County Handicap Hurdle Explained

Class:	Premier Handicap
Horse Race:	County Handicap Hurdle
Location:	Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated:	1920
Race Type:	Hurdle race
Sponsor:	BetMGM (2024)
Website:	Cheltenham
Distance:	2m 179y (3,382 metres)
Surface:	Turf
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Five-years-old and up
Weight:	Handicap
Purse:	£100,000 (2023) 1st: £56,270

|}The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 179 yards, or 3,382 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

History

The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title between 1995 and 2016 was the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in honour of Vincent O'Brien, an Irish racehorse trainer who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham festival.

For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.^[1]

Records

Most successful horse since 1946:

• no horse has won this race more than once since 1946

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):

• Ruby Walsh – Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Final Approach (2011)
• Paul Townend - Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)

Leading trainer since 1946 (7 wins):

• Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)

List of renewals

• Weights given in stones and pounds.

border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-right: 0"
data-sort-type="date" width="110px"	Date	Winner	SP	data-sort-type="number" width="25px"	Age	Weight (st-lb)	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	data-sort-type="number" width="30px"	Runners
11-03-1920 1920, 11 March	Trespasser	F	4	11-09	George Duller	J. M. Bell	P. Heybourn	8	^[2]
3-03-1921 1921, 3 March	Water Bottle		—	11–13	F. Croney	A. Scott	A. Scott	12	^[3]
9-03-1922 1922, 9 March	Lukeston		—	12-02	F. Rees	Harrison	E. Tattersall	7	^[4]
7-03-1923 1923, 7 March	Assaroe		—	11–10	F. Brown	Newey	Stanley Howard	7	^[5]
12-03-1924 1924, 12 March	Argo	F	—	11-08	George Duller	Coulthwaite	Lord Londesborough	13	^[6]
11-03-1925 1925, 11 March	Rosecome		5	10-06	J. East	W. McKie	A. Sanders	15	^[7]
9-03-19261926, 9 March	Checktaker	F	5	11–11	George Duller	H. Harrison	Harrison	13	^[8]
8-03-19271927, 8 March	Rolie		6	11-06	H. Cheshire	T. Rimell	T. Rimell	11	^[9]
14-03-19281928, 14 March	Truthful James		—	11-03	Parvin	Powell	Milne	15	^[10]
13-03-19291929, 13 March	Castlederg		7	11-02	F. Rees	Whitelaw	Whitelaw	14	^[11]
12-03-19301930, 12 March	Gonedry		8	10–11	P. Dennis	H. Dyke Dennis	Pellerin	15	^[12]
01-01-1931 no race 1931
3-03-19321932, 3 March	Fouquet		5	10-00	W. Stott	F. Wootton	S. Wootton	10	^[13]
9-03-19331933, 9 March	Hightide IV.		7	11-03	Wilson	Bullock	T. Richardson	13	^[14]
8-03-19341934, 8 March	Jack Grange		5	10-00	W. Hollick	Barthropp	Sir A. McAlpine	17	^[15]
14-03-19351935, 14 March	Polly Stephens	F	8	11-00	Ingham	Cundell	Rieb	15	^[16]
12-03-19361936, 12 March	Back Isle		8	11-03	Fulke Walwyn	Roberts	C. Jones	21	^[17]
01-01-1937 no race 1937
10-03-19381938, 10 March	Prince Rouge		8	10–12	J. Prendergast	W. Stubbs	Mrs D. Thomas	17	^[18]
9-03-19391939, 9 March	Abbot's Own		8	12-01	H. Nicholson	O'Sullivan	Mrs E. Scott	17	^[19]
20-03-19401940, 20 March	Sam Brown		6	11-01	T. Rimell	trained privately	M. C. Willes	10	^[20]
20-03-19411941, 20 March	Celibate II		9	11-04	Hollick	D. Dick	Mrs D. P. Dick	19	^[21]
21-03-19421942, 21 March	Red April		5	11–13	E. Foley	Stalbridge	M. Jones	21	^[22]
01-01-1943 no race 1943–45
14-03-19461946, 14 March	Vidi		5	11–10	width=180px	Don Butchers	width=180px	Reg Hobbs	A. E. Saunders	27	^[23]
01-01-1947 no race 1947
4-03-19481948, 4 March	Cape Light	F	5	11-01	Joe Maguire	Ivor Anthony	—	21	^[24]
01-01-1949 no race 1949
9-03-19501950, 9 March	Blue Raleigh		7	10-00	Jimmy Power	Bobby Renton	Mrs L. Brotherton	19	^[25]
25-04-19511951, 25 April	Southwick		7	10-03	George Spann	J. Whiting	—	21	^[26]
6-03-19521952, 6 March	Ballymacan		5	10–12	Bryan Marshall	Neville Crump	H. D. Waddington	20	^[27]
5-03-19531953, 5 March	Teapot II		8	12-07	Pat Taaffe	Clem Magnier	—	16	^[28]
1954	Bold Baby		8	12-00	Paddy Powell	Michael Dawson
01-01-1955 no race 1955
1956	Pommel		9	10–11	Steve Boddy	John Waugh
1957	Flaming East		8	10-05	Peter Pickford	Ricky Vallance
1958	Friendly Boy		6	10-05	Liam Brennan	Joe Osborne
1959	Approval		13	11-02	Derek Leslie	Syd Mercer
1960	Albergo		6	12-05	Doug Page	Clem Magnier
1961	Most Unusual		6	10-07	Josh Gifford	Bill Ransom
1962	Sky Pink		5	10–11	Fred Winter	Ryan Price
1963	Bahrain		6	10-06	Tommy Carberry	Dan Moore
1964	Icy Wonder		5	10-02	Jeff King	Vernon Cross
1965	Mayfair Bill		6	10-04	Andrew Turnell	Bob Turnell
1966	Roaring Twenties		6	11-02	George Milburn	Ken Oliver
1967	Cool Alibi		5	10-09	Roddy Reid	Rodney Bower
1968	Jolly Signal		6	10–11	Jimmy Uttley	Earl Jones
1969	Gay Knight		5	10-03	Aly Branford	Les Kennard
1970	Khan		6	09-11	Lord Petersham	Delmer Harty
1971	Carry Off		7	10-01	David Goulding	Nigel Angus
1972	Cold Day		6	10-08	Ron Hyett	Katie Gaze
1973	Current Romance		7	10-07	David Nicholson	Frenchie Nicholson
1974	True Song		5	11-02	Gary Old	Donald Underwood
01-01-1975 no race 1975
1976	Java Fox		6	10-01	George Jones	Roy Cambidge
1977	Kilcoleman		5	10-07	Tommy Kinane	Billy Boyers
01-01-1978 no race 1978
1979	Monte Ceco		6	10–12	Colin Tinkler	Fred Rimell
1980	Prince of Bermuda		5	10-00	Steve Knight	Bob Turnell
1981	Staplestown		6	10-07	Tommy Ryan	Edward O'Grady
1982	Path of Peace		6	10-06	Jonjo O'Neill	Chris Thornton
1983	Robin Wonder		5	10-03	Jeff Davies	David Elsworth
1984	Hill's Guard		5	10–11	Andrew Stringer	Andrew Scott
1985	Floyd		5	10-05	Colin Brown	David Elsworth
1986	Jobroke		6	10-03	Jonjo O'Neill	Peter Easterby
1987	Neblin		8	11-00	Richard Guest	Toby Balding
17-03-19881988, 17 March	Cashew King		5	10-04	Trevor Wall	Bryan McMahon	Mrs J A Wall	24	^[29]
16-03-19891989, 16 March	Willsford		6	10-08	Michael Bowlby	Jenny Pitman	A M Kaplan	21	^[30]
15-03-19901990, 15 March	Moody Man		5	11-02	Peter Hobbs	Philip Hobbs	James Burley	20	^[31]
14-03-19911991, 14 March	Winnie the Witch		7	09-08	David Bridgwater	Ken Bridgwater	Paddocks Thoroughbred Racing Ltd	26	^[32]
12-03-19921992, 12 March	Dusty Miller		6	10-06	Jamie Osborne	Simon Sherwood	Watership Down Racing	27	^[33]
18-03-19931993, 18 March	Thumbs Up		7	10-02	Richard Dunwoody	Nicky Henderson	Michael Buckley	21	^[34]
17-03-19941994, 17 March	Dizzy		6	10-00	Tony Dobbin	Peter Monteith	Lt-Col W L Monteith	24	^[35]
16-03-19951995, 16 March	Home Counties		6	10–12	James Moffatt	Dudley Moffatt	Roxy Cinemas (dalton)	23	^[36]
14-03-19961996, 14 March	Star Rage		6	10-00	Dean Gallagher	Jimmy Harris	J David Abell	28	^[37]
13-03-19971997, 13 March	Barna Boy		9	10–12	Richard Dunwoody	Nicky Henderson	Lynn Wilson	20	^[38]
19-03-19981998, 19 March	Blowing Wind	F	5	11-08	Tony McCoy	Martin Pipe	P A Deal	27	^[39]
18-03-19991999, 18 March	Sir Talbot		5	10-00	Timmy Murphy	Jim Old	W E Sturt	28	^[40]
16-03-20002000, 16 March	Master Tern	F	5	10-03	Tony Dobbin	Jonjo O'Neill	John P McManus	21	^[41]
01-01-2001 no race 2001
14-03-20022002, 14 March	Rooster Booster		8	11-01	Richard Johnson	Philip Hobbs	Terry Warner	21	^[42]
13-03-20032003, 13 March	Spirit Leader		7	11-07	Barry Geraghty	Jessica Harrington	D Thompson	28	^[43]
18-03-20042004, 18 March	Sporazene	J	5	10–13	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Ged Mason & David Jackson	23	^[44]
18-03-20052005, 18 March	Fontanesi		5	10–10	Timmy Murphy	Martin Pipe	The Johnson Family	30	^[45]
17-03-20062006, 17 March	Desert Quest	J	6	10–10	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Mrs M Findlay	29	^[46]
16-03-20072007, 16 March	Pedrobob		9	10-00	Philip Carberry	Tony Mullins	Barry Connell	28	^[47]
14-03-20082008, 14 March	Silver Jaro		5	10–13	Noel Fehily	Tom Hogan	Miss M A Masterson	22	^[48]
13-03-20092009, 13 March	American Trilogy		5	11-00	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Fulton,Donlon,Kilduff & Scott-MacDonald	27	^[49]
19-03-20102010, 19 March	Thousand Stars		6	10-05	Katie Walsh	Willie Mullins	Hammer & Trowel Syndicate	28	^[50]
18-03-20112011, 18 March	Final Approach		5	10–12	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins	Douglas Taylor	26	^[51]
16-03-20122012, 16 March	Alderwood		8	11-01	Tony McCoy	Thomas Mullins	John P McManus	26	^[52]
15-03-20132013, 15 March	Ted Veale		6	10-06	Bryan Cooper	Tony Martin	John Breslin	28	^[53]
14-03-20142014, 14 March	Lac Fontana		5	10–11	Daryl Jacob	Paul Nicholls	Potensis Limited	28	^[54]
13-03-20152015, 13 March	Wicklow Brave		6	11-04	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	Wicklow Bloodstock Limited	24	^[55]
18-03-20162016, 18 March	Superb Story		5	10–12	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton	Holt, Robinson, Taylor & Miller	26	^[56]
17-03-20172017, 17 March	Arctic Fire		8	11–12	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	Wicklow Bloodstock Limited	26
16-03-20182018, 16 March	Mohaayed		6	10–08	Bridget Andrews	Dan Skelton	Mrs June Watts	24
15-03-20192019, 15 March	Ch'tibello		8	11-05	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton	Can't Say No Partnership	24
13-03-20202020, 13 March	Saint Roi		5	10-13	Barry Geraghty	Willie Mullins	John P McManus	23
19-03-20212021, 19 March	Belfast Banter		6	10-00	Kevin Sexton	Peter Fahey	Direct Bloodstock Ltd	23
18-03-20222022, 18 March	State Man	F	5	11-01	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	Mrs J Donnelly	26
17-03-20232023, 17 March	Faivoir		8	10-07	Bridget Andrews	Dan Skelton	Mrs S Lawrence	24
15-03-20242024, 15 March	Absurde		6	10-10	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	H O S Syndicate	17

See also

• Horse racing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races

References

----

• pedigreequery.com – Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle – Cheltenham.
• racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (21 February 2008).
• Book: Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. 1990. Aesculus Press. 1-871093-21-X. 64.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season . British Horseracing Authority . 9 March 2023.
2. Web site: 1920 County Handicap Hurdle . 12 March 1920. Western Daily Press. 15 November 2015.
3. Web site: 1921 County Handicap Hurdle . 4 March 1921. Western Morning News . 15 November 2015.
4. Web site: 1922 County Handicap Hurdle . 10 March 1922. Western Morning News . 15 November 2015.
5. Web site: 1923 County Handicap Hurdle . 8 March 1923. Western Morning News . 15 November 2015.
6. Web site: County Hurdle goes to Hednesford. 12 March 1924. The Daily Mail. 14 November 2015.
7. Web site: 1925 County Handicap Hurdle . 11 March 1925. Derby Daily Telegraph . 15 November 2015.
8. Web site: 1926 County Handicap Hurdle . 9 March 1926. Gloucester Citizen . 15 November 2015.
9. Web site: 1927 County Handicap Hurdle . 9 March 1927. Dundee Courier . 15 November 2015.
10. Web site: 1928 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1928. Gloucester Citizen . 15 November 2015.
11. Web site: 1929 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1929. Dundee Courier . 15 November 2015.
12. Web site: 1930 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 1930. Dundee Courier . 22 November 2015.
13. Web site: 1932 County Handicap Hurdle . 4 March 1932. Aberdeen Journal . 22 November 2015.
14. Web site: 1933 County Handicap Hurdle . 10 March 1933. Western Morning News . 22 November 2015.
15. Web site: 1934 County Handicap Hurdle . 8 March 1934. Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette . 22 November 2015.
16. Web site: 1935 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1935. Portsmouth Evening News . 22 November 2015.
17. Web site: 1936 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 1936. Western Morning News . 22 November 2015.
18. Web site: 1938 County Handicap Hurdle . 10 March 1938. Dundee Evening Telegraph . 22 November 2015.
19. Web site: 1939 County Handicap Hurdle . 9 March 1939. Gloucester Citizen . 22 November 2015.
20. News: 1940 County Handicap Hurdle . 21 March 1940. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . 22 November 2015.
21. Web site: 1941 County Handicap Hurdle . 20 March 1941. Nottingham Evening Post . 22 November 2015.
22. Web site: 1942 County Handicap Hurdle . 21 March 1942. Derby Daily Telegraph . 22 November 2015.
23. Web site: 1946 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1946. Nottingham Evening Post . 1 December 2015.
24. Web site: 1948 County Handicap Hurdle . 4 March 1948. Derby Daily Telegraph . 3 December 2015.
25. News: 1950 County Handicap Hurdle . 10 March 1950. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . 4 December 2015.
26. Web site: 1951 County Handicap Hurdle . 25 April 1951. Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail . 4 December 2015.
27. News: 1952 County Handicap Hurdle . 7 March 1952. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . 4 December 2015.
28. Web site: 1953 County Handicap Hurdle . 5 March 1953. Portsmouth Evening News . 4 December 2015.
29. Web site: 1988 County Handicap Hurdle . 17 March 1988. Racing Post .
30. Web site: 1989 County Handicap Hurdle . 16 March 1989. Racing Post .
31. Web site: 1990 County Handicap Hurdle . 15 March 1990. Racing Post .
32. Web site: 1991 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1991. Racing Post .
33. Web site: 1992 County Handicap Hurdle . 12 March 1992. Racing Post .
34. Web site: 1993 County Handicap Hurdle . 18 March 1993. Racing Post .
35. Web site: 1994 County Handicap Hurdle . 17 March 1994. Racing Post .
36. Web site: 1995 County Handicap Hurdle . 16 March 1995. Racing Post .
37. Web site: 1996 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 1996. Racing Post .
38. Web site: 1997 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 1997. Racing Post .
39. Web site: 1998 County Handicap Hurdle . 19 March 1998. Racing Post .
40. Web site: 1999 County Handicap Hurdle . 18 March 1999. Racing Post .
41. Web site: 2000 County Handicap Hurdle . 16 March 2000. Racing Post .
42. Web site: 2002 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 2002. Racing Post .
43. Web site: 2003 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 2003. Racing Post .
44. Web site: 2004 County Handicap Hurdle . 18 March 2004. Racing Post .
45. Web site: 2005 County Handicap Hurdle . 18 March 2005. Racing Post .
46. Web site: 2006 County Handicap Hurdle . 17 March 2006. Racing Post .
47. Web site: 2007 County Handicap Hurdle . 16 March 2007. Racing Post .
48. Web site: 2008 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 2008. Racing Post .
49. Web site: 2009 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 2009. Racing Post .
50. Web site: 2010 County Handicap Hurdle . 19 March 2010. Racing Post .
51. Web site: 2011 County Handicap Hurdle . 18 March 2011. Racing Post .
52. Web site: 2012 County Handicap Hurdle . 16 March 2012. Racing Post .
53. Web site: 2013 County Handicap Hurdle . 15 March 2013. Racing Post .
54. Web site: 2014 County Handicap Hurdle . 14 March 2014 . Racing Post.
55. Web site: 2015 County Handicap Hurdle . 13 March 2015 . Racing Post.
56. Web site: Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3). Racing Post. 31 March 2016.