Cleeve Hurdle

The Cleeve Hurdle is a Grade 2 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 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.

In the late 1980s the event was classed at Listed level, and its full title was the Bishops Cleeve Hurdle. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 1991, and in the following years its title was shortened to the present form. The race was initially run over 2½ miles (4,023 metres), but this has been subsequently modified several times. It was downgraded to Grade 2 status in 2004, and its distance was extended to the present length in 2005. In its analysis of that year's running, the Racing Post commented that the modified Cleeve Hurdle was "effectively replacing the long-distance hurdle formerly run at Haydock on Peter Marsh day."

The race is now a leading trial for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Winners since 1988

¹ The 2006 running took place at Sandown Park.

References

• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • 2010, 2011

• pedigreequery.com – Cleeve Hurdle – Cheltenham.

See also

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races