National Spirit Hurdle
2023 | ||
Brewin'upastorm | Sceau Royal | Knappers Hill |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2022 | ||
Botox Has | Brewin'upastorm | Guard Your Dreams |
2021 | ||
Brewin'upastorm | Mcfabulous | Molly Ollys Wishes |
1990-1988 | ||
---|---|---|
1990 | ||
Vagador | Beech Road | Propero |
1989 | ||
Beech Road | Vagador | Little Toro |
1988 | ||
Vagador | High Knowl | Juven Light |
The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 3 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 33 yards or 3,852 metres), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late February or early March.
The event is named after National Spirit, a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle in the 1940s. National Spirit won five times at Fontwell Park, including three successive victories in the Rank Challenge Cup. The National Spirit Hurdle was established in 1965, and the inaugural running was won by Salmon Spray. During its early years it was also won by Comedy of Errors.
For a period the race was run over 2¼ miles, and it served as a trial for the Champion Hurdle (Beech Road won both events in 1989). It was discontinued in 1994, but its title was revived for a handicap race which took place annually from 1996 to 1998. It was relaunched as a conditions race over 2 miles and 2½ furlongs in 1999, and it was extended to its present length in 2004.
The National Spirit Hurdle is now regarded as a trial for the Stayers' Hurdle. The only horse to have won both races in the same year was My Way de Solzen in 2006. Another horse to have achieved victory in both events, albeit in different seasons, was Baracouda.
Winners since 1971
[edit]Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Varma | 5 | David Mould | M Masson |
1972 | St Patrick's Blue | 7 | David Mould | D Tatlow |
1973 | Brantridge Farmer | 5 | Richard Rowell | Auriol Sinclair |
1974 | Brantridge Farmer | 6 | Terry Biddlecombe | Fulke Walwyn |
1975 | Bladon | 5 | R Kington | Fred Winter |
1976 | Comedy of Errors | 9 | John Burke | Fred Rimell |
1977 | Comedy of Errors | 10 | John Burke | Fred Rimell |
1978 | Kybo | 5 | Bob Champion | Josh Gifford |
1979 | Bird's Nest | 9 | Andy Turnell | Bob Turnell |
1980 | Snowtown Boy | 5 | John Francome | Fred Winter |
1981 | Random Leg | 6 | Bob Champion | Josh Gifford |
1982 | Mr Moonraker | 5 | P Carvill | Miss S Morris |
1983 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1984 | Cut A Dash | 5 | John Francome | Mrs N Smith |
1985 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1986 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1987 | Corporal Clinger | 8 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1988 | Vagador | 5 | Mark Perrett | Guy Harwood |
1989 | Beech Road | 7 | Richard Guest | Toby Balding |
1990 | Vagador | 7 | Mark Perrett | Guy Harwood |
1991 | Al Asoof | 6 | Mark Richards | Peter Hedger |
1992 | Honest Word | 7 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1993 | Flown | 6 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson |
1999 | Lady Cricket | 5 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
2000 | Male-Ana-Mou | 7 | Andrew Thornton | Jamie Poulton |
2001 | Baracouda | 6 | Thierry Doumen | François Doumen |
2002 | Rouble | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Josh Gifford |
2003 | Classified | 7 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
2004 | Starzaan | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Hughie Morrison |
2005 | Blue Canyon | 7 | Tony McCoy | François Doumen |
2006 | My Way de Solzen | 6 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
2007 | United | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Lucy Wadham |
2008 | Lough Derg | 8 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
2009 | Lough Derg | 9 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
2010 | Trenchant | 5 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
2011 | Celestial Halo | 7 | Harry Skelton | Paul Nicholls |
2012 | Third Intention | 5 | Joe Tizzard | Colin Tizzard |
2013 | Prospect Wells | 8 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
2014 | Kayf Moss | 6 | Rhys Flint | John Flint |
2015 | Kilcooley | 6 | Noel Fehily | Charlie Longsdon |
2016 | Lil Rockerfeller | 5 | Trevor Whelan | Neil King |
2017 | Camping Ground | 7 | Joshua Moore | Gary Moore |
2018 | Old Guard | 7 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
2019 | Vision Des Flos | 6 | Tom Scudamore | Colin Tizzard |
2020 | William Henry | 10 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
2021 | Brewin'upastorm | 8 | Aidan Coleman | Olly Murphy |
2022 | Botox Has | 6 | Joshua Moore | Gary Moore |
2023 | Brewin'upastorm | 10 | Aidan Coleman | Olly Murphy |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- fontwellpark.co.uk – History of Fontwell Park Racecourse.
- pedigreequery.com – National Spirit Hurdle – Fontwell.