Cleeve Hurdle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cleeve Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses run over a distance of 3 miles (4,828 metres) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in January. There are twelve hurdles to be jumped in the race.
It was originally titled the Bishops Cleeve Hurdle and run over a distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs (4,023 metres) as a Listed race. The distance was increased to 2 miles 4½ furlongs (4,123 metres) in 1989. It was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 1991. In 1993 the distance was increased again to 2 miles 5½ furlongs (4,325 metres) and the name changed to Cleeve Hurdle. In 2004 the distance was reduced to 2 miles 4½ furlongs again and the race was downgraded to Grade 2 status. In 2005 the distance was increased again to 3 miles and the race effectively took the place in the National Hunt calendar of the Premier Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock Park.
[edit] Winners since 1988
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1988 | Cloughtaney | 7 | Tony Mullins | Paddy Mullins |
| 1989 | Calapaez | 5 | Simon Sherwood | Brooke Sanders |
| 1990 | Beech Road | 8 | Richard Guest | Toby Balding |
| 1991 | Crystal Spirit | 4 | Jimmy Frost | Ian Balding |
| 1992 no race | ||||
| 1993 | Muse | 6 | Paul Holley | David Elsworth |
| 1994 | Flakey Dove | 8 | Richard Dunwoody | Richard Price |
| 1995 | Mudahim | 9 | Norman Williamson | Chris Broad |
| 1996 no race | ||||
| 1997 | Large Action | 9 | Jamie Osborne | Oliver Sherwood |
| 1998 | Mistinguett | 6 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1999 | Lady Rebecca | 7 | Norman Williamson | Venetia Williams |
| 2000 | Lady Rebecca | 8 | Norman Williamson | Venetia Williams |
| 2001 | Lady Rebecca | 9 | Norman Williamson | Venetia Williams |
| 2002 | Kates Charm | 9 | Mick Fitzgerald | Robert Alner |
| 2003 | Classified | 7 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2004 | Crystal d’Ainay | 5 | Jimmy McCarthy | Alan King |
| 2005 | Patriarch Express | 8 | Jim Culloty | Sue Smith |
| 2006 | Fire Dragon * | 5 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2007 | Blazing Bailey | 5 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
* The 2006 race was run at Sandown Park.
