Contenders Hurdle Explained

The Contenders Hurdle was a Listed National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which was open to horses aged four years or older. It was run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 216 yards, or 3,319 metres), and during its running there were eight hurdles to be jumped. The race took place each year in late January or early February.

The race was first run in 1949 and was originally titled the Oteley Hurdle, and it was contested over a length of 2 miles (3,219 metres). Winners in the 1970s included Lanzarote and Sea Pigeon, and during the 1980s it was won by Desert Orchid and See You Then.

From the early 1990s until 2007 the race was sponsored by Agfa, and it was known as the Agfa Hurdle. In 1993 its distance was extended by 110 yards (about 100 metres) to the current length. It was most recently sponsored by Betfred. The 2008 running was classed at Grade 2 level, but the event was reverted to its former Listed status in 2009. Prior to 2010 it was open to horses aged five and over. The race often served as a trial for the Champion Hurdle, and the last horse to win both events in the same year was Buveur d'Air in 2017 and 2018.

The race was discontinued in 2023. Nicky Henderson who had won six of the last twelve runnings lamented the fact that it would be no longer an option for preparing his intended Champion Hurdle candidates saying "I had my favourite race at Sandown, it was worth nothing, but was perfect timing - but not surprisingly, it only had three or four runners (every year) and they've done away with it."[1] In April 2023 the British Horseracing Authority confirmed that the race had been removed from the jumps pattern programme in the 2022–23 season.[2]

Winners

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YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainer
1949National Spirit8Bryan MarshallVic Smyth
1950National Spirit9D DillonVic Smyth
1951Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1952Telegram II5Dave DickFulke Walwyn
1953Abandoned because of snow
1954Fastnet Rock7A FreemanC Jellis
1955Abandoned because of snow
1956Abandoned because of frost
1957Vermillion9Fred WinterRyan Price
1958Retour de Flamme5Jimmy LindleyS Warren
1959Fare Time6Fred WinterRyan Price
1960Fare Time7Fred WinterRyan Price
1961Eborneezer6Fred WinterRyan Price
1962Snuff Box5J GilbertJohn Benstead
1963Abandoned because of snow and frost
1964Kirriemuir4David MouldFulke Walwyn
1965Magic Court7P McCarronT Robson
1966Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1967Chenonceaux6D BriscoeKen Cundell
1968Into View5E P HartyFred Winter
1969Abandoned because of snow
1970Major Rose8Josh GiffordRyan Price
1971Major Rose9Paul KellewayRyan Price
1972Phaestus6Ken WhiteFred Rimell
1973Lanzarote5Richard PitmanFred Winter
1974Lanzarote6Richard PitmanFred Winter
1975Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1976Sea Pigeon6Jonjo O'NeillGordon W. Richards
1977Bird's Nest7Andy TurnellBob Turnell
1978Sea Pigeon8Jonjo O'NeillPeter Easterby
1979Abandoned because of frost
1980Pollardstown5Philip BlackerStan Mellor
1981Celtic Ryde6John FrancomePeter Cundell
1982Heighlin6Steve JobarDavid Elsworth
1983Cima5Sam MorsheadJim Old
1984Sula Bula6Mr Tim EasterbyPeter Easterby
1985Desert Orchid6Colin BrownDavid Elsworth
1986See You Then6Steve Smith EcclesNicky Henderson
1987Prideaux Boy9Michael BowlbyGraham Roach
1988Celtic Chief5Richard DunwoodyMercy Rimell
1989width=160px Aldino6width=180px Simon Sherwoodwidth=180px Oliver Sherwood
1990no race 1990
1991Voyage Sans Retour6Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1992Fidway7Peter ScudamoreTim Thomson Jones
1993Mole Board11Carl LlewellynJim Old
1994Muse7Paul HolleyDavid Elsworth
1995Land Afar8Graham McCourtJohn Webber
1996Atours8Richard DunwoodyDavid Elsworth
1997Double Symphony9Jamie OsborneCharlie Brooks
1998Master Beveled8Tony McCoyDavid Evans
1999Midnight Legend8Richard JohnsonDavid Nicholson
2000Auetaler6Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
2001Teaatral7Norman WilliamsonCharles Egerton
2002Bilboa5Thierry DoumenFrançois Doumen
2003Rooster Booster9Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2004Rhinestone Cowboy8Mr J. P. MagnierJonjo O'Neill
2005Self Defense8Robert ThorntonPatrick Chamings
2006Royal Shakespeare7Tom ScudamoreSteve Gollings
2007Detroit City5Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2008Afsoun6Mick FitzgeraldNicky Henderson
2009Celestial Halo5Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2010Binocular6Tony McCoyNicky Henderson
2011Binocular7Tony McCoyNicky Henderson
2012no race 2012
2013Rock On Ruby8Noel FehilyHarry Fry
2014no race 2014
2015Garde La Victoire6Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2016Connetable4Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls
2017Buveur d'Air6Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2018Buveur d'Air7Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2019Buveur d'Air8Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2020Quel Destin5Harry CobdenPaul Nicholls
2012no race 2021
2022Goshen6Jamie MooreGary Moore
The 1982 race was run at Kempton.
The 1990 running was abandoned because of waterlogging.
The 2012 running was abandoned due to frost.
The 2013 race was run at Doncaster after the original meeting at Sandown became chase only due to the waterlogged state of the hurdle course[3]
The 2014 running was abandoned due to going conditions.[4]
The 2021 running was abandoned due to waterlogging and the meeting featured an all chase card instead.[5]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kempton could be Constitution Hill's last run before Cheltenham . Irish Examiner . 2022-12-15 . 2023-02-22.
  2. Web site: Package of changes agreed to help strengthen performance of British Jump racing . British Horseracing Authority . 28 April 2023 . 27 April 2023.
  3. Web site: Champion Hurdle trial rerouted to Doncaster as the weather beats Sandown's Saturday hurdles card . racingbetter.co.uk . 25 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Sandown switch to chase card . www.attheraces.com . 1 February 2014.
  5. Web site: Hurdle races abandoned at Sandown . www.racingtv.com . 2021-02-03 . 22 February 2023.

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