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 Divison 1 Handicap 2 miles and a few yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 MONTIGNAC R Bates Goldsmith Mr P Thompson 7/4 fav
2 CAPE LIGHT J Maguire Ivor Anthony Mr Anthony 4/1
3 TRUCEBREAKER T Rimell T Rimell Mr Rimell 6/1
4 BURNTHURST W Kidney Elwell Mr Elwell 25/1
5 STAR KNIGHT P Kelly Noel Furlong Mr Noel Furlong 25/1
6 KNIGHT OF ANNANDALE Jack Dowdeswell Powell Mr Powell100/8
7 TIMBER ROYAL C Ancil Ancil Mr Ancil 20/1
8 IVAN'S CHOICE B O'Neill Kilpatrick Mr Kilpatrick 100/8
9 TEETOTAL J Moloney T Rimell Mr Rimell 100/8
10 DORIC F Wren Drinkwater Mr Drinkwater 25/1
11 RED SHEIK V Mooney W Payne Mr Payne 25/1
12 WETHERAL H Nicholson Gerry Wilson Mr G Wilson 9/2
13 RAMRIGHT G Kelly W Kelly Mr Kelly 25/1
14 SKOOKUM JOE P Conlon Yates Mr Yates 100/8
15 LENHAM J Hullah T F Rimell Mr Rimell 20/1
16 NEEDPATH CASTLE G Richards Richards Mr Richards 25/1
17 KINGSTEAD E Vinall Vinall Mr Vinall 25/1
        Over round 159%
The first division of this race was held on Saturday 12th April 1947 when Montignac beat Cape Light and Trucebreaker by one length and 6 lengths.