Champion Hurdle

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 The Champion Hurdle, much prized Grade 1 hurdling crown for 4-year-olds and over, was first staged in 1927 and is contested over 2 miles and half a furlong and 8 hurdles of the Old Course. The race is the final leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, along with the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. It was cancelled in 1931 when the ground was frosty, and again in 1943 and 1944 due to the Second World War.
Early history:-The inaugural running of the Champion Hurdle took place on Tuesday 9th March 1927 when won by Blaris 11/10 fav owned by Mrs H Hollins, trained by Bill Payne and ridden by George Duller, beating Beddam (7/2) and Harpist (9/4) by 8 lengths and one length.
Over the entire history of the race 43% of favourites have been successful, placing the race 3rd of the 28 current races.
Over the entire history of the race a level stake bet of £10 on every favourite would have resulted in a £100 profit, placing the race 2nd of the current 28 races.
Over the entire history of the race the Irish have been successful 27% of occasions, placing the race 15th of the 28 current races.
Champion Hurdle Grade 1 2 miles 1/2 furlong
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1927 BLARIS George Duller Bill Payne Mrs H Hollins 11/10 fav
1928 BROWN JACK Bilbie Rees Aubrey Hastings Sir Harold Wernher 4/1
1929 ROYAL FALCON Dick Rees Bob Gore Miss Victoria Williams-Bulkeley 11/2
1930 BROWN TONY Tommy Cullinan Jack Anthony Mrs J Selincourt 7/2
Race not held due to severe frost causing postponment of entire Festival
1932 INSURANCE Ted Leader Basil Briscoe Miss Dorothy Paget 4/5 fav
1933 INSURANCE Billy Stott Basil Briscoe Miss Dorothy Paget 10/11 fav
1934 CHENANGO Danny Morgan Ivor Anthony Mr Peter Bostwick 4/9 fav
1935 LION COURAGE Gerry Wilson Frank Brown Mr R Fox Carlyon 100/8
1936 VICTOR NORMAN Frenchie Nicholson Morgan Blair Mrs Michael Stephens 4/1
1937 FREE FARE Georges Pellerin Ted Gwilt Mr Ben Warner 2/1 fav
1938 OUR HOPE Perry Harding Roderic Gubbins Mr Roderic Gubbins 5/1
1939 AFRICAN SISTER Keith Piggott Charles Piggott Mr Horace Brueton 10/1
1940 SOLFORD Sean Magee Owen Anthony Miss Dorothy Paget 5/2 fav
1941 SENECA Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Sir Malcolm McAlpine 7/1
1942 FORESTATION Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Mr Vic Smyth 10/1
Race not held in 1943 or 1944 due to Second World War
1945 BRAINS TRUST Fred Rimell Gerry Wilson Mr F Blakeway 9/2
1946 DISTEL Bobby O'Ryan Charles Rogers (Ire) Miss Dorothy Paget 4/5 fav
1947 NATIONAL SPIRIT Danny Morgan Vic Smyth Mr Len Abelson 7/1
1948 NATIONAL SPIRIT Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Mr Len Abelson 6/4 fav
1949 HATTON'S GRACE Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien (Ire) Mrs Harry Keogh 100/7
1950 HATTON'S GRACE Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien (Ire) Mrs Harry Keogh 5/2 fav
1951 HATTON'S GRACE Tim Molony Vincent O'Brien (Ire) Mrs Harry Keogh 4/1
1952 SIR KEN Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Mr Maurice Kingsley 3/1
1953 SIR KEN Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Mr Maurice Kingsley 2/5 fav
1954 SIR KEN Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Mr Maurice Kingsley 4/9 fav
1955 CLAIR SOLEIL Fred Winter H Ryan Price Mr Gerry Judd 5/2 fav
1956 DOORKNOCKER Harry Sprague Charlie Hall Mr Clifford Nicholson 100/9
1957 MERRY DEAL Grenville Underwood Arthur Jones Mr Arthur Jones 28/1
1958 BANDALORE George Slack Stan Wright Mrs Dorothy Wright 20/1
1959 FARE TIME Fred Winter H Ryan Price Mr Gerry Judd 13/2
1960 ANOTHER FLASH Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator (Ire) Mr John Byrne 11/4 fav
1961 EBORNEEZER Fred Winter H Ryan Price Dr Burjor Pajgar 4/1
1962 ANZIO Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn Sir Thomas Ainsworth 11/2
1963 WINNING FAIR Alan Lillingston George Spencer (Ire) Mr George Spencer 100/9
1964 MAGIC COURT Pat McCarron Tommy Robson Mr James McGhie 100/7
1965 KIRRIEMUIR Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn Mrs Dorothy Beddington 50/1
1966 SALMON SPRAY Johnny Haine Bob Turnell Mrs John Rogerson 4/1
1967 SAUCY KIT Roy Edwards Peter Easterby Mr K F Alder 100/6
1968 PERSIAN WAR Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Mr Henry Alper 4/1
1969 PERSIAN WAR Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Mr Henry Alper 6/4 fav
1970 PERSIAN WAR Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Mr Henry Alper 5/4 fav
1971 BULA Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Mr Bill Edwards-Heathcote 15/8 fav
1972 BULA Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Mr Bill Edwards-Heathcote 8/11 fav
1973 COMEDY OF ERRORS Bill Smith Fred Rimell Mr Ted Wheatley 8/1
1974 LANZAROTE Richard Pitman Fred Winter Lord Howard de Walden 7/4
1975 COMEDY OF ERRORS Ken White Fred Rimell Mr Ted Wheatley 11/8 fav
1976 NIGHT NURSE Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby Mr Reg Spencer 2/1 fav
1977 NIGHT NURSE Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby Mr Reg Spencer 15/2
1978 MONKSFIELD Tommy Kinane Des McDonogh (Ire) Dr Michael Mangan 11/2
1979 MONKSFIELD Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh (Ire) Dr Michael Mangan 9/4 fav
1980 SEA PIGEON Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby Mr Pat Muldoon 13/2
1981 SEA PIGEON John Francome Peter Easterby Mr Pat Muldoon 7/4 fav
1982 FOR AUCTION Colin Magnier Michael Cunningham (Ire) Mr Danno Heaslip 40/1
1983 GAYE BRIEF Richard Linley Mercy Rimell Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin 7/1
1984 DAWN RUN Jonjo O'Neill Paddy Mullins (Ire) Mrs Charmian Hill 4/5 fav
1985 SEE YOU THEN Steve Smith-Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud 16/1
1986 SEE YOU THEN Steve Smith-Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud 5/6 fav
1987 SEE YOU THEN Steve Smith-Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud 11/10 fav
1988 CELTIC SHOT Peter Scudamore Fred Winter Mr David Horton 7/1
1989 BEECH ROAD Richard Guest Toby Balding Mr Tony Geake 50/1
1990 KRIBENSIS Richard Dunwoody Michael Stoute Sheikh Mohammed 95/40
1991 MORLEY STREET Jimmy Frost Toby Balding Michael Jackson Bloodstock 4/1 fav
1992 ROYAL GAIT Graham McCourt James Fanshawe Sheikh Mohammed 6/1
1993 GRANVILLE AGAIN Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Mr Eric Scarth 13/2
1994 FLAKEY DOVE Mark Dwyer Richard Price Mr John Price 9/1
1995 ALDERBROOK Norman Williamson Kim Bailey Mr Ernie Pick 11/2
1996 COLLIER BAY Graham Bradley Jim Old Mr Wally Sturt 9/1
1997 MAKE A STAND Tony McCoy Martin Pipe Mr Peter Deal 7/1
1998 ISTABRAQ Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien (Ire) Mr John P McManus 3/1 fav
1999 ISTABRAQ Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien (Ire) Mr John P McManus 4/9 fav
2000 ISTABRAQ Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien (Ire) Mr John P McManus 8/15 fav
2001

Race was not held due to foot & mouth crisis
2002 HORS LA LOI III Dean Gallagher James Fanshawe Mr Paul Green 10/1
2003 ROOSTER BOOSTER Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Mr Terry Warner 9/2
2004 HARDY EUSTACE Conor O'Dwyer Dessie Hughes (Ire) Mr Laurnce Byrne 33/1
2005 HARDY EUSTACE Conor O'Dwyer Dessie Hughes (Ire) Mr Laurnce Byrne 7/2 jt fav
2006 BRAVE INCA Tony McCoy Colm Murphy (Ire) Novices Syndicate 7/4 fav
2007 SUBLIMITY Philip Carberry John Carr (Ire) Mr Bill Hennessy 16/1
2008 KATCHIT Robert Thornton Alan King D S J P Syndicate 10/1
2009 PUNJABI Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Mr Raymond Tooth 22/1
2010 BINOCULAR Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 9/1
2011 HURRICANE FLY Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (Ire) Messrs Creighton & Boyd 11/4 fav
2012 ROCK ON RUBY Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls The Festival Goers 11/1
2013 HURRICANE FLY Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (Ire) Messrs Creighton & Boyd 13/8 fav
2014 JEZKI Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington (Ire) Mr John P McManus 9/1
2015 FAUGHEEN Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (Ire) Mrs Susannah Ricci 4/5 fav
2016 ANNIE POWER Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins (Ire) Mrs Susannah Ricci 5/2 fav
2017 BUVEUR D'AIR Noel Fehily Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 5/1
2018 BUVEUR D'AIR Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 4/6 fav
2019 ESPOIR D'ALLEN Mark Walsh Gavin Cromwell (Ire) Mr John P McManus 16/1
2020 EPATANTE Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson Mr John P McManus 2/1 fav
2021 HONEYSUCKLE Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr Kenny Alexander 11/10 fav
2022 HONEYSUCKLE Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Mr Kenny Alexander 8/11 fav
2023 CONSTITUTION HILL Nico De Boinville Nicky Henderson Mr Michael Buckley 4/11 fav
2024 STATE MAN Paul Townend Willie Mullins (Ire) Mrs J Donnelly 2/5 fav