County Handicap Hurdle

The County Handicap Hurdle is a Grade 3 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.

County Handicap Hurdle

Grade 3 race
Location	Cheltenham Racecourse Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated	1920
Race type	Hurdle race
Sponsor	Randox Health
Website	Cheltenham
Race information
Distance	2m 179y (3,382 metres)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Five-years-old and up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	£100,000 (2016) 1st: £56,270

County Handicap Hurdle

2020
Saint Roi	Aramon	Embittered

Previous years
2019
Ch'tibello	We Have A Dream	Countister
2018
Mohaayed	Remiluc	Whiskey Sour
2017
Arctic Fire	L'Ami Serge	Ozzie The Oscar
2016
Superb Story	Fethard Player	Sternrubin
2015
Wicklow Brave	Sort It Out	Quick Jack
2014
Lac Fontana	Arctic Fire	Montbazon
2013
Ted Veale	Tennis Cap	Manyriverstocross
2012
Alderwood	Edgardo Sol	Sailors Warn
2011
Final Approach	Get Me Out of Here	Nearby

2010-2001
2010
Thousand Stars	Arcalis	Dee Ee Williams
2009
American Trilogy	Stradbrook	Cockney Trucker
2008
Silver Jaro	Psycho	French Saulaie
2007
Pedrobob	Ouninpohja	Premier Dane
2006
Desert Quest	Noble Request	Adamant Approach
2005
Fontanesi	Stance	Borora
2004
Sporazene	Hawadeth	Copeland
2003
Spirit Leader	Balapour	Through The Rye
2002
Rooster Booster	Landing Light	Geos

2000-1992
2000
Master Tern	Danegold	Spokesman
1999
Sir Talbot	Decoupage	Toto Toscato
1998
Blowing Wind	Advocat	Bless Me Sister
1997
Barna Boy	Carlito Brigante	Penny A Day
1996
Star Rage	Romancer	Non Vintage
1995
Home Counties	Family Way	Test match
1994
Dizzy	Diplomatic	Steel Dawn
1993
Thumbs Up	High Baron	Spinning
1992
Dusty Miller	Bank View	Viking Flagship

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.

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)

Leading trainer since 1946 (4 wins):

• Paul Nicholls – Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Lac Fontana (2014)
• Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017)

List of renewals

• Weights given in stones and pounds.

Date	Winner	SP	Age	Weight (st-lb)	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Runners
1920, 11 March	Trespasser	4/7F	4	11-09	George Duller	J. M. Bell	P. Heybourn	8	[1]
1921, 3 March	Water Bottle	5/1	—	11–13	F. Croney	A. Scott	A. Scott	12	[2]
1922, 9 March	Lukeston	100/30	—	12-02	F. Rees	Harrison	E. Tattersall	7	[3]
1923, 7 March	Assaroe	6/1	—	11–10	F. Brown[lower-alpha 1]	Newey	Stanley Howard	7	[4]
1924, 12 March	Argo	2/1F	—	11-08	George Duller	Coulthwaite	Lord Londesborough	13	[5]
1925, 11 March	Rosecome	100/7	5	10-06	J. East	W. McKie	A. Sanders	15	[6]
1926, 9 March	Checktaker	5/2F	5	11–11	George Duller	H. Harrison	Harrison	13	[7]
1927, 8 March	Rolie	7/1	6	11-06	H. Cheshire	T. Rimell	T. Rimell	11	[8]
1928, 14 March	Truthful James	7/1	—	11-03	Parvin	Powell	Milne	15	[9]
1929, 13 March	Castlederg	8/1	7	11-02	F. Rees	Whitelaw	Whitelaw	14	[10]
1930, 12 March	Gonedry	9/2	8	10–11	P. Dennis	H. Dyke Dennis	Pellerin	15	[11]
no race 1931 [lower-alpha 2]
1932, 3 March	Fouquet	11/4	5	10-00	W. Stott	F. Wootton	S. Wootton	10	[12]
1933, 9 March	Hightide IV.	20/1	7	11-03	Wilson	Bullock	T. Richardson	13	[13]
1934, 8 March	Jack Grange	8/1	5	10-00	W. Hollick	Barthropp	Sir A. McAlpine	17	[14]
1935, 14 March	Polly Stephens	2/1F	8	11-00	Ingham	Cundell	Rieb	15	[15]
1936, 12 March	Back Isle	7/1	8	11-03	Fulke Walwyn[lower-alpha 1]	Roberts	C. Jones	21	[16]
no race 1937 [lower-alpha 2]
1938, 10 March	Prince Rouge	10/1	8	10–12	J. Prendergast[lower-alpha 1]	W. Stubbs	Mrs D. Thomas	17	[17]
1939, 9 March	Abbot's Own	13/2	8	12-01	H. Nicholson	O'Sullivan	Mrs E. Scott	17	[18]
1940, 20 March	Sam Brown	6/1	6	11-01	T. Rimell	trained privately	M. C. Willes	10	[19]
1941, 20 March	Celibate II	7/1	9	11-04	Hollick	D. Dick	Mrs D. P. Dick	19	[20]
1942, 21 March	Red April	100/8	5	11–13	E. Foley	Stalbridge	M. Jones	21	[21]
no race 1943–45 [lower-alpha 3]
1946, 14 March	Vidi	6/1	5	11–10	Don Butchers	Reg Hobbs	A. E. Saunders	27	[22]
no race 1947 [lower-alpha 4]
1948, 4 March	Cape Light	2/1F	5	11-01	Joe Maguire	Ivor Anthony	—	21	[23]
no race 1949 [lower-alpha 5]
1950, 9 March	Blue Raleigh	25/1	7	10-00	Jimmy Power	Bobby Renton	Mrs L. Brotherton	19	[24]
1951, 25 April	Southwick	100/7	7	10-03	George Spann	J. Whiting	—	21	[25]
1952, 6 March	Ballymacan	100/7	5	10–12	Bryan Marshall	Neville Crump	H. D. Waddington	20	[26]
1953, 5 March	Teapot II	4/1	8	12-07	Pat Taaffe	Clem Magnier	—	16	[27]
1954	Bold Baby		8	12-00	Paddy Powell	Michael Dawson
no race 1955 [lower-alpha 5]
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[lower-alpha 1]	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
no race 1975 [lower-alpha 6]
1976	Java Fox		6	10-01	George Jones[lower-alpha 1]	Roy Cambidge
1977	Kilcoleman		5	10-07	Tommy Kinane	Billy Boyers
no race 1978 [lower-alpha 6]
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
1988, 17 March	Cashew King	9/1	5	10-04	Trevor Wall	Bryan McMahon	Mrs J A Wall	24	[28]
1989, 16 March	Willsford	11/1	6	10-08	Michael Bowlby	Jenny Pitman	A M Kaplan	21	[29]
1990, 15 March	Moody Man	9/1	5	11-02	Peter Hobbs	Philip Hobbs	James Burley	20	[30]
1991, 14 March	Winnie the Witch	33/1	7	09-08	David Bridgwater	Ken Bridgwater	Paddocks Thoroughbred Racing Ltd	26	[31]
1992, 12 March	Dusty Miller	9/1	6	10-06	Jamie Osborne	Simon Sherwood	Watership Down Racing	27	[32]
1993, 18 March	Thumbs Up	16/1	7	10-02	Richard Dunwoody	Nicky Henderson	Michael Buckley	21	[33]
1994, 17 March	Dizzy	12/1	6	10-00	Tony Dobbin	Peter Monteith	Lt-Col W L Monteith	24	[34]
1995, 16 March	Home Counties	14/1	6	10–12	James Moffatt	Dudley Moffatt	Roxy Cinemas (dalton)	23	[35]
1996, 14 March	Star Rage	14/1	6	10-00	Dean Gallagher	Jimmy Harris	J David Abell	28	[36]
1997, 13 March	Barna Boy	14/1	9	10–12	Richard Dunwoody	Nicky Henderson	Lynn Wilson	20	[37]
1998, 19 March	Blowing Wind	15/8F	5	11-08	Tony McCoy	Martin Pipe	P A Deal	27	[38]
1999, 18 March	Sir Talbot	10/1	5	10-00	Timmy Murphy	Jim Old	W E Sturt	28	[39]
2000, 16 March	Master Tern	9/2F	5	10-03	Tony Dobbin	Jonjo O'Neill	John P McManus	21	[40]
no race 2001 [lower-alpha 7]
2002, 14 March	Rooster Booster	8/1	8	11-01	Richard Johnson	Philip Hobbs	Terry Warner	21	[41]
2003, 13 March	Spirit Leader	10/1	7	11-07	Barry Geraghty	Jessica Harrington	D Thompson	28	[42]
2004, 18 March	Sporazene	7/1J	5	10–13	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Ged Mason & David Jackson	23	[43]
2005, 18 March	Fontanesi	16/1	5	10–10	Timmy Murphy	Martin Pipe	The Johnson Family	30	[44]
2006, 17 March	Desert Quest	4/1J	6	10–10	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Mrs M Findlay	29	[45]
2007, 16 March	Pedrobob	12/1	9	10-00	Philip Carberry	Tony Mullins	Barry Connell	28	[46]
2008, 14 March	Silver Jaro	50/1	5	10–13	Noel Fehily	Tom Hogan	Miss M A Masterson	22	[47]
2009, 13 March	American Trilogy	20/1	5	11-00	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls	Fulton,Donlon,Kilduff & Scott-MacDonald	27	[48]
2010, 19 March	Thousand Stars	20/1	6	10-05	Katie Walsh[lower-alpha 1]	Willie Mullins	Hammer & Trowel Syndicate	28	[49]
2011, 18 March	Final Approach	10/1	5	10–12	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins	Douglas Taylor	26	[50]
2012, 16 March	Alderwood	20/1	8	11-01	Tony McCoy	Thomas Mullins	John P McManus	26	[51]
2013, 15 March	Ted Veale	10/1	6	10-06	Bryan Cooper	Tony Martin	John Breslin	28	[52]
2014, 14 March	Lac Fontana	11/1	5	10–11	Daryl Jacob	Paul Nicholls	Potensis Limited	28	[53]
2015, 13 March	Wicklow Brave	25/1	6	11-04	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	Wicklow Bloodstock Limited	24	[54]
2016, 18 March	Superb Story	8/1	5	10–12	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton	Holt, Robinson, Taylor & Miller	26	[55]
2017, 17 March	Arctic Fire	20/1	8	11–12	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	Wicklow Bloodstock Limited	26
2018, 16 March	Mohaayed	33/1	6	10–08	Bridget Andrews	Dan Skelton	Mrs June Watts	24
2019, 15 March	Ch'tibello	12/1	8	11-05	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton	Can't Say No Partnership	24
2020, 13 March	Saint Roi	11/2	5	10-13	Barry Geraghty	Willie Mullins	John P McManus	23

1. amateur jockey
2. The race was abandoned in 1931 because of frost, and in 1937 because of flooding
3. It was cancelled in 1943–45 because of World War II
4. The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost
5. It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow
6. The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
7. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also

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

References

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

---

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