5 10–11 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls Potensis Limited 28
2015, 13 March Wicklow Brave 25/1 6 11-04 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Wicklow Bloodstock Limited 24
2016, 18 March Superb Story 8/1 5 10–12 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Holt, Robinson, Taylor & Miller 26
2017, 17 March Arctic Fire 20/1 8 11–12 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Wicklow Bloodstock Limited 26
2018, 16 March Mohaayed 33/1 6 10–08 Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Mrs June Watts 24
2019, 15 March Ch'tibello 12/1 8 11-05 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Can't Say No Partnership 24
2020, 13 March Saint Roi 11/2 5 10-13 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins John P McManus 23
2021, 19 March Belfast Banter 33/1 6 10-00 Kevin Sexton Peter Fahey Direct Bloodstock Ltd 23
2022, 18 March State Man 11/4F 5 11-01 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Mrs J Donnelly 26
2023, 17 March Faivoir 33/1 8 10-07 Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Mrs S Lawrence 24
  1. amateur jockey
  2. The race was abandoned in 1931 because of frost, and in 1937 because of flooding
  3. It was cancelled in 1943–45 because of World War II
  4. The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost
  5. It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow
  6. The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
  7. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also