National Spirit Hurdle

National Spirit Hurdle

2016
Lil Rockerfeller	Ubak	San Benedeto

Previous years
2015
Kilcooley	Silsol	Cannon Fodder
2014
Kayf Moss	Meister Eckhart	Chris Pea Green
2013
Prospect Wells	Meister Eckhart	Dark Lover
2012
Third Intention	Topolski	Duc De Regniere
2011
Celestial Halo	Trenchant	Afsoun
2010
Trenchant	Souffleur	Afsoun
2009
Lough Derg	Pierrot Lunaire	Hills Of Aran
2008
Lough Derg	My Way de Solzen	Refinement
2007
United	Refinement	Hereditary
2006
My Way de Solzen	Dancing Bay	Sporazene
2005
Blue Canyon	Copeland	Le Duc
2004
Starzaan	Vic Toto	Big Moment
2003
Classified	Telimar Prince	Comex Flyer

The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late February or early March.

The event is named after National Spirit, a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle in the 1940s. National Spirit won five times at Fontwell Park, including three successive victories in the Rank Challenge Cup. The National Spirit Hurdle was established in 1965, and the inaugural running was won by Salmon Spray. During its early years it was also won by Comedy of Errors.

For a period the race was run over 2¼ miles, and it served as a trial for the Champion Hurdle (Beech Road won both events in 1989). It was discontinued in 1994, but its title was revived for a handicap race which took place annually from 1996 to 1998. It was relaunched as a conditions race over 2 miles and 2½ furlongs in 1999, and it was extended to its present length in 2004.

The National Spirit Hurdle is now regarded as a trial for the World Hurdle. The only horse to have won both races in the same year was My Way de Solzen in 2006. Another horse to have achieved victory in both events, albeit in different seasons, was Baracouda.

Winners since 1971

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1971	Varma	5	David Mould	M Masson
1972	St Patrick's Blue	7	David Mould	D Tatlow
1973	Brantridge Farmer	5	Richard Rowell	Miss A Sinclair
1974	Brantridge Farmer	6	Terry Biddlecombe	Fulke Walwyn
1975	Bladon	5	R Kington	Fred Winter
1976	Comedy of Errors	9	John Burke	Fred Rimell
1977	Comedy of Errors	10	John Burke	Fred Rimell
1978	Kybo	5	Bob Champion	Josh Gifford
1979	Bird's Nest	9	Andy Turnell	Bob Turnell
1980	Snowtown Boy	5	John Francome	Fred Winter
1981	Random Leg	6	Bob Champion	Josh Gifford
1982	Mr Moonraker	5	P Carvill	Miss S Morris
1983	Abandoned because of frost
1984	Cut A Dash	5	John Francome	Mrs N Smith
1985	Abandoned because of frost
1986	Abandoned because of frost
1987	Corporal Clinger	8	Peter Scudamore	Martin Pipe
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
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
2009	Lough Derg	9	Tom Scudamore	David Pipe
2010	Trenchant	5	Robert Thornton	Alan King
2011	Celestial Halo	7	Harry Skelton	Paul Nicholls
2012	Third Intention	5	Joe Tizzard	Colin Tizzard
2013	Prospect Wells	8	Daryl Jacob	Paul Nicholls
2014	Kayf Moss	6	Rhys Flint	John Flint
2015	Kilcooley	6	Noel Fehily	Charlie Longsdon
2016	Lil Rockerfeller	5	Trevor Whelan	Neil King

See also

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

References

• Racing Post:
  • "1988"., "1989"., "1990"., "1991"., "1992"., "1993"., "1996"., "1997"., "1998"., "1999".
  • "2000"., "2001"., "2002"., "2003"., "2004"., "2005"., "2006"., "2007"., "2008"., "2009".
  • "2010"., "2011"., "2012"., "2013"., "2014"., "2015"., "2016".

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• fontwellpark.co.uk – History of Fontwell Park Racecourse.
• pedigreequery.com – National Spirit Hurdle – Fontwell.