National Spirit Hurdle
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The National Spirit Trophy Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above horses run over a distance of 2miles 4 furlongs (4,123 metres) at Fontwell Park Racecourse in February. There are ten hurdles to be jumped in the race.
It is named in honour of National Spirit, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1947 and 1948, who won five times at Fontwell Park including three successive victories in the Rank Challenge Cup[1].
Until 1993 it was run over a distance of 2 miles 2 furlongs (3,621 metres) and was one of the principal trials for the Champion Hurdle – Beech Road won both races in 1989. The race was discontinued in 1994 but the title was revived for a handicap hurdle race between 1996 and 1998. In 1999 the race reverted to a conditions hurdle race over 2 miles 2½ furlongs (3,722 metres) and in 2004 the distance was increased to 2 miles 4 furlongs (4,023 metres). It is now regarded as a preparation race for the World Hurdle and both Baracouda in 2001 and My Way De Solzen in 2006 have gone on to win the World Hurdle.
[edit] Winners since 1988
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1988 | Vagador | 5 | Mark Perrett | Guy Harwood |
| 1989 | Beech Road | 7 | Richard Guest | Toby Balding |
| 1990 | Vagador | 7 | Mark Perrett | Guy Harwood |
| 1991 | Al Asoof | 6 | Mark Richards | Peter Hedger |
| 1992 | Honest Word | 7 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
| 1993 | Flown | 6 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson |
| 1999 | Lady Cricket | 5 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2000 | Male-Ana-Mou | 7 | Andrew Thornton | Jamie Poulton |
| 2001 | Baracouda | 6 | Thierry Doumen | François Doumen |
| 2002 | Rouble | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Josh Gifford |
| 2003 | Classified | 7 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2004 | Starzaan | 5 | Timmy Murphy | Hughie Morrison |
| 2005 | Blue Canyon | 7 | Tony McCoy | François Doumen |
| 2006 | My Way De Solzen | 6 | Robert Thornton | Alan King |
| 2007 | United | 6 | Leighton Aspell | Lucy Wadham |
