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. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs (4,023 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, which was subsequently won by both Baracouda in 2001 and My Way de Solzen in 2006.

[edit] Winners since 1988

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
1994
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
2008 Lough Derg 8 Tom Scudamore David Pipe

[edit] References

[edit] See also