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 4 Handicap 2 miles and a few yards
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 HASTILY R Hardwidge R E Morel Mr Bowden 100/8
2 THE HERON T Moloney Moloney Mr Moloney 8/1
3 COMPACT J Gilbert Gilbert Mr J Gilbert 5/2 fav
4 JACK-A-DANDY Lord Mildmay Peter Cazalet Lord Mildmay 4/1
5 FLYING TRAPEZE T Isaac W Nightingall Mr Nightingall 6/1
6 MADAME GUILLOTINE J Hamey J Hamey Mr J Hamey 10/1
7 IRISH LIZARD H Nicholson H Nicholson Mr H Nicholson 100/8
8 THE STARTLER G Kelly L Tate Mr L Tate 100/8
9 EL BICO Mr R Black De Moraville Mr R Black 25/1
10 BRICKS AND MORTAR E Kershaw Larner Mr Larner 25/1
11 JUDGE ADVOCATE Bob Turnell Reg Hobbs Mr R Hobbs 4/1
12 SILVER Langley Langley Mr Langley 25/1
13 SAILOR'S FOLLY B O'Neill Kilpatrick Mr Kilpatrick 25/1
        Over round 142%
The 4th Division of this race was run on Tuesday 15th April 1947 when Hastily beat The Heron and Compact by 1 length and 2 lengths