Tuesday 27 December 2016

Cheltenham Festival - Champion Hurdle


This is another top-rated grade one race slotted for the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. It admits horses of a minimum four years of get to compete over a distance of two miles and a furlong (3298 m) on the Old Course of the British racing venue.

Horses have galloped in this race since 1927, earning it a place among the longest running events at the festival. The racing association ranks the Champion Hurdle as easily the best race of the opening day. Every time it is run, the viewing stands fill up despite being an opening day fixture.

The record of wins stands at three for an individual horse which is shared by five horses. All record holders swept first honours in consecutive years, with Persian War (68, 69, 70) being the most popular among them. Tim Molony and Ruby Walsh hold a joint jockey record of four wins while Nicky Henderson is the king of trainers with six wins.