Croome Hurdle

The only running of the Croome Hurdle formed part of the revised Festival meeting in 1947 when the traditional March meeting had to be abandoned, but it was rejigged into a 3-day meeting, 8 races on each day, on Saturday 12th, Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th April 1947. The Croome Hurdle formed a significant part of that revised programme because it was run in 4 divisions, division 1 on the Saturday, and divisions 2, 3 and 4 on the Tuesday. In theory, only the Saturday meeting could be classed as a part of the Festival because the other 5 races on that card were the principal races of the meeting, including the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Foxhunters Chase and National Hunt Steeplechase.
Early history:- The first division of the Croome Hurdle took place on Saturday 12th April 1947 when won by Montignac (7/4 fav) ridden by R Bates, beating Cape Light (4/1) and Trucebreaker (6/1) by a length and 6 lengths. Three further divisions were held on Tuesday 15th April 1947, but the race was not held at the Festival in subsequent years.
Croome Hurdle 1947 Div 3 Handicap 2 miles and a few yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SOHAM R Marshall W Nightingall Mr Isaac 5/1
2 MARAIS HALL Ron Smyth George Beeby Mr Beeby 11/8 fav
3 BOMBER K Mullins T R Rimell Mr Rimell 20/1
4 MAKE HASTE T H Yates I H Yates Mr Yates 7/1
5 FIREBIRD Hobbs B Hobbs Mr Hobbs 7/1
6 GAIN Hollis Hollis Mr Hollis 100/8
7 MERRY CAVALIER J Moloney T F Rimell Mr Rimell 5/1
8 COMPENSATION J W Cook Lowe Mr Lowe 10/1
9 TARQUINIA C Kelly C Kelly Mr C Kelly 20/1
10 ARRAVALE D Doyle Foley Mr Foley 10/1
11 UNCLE PETER Farmer Farmer Mr Farmer 20/1
12 SEA DAY Read Read Mr Read 20/1
13 BELFAST III Wimbush Wimbush Mr Wimbush 20/1
14 PRECENTOR D Ruttle Powell Mr Powell 100/8
15 MOONLIGHT TRUCE R Belling Whiteman Mr Whiteman 100/8
16 FLICKA LAD A Mullins Mullins Mr A Mullins 20/1
17 GRACESTONE E Kershaw Larner Mr Larner 20/1
        Over round 175%
The third division of this race was held on Tuesday 15th April 1947 when Soham beat Marais Hall and Bomber by half a length and a length