Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle
The feature race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival is undoubtedly the Champion Hurdle, a grade one event run over two and a half a furlong. When looking at recent results in this event it is impossible to ignore the fact that the Irish have had a stranglehold on the race for most of the last decade, including the Aiden O'Brien trained Istabraq. In winning three successive runnings of this race he has become a Cheltenham legend.| Cheltenham Festival Odds - Tuesday March 11th 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.00pm | Supreme Novices Hurdle Betting Odds | Free Bets |
| 2.35pm | Arkle Challenge Trophy Betting Odds | Free Bets |
| 3.15pm | Champion Hurdle Betting Odds | Free Bets |
| 4.00pm | William Hill Trophy Betting Odds | Free Bets |
| 4.40pm | Cross Country Steeple Chase Betting Odds | Free Bets |
| 5.20pm | Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle Odds | Free Bets |
Istabraq aside, favourites in the betting for the Champion Hurdle has fared okay in recent years and many outsiders have taken places at large odds. If you're an each-way punter looking for value this could be your race as any entrant that has illustrated sound jumping ability in the run up to the Cheltenham Festival Races is in with a chance.
Following the excitement of the Champion Hurdle comes the Handicap Chase.
Champion Hurdle 2008 Results
Sizing Europe went off the 2/1 favourite. Osana went staight into the lead with Afsoon chasing him and Sizing Europe also taking a handy position. Coming down the hill Sizing Europe, Katchit and Sublimity all came there looking to fight it out with Osana. Katchit got his head in front after the last and held off Osana and this was a great effort for a 5 year old.
1515 Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2m ½f) Result 2008
1. Katchit (R Thornton) 10/1
2. Osana (T Scudamore) 9/2
3. Punjabi (B Geraghty) 25/1
15 ran NR 9,14
Champion Hurdle 2007 Results
Another surprise result with Detroit City the well backed favourite always in trouble on the good ground as Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace battled it out down the hill but surprise package Sublimity ridden by Paul Carberry a class horse on the flat loved the conditions and sat in just behind the first two and made his challenge at the last and went clear up the hill for a very well deserved victory and we have seen a real champion hurdle champion here.1515 Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2m ½f) Result 2007
1. Sublimity (Philip Carberry) 16-1
2. Brave Inca (R Walsh) 11-2
3. Afsoun (Mick FitzGerald) 28-1
10 ran
Champion Hurdle 2006 Results
Brave Inca having looked a stronger horse both physically and mentally this year with the aid of jockey A P McCoy taking over in the saddle gave punters a something to cheer about with a clear cut win staying on strongly to beat Macs Joy and two time winner Hardy Eustace, however everything was not plain sailing as a one point down the back straight he ran a bit lazily but McCoy soon got him back on the bridle and this gave McCoy his first winner in the Cheltenham Festival Odds for quite some time.1. Brave Inca (AP McCoy) 7-4f
2. Macs Joy (B Geraghty) 13-2
3. Hardy Eustace (C O'Dwyer) 11-2
18 ran. Dist: 1, 3½
Champion Hurdle 2005 Results
The 2005 running of the Champion Hurdle will be remembered for two things the ease in which Harchibald came to win the race but when the gun was put to his head he found nothing. This maybe a little unfair as Hardy Eustace showed great determination to retain his crown and see off both Harcibald and Brave Inca all the way up the hill.1. Hardy Eustace (C O'Dwyer) 7/1 JF
2. Harchibald (P Carberry) 7/1
3. Brave Inca (BM Cash) 10/1
Champion Hurdle 2004 Results
The 33-1 shot Hardy Eustace caused a shock with a victory over defending champion Rooster Booster in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. The longest-priced winner since 1989, but no fluke about it, and no apparent excuse for the reigning champion. The fear of a tactical race proved unfounded, and while Rooster Booster admittedly did not enjoying the breakneck gallop of last year's race or of last month's Tote Gold Trophy, he settled well off what looked a sensible pace and arrived on the scene looking the winner at the last.Hardy Eustace had not won a horse racing hurdle race since last year's Sun Alliance. He had shaped well under a front-running ride at Gowran Park on his latest start, and the application of first-time blinkers here suggested that forcing tactics would be adopted again. Left alone in front until starting down the Cheltenham Racecourse hill, he jumped and travelled well in the headgear, and though Rooster Booster looked set to take his measure when cruising up to him before the last, he dug deep and found plenty, pulling right away again.
Rooster Booster went into the race with 10lb or more in hand of his rivals on form, and the race appeared to pan out perfectly for him. But having made his ground going ominously well down the hill and straightened up for the last seemingly going the better of the pair, the finishing surge that distinguished last year's win was missing and towards the finish the placed horses were closing on him again.
It was an emotional moment for trainer Dessie Hughes, whose horse had won last year's Royal & Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle, ridden by jockey Kieran Kelly, who later died after a fall at Kilbeggan last August.
Champion Hurdle 2003 Results
The Champion Hurdle in 2003 began in extremely unusual circumstances with the 2002 winner Hors La Loi remaining at the start as the race got underway. Two other fancied entrants were very slowly away and the confusion resulted in a field well strung out before the halfway point.One of the entrants suited by the fantastic early pace was the Peter Hobbs trained Rooster Booster. Under Richard Johnson he ran the perfect race, remaining at the rear of the field for as long as possible and upon making his move at the final turn there was only going to be one winner. Eleven lengths behind the winner can the second placed horse in the 2002 Supreme Novices Hurdle, Westender who had been one of the betting market leaders left trailing after his slow and confused start. The favourite in the Champion Hurdle betting, Rhinestone Cowboy, came in a disappointing third but is likely to improve before the 2004 race.
