The World Hurdle

The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race, which is open to horses aged four 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 on the Thursday during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
It is the leading long-distance hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar.

The present version of the event was introduced in 1972, when it replaced a previous race, the Spa Hurdle. It was initially known as the Stayers' Hurdle, and in its early years it was sponsored by Lloyds Bank. It was backed by Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990, and by Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. The race used to be held on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday of the Festival, but it was moved to the Thursday in 1993. It was formerly contested on Cheltenham's Old Course, where its distance was 3 miles and 1 furlong.
The title of the race was changed to the World Hurdle when Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2005.

Records

Most successful horse since 1972 (4 wins):

Big Buck's – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Leading jockey since 1972 (4 wins):

Ruby Walsh – Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Leading trainer since 1972 (4 wins):

Paul Nicholls– Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Leading owner since 1972 (4 wins):

The Stewart Family – Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)



Year Winner      Age Jockey Trainer
1972 Parlour Moor 8 Macer Gifford Harry Thomson Jones
1973 Moyne Royal 8 David Mould Arthur Pitt
1974 Highlamd Abbe 8 Richard Smith Les Kennard
1975 Brown Lad 9 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper
1976 Bit of a Jig 8 Dessie Hughes Mick O’ Toole
1977 Town Ship 6 Tommy Carberry Peter Easterby
1978 Flame Gun 6 Mr Niall Madden Edward O’Grady
1979 Lighter         6 Philip Blacker John Edwards
1980 Mountrivers 6 Tommy Ryan Edward O’Grady
1981 Derring Rose 6 John Francome Fred Winter
1982 Crimson Embers 7 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn
1983 A Kinsman 7 Geordie Dun John Brockbank
1984 Gaye Chance 9 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell
1985 Rose Ravine 6 Ricky Pusey Fulke Walwyn
1986 Crimson Embers 11 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn
1987 Galmoy         8 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern
1988 Galmoy         9 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern
1989 Rustle         7 Michael Bowlby Nicky Henderson
1990 Trapper John 6 Charlie Swan Mouse Morris
1991 King’s Curate 7 Mark Perrett Stan Mellor
1992 Normadic Way 7 Jamie Osborne Barry Hills
1993 Shuil Ar Aghaidh 7 Charlie Swan Paddy Kiely
1994 Balasani         8 Mark Perrett Martin Pipe
1995 Dorans Pride 6 Shane Broderick Michael Hourigan
1996 Cyborgo         6 David Bridgewater Martin Pipe
1997 Karshi         7 Jamie Osborne Henrietta Knight
1998 Princeful         7 Rodney Farrant Jenny Pitman
1999 Anzum         8 Richard Johnson David Nicholson
2000 Bacchanal         6 Mick Fitzgerald   Nicky Henderson
2001 No Race - - -
2002 Baracouda 7 Thierry Doumen Francois Doumen
2003 Baracouda 8 Thierry Doumen Francois Doumen
2004 Iris’s Gift         7 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O’Neill
2005 Inglis Drever 6 Graham Lee Howard Johnson
2006 My Way de Solzen 6 Robert Thornton Alan King
2007 Inglis Drever 8 Paddy Brennan Howard Johnson
2008 Inglis Drever 9 Dennis O’Regan Howard Johnson
2009 Big Buck’s 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2010 Big Buck’s 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2011 Big Buck’s 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2012 Big Buck’s 9 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2013 Solwhit             9 Paul Carberry Charles Byrnes


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Hurdle