National Spirit Hurdle
2021 | ||
Brewin'upastorm | Mcfabulous | Molly Ollys Wishes |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2020 | ||
William Henry | Quel Destin | Thomas Darby |
2019 | ||
Vision Des Flos | If The Cap Fits | Lil Rockerfeller |
2018 | ||
Old Guard | Lil Rockerfeller | Air Horse One |
2017 | ||
Camping Ground | Le Rocher | L'Ami Serge |
2016 | ||
Lil Rockerfeller | Ubak | San Benedeto |
2015 | ||
Kilcooley | Silsol | Cannon Fodder |
2014 | ||
Kayf Moss | Meister Eckhart | Chris Pea Green |
2013 | ||
Prospect Wells | Meister Eckhart | Dark Lover |
2012 | ||
Third Intention | Topolski | Duc De Regniere |
2011 | ||
Celestial Halo | Trenchant | Afsoun |
2010 | ||
Trenchant | Souffleur | Afsoun |
2009 | ||
Lough Derg | Pierrot Lunaire | Hills of Aran |
2008 | ||
Lough Derg | My Way de Solzen | Refinement |
2007 | ||
United | Refinement | Hereditary |
2006 | ||
My Way de Solzen | Dancing Bay | Sporazene |
2005 | ||
Blue Canyon | Copeland | Le Duc |
2004 | ||
Starzaan | Vic Toto | Big Moment |
2003 | ||
Classified | Telimar Prince | Comex Flyer |
The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 3 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 33 yards or 3,852 metres), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late February or early March.
The event is named after National Spirit, a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle in the 1940s. National Spirit won five times at Fontwell Park, including three successive victories in the Rank Challenge Cup. The National Spirit Hurdle was established in 1965, and the inaugural running was won by Salmon Spray. During its early years it was also won by Comedy of Errors.
For a period the race was run over 2¼ miles, and it served as a trial for the Champion Hurdle (Beech Road won both events in 1989). It was discontinued in 1994, but its title was revived for a handicap race which took place annually from 1996 to 1998. It was relaunched as a conditions race over 2 miles and 2½ furlongs in 1999, and it was extended to its present length in 2004.
The National Spirit Hurdle is now regarded as a trial for the Stayers' Hurdle. The only horse to have won both races in the same year was My Way de Solzen in 2006. Another horse to have achieved victory in both events, albeit in different seasons, was Baracouda.
Winners since 1971[]
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Varma | 5 | David Mould | M Masson |
1972 | St Patrick's Blue | 7 | David Mould | D Tatlow |
1973 | Brantridge Farmer | 5 | Richard Rowell | Miss A Sinclair |
1974 | Brantridge Farmer | 6 | Terry Biddlecombe | Fulke Walwyn |
1975 | Bladon | 5 | R Kington | Fred Winter |
1976 | Comedy of Errors | 9 | John Burke | Fred Rimell |
1977 | Comedy of Errors | 10 | John Burke | Fred Rimell |
1978 | Kybo | 5 | Bob Champion | Josh Gifford |
1979 | Bird's Nest | 9 | Andy Turnell | Bob Turnell |
1980 | Snowtown Boy | 5 | John Francome | Fred Winter |
1981 | Random Leg | 6 | Bob Champion | Josh Gifford |
1982 | Mr Moonraker | 5 | P Carvill | Miss S Morris |
1983 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1984 | Cut A Dash | 5 | John Francome | Mrs N Smith |
1985 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1986 | Abandoned because of frost | |||
1987 | Corporal Clinger | 8 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1988 | 5 | Guy Harwood | ||
1989 | 7 | Toby Balding | ||
1990 | 7 | Guy Harwood | ||
1991 | 6 | |||
1992 | 7 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe | |
1993 | 6 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson | |
1999 | 5 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe | |
2000 | 7 | Andrew Thornton | ||
2001 | Baracouda | 6 | François Doumen | |
2002 | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Josh Gifford | |
2003 | 7 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe | |
2004 | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Hughie Morrison | |
2005 | 7 | Tony McCoy | François Doumen | |
2006 | My Way de Solzen | 6 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
2007 | United | 6 | Leighton Aspell | |
2008 | 8 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | |
2009 | 9 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | |
2010 | 5 | Robert Thornton | Alan King | |
2011 | 7 | Harry Skelton | Paul Nicholls | |
2012 | 5 | Colin Tizzard | ||
2013 | Prospect Wells | 8 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
2014 | Kayf Moss | 6 | ||
2015 | 6 | Noel Fehily | ||
2016 | 5 | |||
2017 | 7 | |||
2018 | Old Guard | 7 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
2019 | Vision Des Flos | 6 | Tom Scudamore | Colin Tizzard |
2020 | William Henry | 10 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
2021 | Brewin'upastorm | 8 | Aidan Coleman | Olly Murphy |
See also[]
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
References[]
- fontwellpark.co.uk – History of Fontwell Park Racecourse.
- pedigreequery.com – National Spirit Hurdle – Fontwell.
- National Hunt races in Great Britain
- Fontwell Park Racecourse
- National Hunt hurdle races