1952 Champion Hurdle

Last updated
23rd Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
Location Cheltenham Racecourse
Date4 March 1952
Winning horse Sir Ken (FR)
Jockey Tim Molony
Trainer Willie Stephenson

The 1952 Champion Hurdle was a horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 4 March 1952. It was the 23rd running of the Champion Hurdle and was the richest hurdle race of the calendar.

Contents

Main contenders

The race featured Sir Ken (SP 3/1), a French bred horse who came into it with an untarnished reputation winning his 8 previous England starts over hurdles in facile fashion; [1] [2] Hatton's Grace (SP 13/2) triple champion (1949, 1950, 1951) was looking for his 4th consecutive win in the race but was 12 years old and disappointed last time out at Naas when unplaced, admittedly carrying 12st 7lb in very soft conditions; 11 yo National Spirit (SP 20/1) dual champion (1947, 1948) also looked as a "light of other days" getting beat last time out at Windsor 4 lengths by another live contender Noholme (SP 100/7) whose preparation was going very well and was sent into the race fitter than his previous starts of the season; Telegram II (SP 9/1) who was punted on several news papers as the value bet had form at the course, his jumping skills were very impressive and also had speed to match it proving himself previously a high class flat horse finishing 4th in the 1950 Derby; Hunza (SP 20/1) unbeaten in 6 starts over hurdles against lesser opposition was sent directly to the Champion Hurdle without a preparation run since early December and the same applied to last year's favourite Average (SP 100/7) who came directly into the race from a fall on his seasonal debut in October, his trainer reported that he had him back to his best after some blips in training exercises and other health issues; [2] National Spirit's stablemate Approaval (SP 9/1) was 2 times winner and 2 times runner-up last season and made a good return on his seasonal debut winning by 3 lengths giving 21 pounds to the runner-up.; [3] French-trained Fellah II (SP 100/7) had previously won all his 4 starts at Auteuil and was expected to run well while the Galway Hurdle winner Wye Fly (SP 100/8) was in good form as well and much fancied.

Race analysis

As the race started the former dual champion National Spirit was sent into the lead but couldn't maintain it for long dropping out tamely along with the other veteran Hatton's Grace who never looked like landing the 4th time spoils. Sir Ken was in a prominent position throughout the race and approaching the final stages a great battle began between him, Noholme and Approval, the trio jumping the last flight in line. The crowd bursted in cheers for the heavily backed Sir Ken who started to move away winning by 2 lengths from Noholme, 4 lengths back to Approval with the 4th place going to the Tadcaster trained Average who ran a mighty race considering he hadn't had the ideal preparation with the last run back in October. The other fancy in the betting Telegram II "hit the third hurdle so hard that he nearly stopped. Long before the end he became tailed off and was pulled up before reaching the post". [4]

The winner Sir Ken was at the time a five-year-old gelding trained in by Willie Stephenson and ridden by Tim Molony. It was the first victory of the Champion Hurdle hat trick which he completed in 1953 and 1954. The win extended his unbeaten streak to 9 hurdle races while he also had 1 win over flat and was described as: "among the best of all time, for today's opposition was most formidable" and "bids to become a popular idol." [5]

Race details

Related Research Articles

The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davy Russell</span> Irish National Hunt jockey

Davy Russell is an Irish retired National Hunt jockey. He was Irish jump racing Champion Jockey three times, and won the Grand National (twice), the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Fly</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hurricane Fly is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in hurdle races when under the care of trainer Willie Mullins at Closutton in County Carlow in Ireland. He is a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle and previously held the world record for most Grade 1 races won by any racehorse until overtaken by Winx in 2019. Originally bred to be a flat racer, the gelding began his racing career in France where he had moderate success, winning twice in ten races. At the end of 2007 he was sold and transferred to Ireland where he began to compete in National Hunt events. On 15 March 2011, Hurricane Fly ridden by Ruby Walsh won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock On Ruby</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Rock On Ruby, is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist hurdler he is best known for his performances in the 2011–2012 National Hunt season, when he won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in November before winning Britain's most prestigious hurdle race, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on 13 March. After failing to make a mark as a steeplechaser he returned to hurdling and won the Relkeel Hurdle in 2014 and the Ascot Hurdle in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprinter Sacre</span> French-bred racehorse

Sprinter Sacre, is a French-bred, British-trained Selle Français racehorse. He currently has the third highest ever Timeform steeplechase rating of 192p, behind only Arkle on 212 and Flyingbolt on 210 as their highest in the modern era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobs Worth</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Bobs Worth was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in 2011, the RSA Chase in 2012 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2013 at the Cheltenham Festival, making him the first horse since Flyingbolt in the 1960s to win three different races at consecutive Cheltenham Festivals. In 2012, he also won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Bobs Worth was trained by Nicky Henderson, owned by the Not Afraid Partnership.

Sizing Europe is an Irish National Hunt horse, best known for winning the 2011 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He won the Irish Champion Hurdle in 2008 before switching to chasing, where he has won six Grade 1s over fences.

National Spirit was a British National Hunt horse best known for winning the Champion Hurdle twice, as well as the Rank Challenge Cup at Fontwell three times. He was one of the best hurdlers in the post-war era, and was also an excellent dual-purpose horse, winning several major races on the Flat. Along with Irish hurdler Hatton's Grace, National Spirit was one of the most popular horses of his time

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Power</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Annie Power is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A National Hunt horse specialising in hurdle racing, she won fifteen of her seventeen races including the Johnstown Novice Hurdle, Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, Ascot Hurdle, Doncaster Mares' Hurdle and Mares Champion Hurdle. In 2016, she became the first mare for twenty two years to win the Champion Hurdle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New One (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

The New One was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. In a career running from November 2011 to December 2018 he ran in 40 races, winning 20 times, being placed a further nine times and earning over £1,000,000 in win and place prize money. In the 2011/2012 National Hunt season he won three of his four races when competing in National Hunt Flat races including the Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race at Aintree Racecourse. In the following year, competing over hurdles, he won four of his six starts including the Leamington Novices' Hurdle and the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. In the following season he won the International Hurdle and finished third in Champion Hurdle before winning the Aintree Hurdle. In the 2014/15 season he won his first four races including a second International Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle Trial. He went on to win three more Champion Hurdle Trials, a third International Hurdle and a Welsh Champion Hurdle. The New One was retired after being pulled up in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on 15 December 2018.

Jezki is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. After showing promise in National Hunt Flat races he won five times as a novice hurdler in the 2012/2013 season, with his victories including the Fishery Lane Hurdle, Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Future Champions Novice Hurdle and Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle. In the following season he won the WKD Hurdle and the Hatton's Grace Hurdle before taking the 2014 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse and following up with a win in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle. In the following season he was beaten in his first three races by Hurricane Fly and finished fourth to Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle before winning the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles and defeating Hurricane Fly in the World Series Hurdle.

The 2000 Champion Hurdle was a horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 14 March 2000. It was the 71st running of the Champion Hurdle.

Granville Again was an Irish-bred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races and recorded his most important win in the 1993 Champion Hurdle. In his early career he won two of his three National Hunt Flat races and was a successful Novice Hurdler, winning the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle and Top Novices' Hurdle as well as finishing second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. In the 1991/1992 season, Granville Again won all five of his completed races including the Champion Hurdle Trial and the Scottish Champion Hurdle but fell when second favourite for the Champion Hurdle. In the following season he was beaten in his first three starts but returned to his best form to defeat a strong field in the Champion Hurdle. He never won again and failed to finish in the first three in his last ten races. He was retired from racing in 1996 and died in 2003 at the age of seventeen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faugheen</span> Racehorse trained in Ireland

Faugheen is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle and back-to-back Christmas Hurdles in 2014 and 2015. His best performance on a racecourse came in the 2016 Irish Champion Hurdle for which he was rated the best two-mile hurdler of the 21st century. His career started over Point-to-point fences as a four-year-old and was sent racing under National Hunt rules in the 2013/2014 season where he emerged as a leading Novice hurdler, winning all of his races including the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham Novices Hurdle and Herald Champion Novice Hurdle acquiring the nickname "The Machine" in the process.

Deep Sensation was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who competed under National Hunt rules. He ran in six consecutive Cheltenham Festivals and is best known for his win in the 1993 Queen Mother Champion Chase. In his first three seasons he was campaigned in hurdle races, recording his most notable success in the 1990 Tote Gold Trophy. When switched to larger obstacles he was one of the leading novice steeplechasers of 1991/1992, winning the Lightning Novices' Chase and the Nottinghamshire Novices' Chase. He reached his peak in the following season, when he took the H & T Walker Gold Cup, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Melling Chase. He never won another major race but recorded two minor wins and was placed in several important chases over the next two years. He was retired from racing after a narrow defeat in the 1995 Melling Chase after winning thirteen of his forty-nine races and being placed on twenty-one occasions. He died in November 2003 at the age of eighteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodging Bullets</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Dodging Bullets is a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for his performances in National Hunt races. Bred by the leading jockey Frankie Dettori he had a flat racing career of limited importance, winning two minor races from nine starts as a three-year-old in 2011. He showed better form when switched to hurdles, winning the Sharp Novices' Hurdle in 2012. He proved even better when he began to compete in steeplechases, winning the November Novices' Chase and the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase in 2013. In the 2014/2015 National Hunt season he emerged as one of the best chasers in Britain, recording three consecutive Grade 1 wins in the Tingle Creek Chase, Clarence House Chase and Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Nomadic Way was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a successful stayer on the flat and was a top class hurdler under National Hunt rules, switching between the two codes in a racing career which lasted from October 1987 until January 1993.

Knock Hard was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1953 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He showed good form on the flat, winning the Irish Lincoln Handicap and finished second in the Irish Cesarewitch and the November Handicap. As a steeplechaser he was a fast but unreliable jumper who fell when well fancied in both the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the 1951/52 National Hunt season. In the following year his early form was inconsistent but he then won the Great Yorkshire Chase before defeating a strong field in the Gold Cup. His subsequent form deteriorated and he was retired to become a hunter in England.

See You Then was an English bred racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle three times. He is one of only five horses to achieve this feat. His career over hurdles consisted of fifteen races, of which he won ten. He had suspect tendons throughout his career which made it difficult to keep him sound. His lack of racecourse appearances eventually earned him the nickname in some quarters of 'See You When'.

Penhill is a British-bred racehorse best known for his achievements in National Hunt racing. Racing on the flat in England he showed good form in handicap races, winning five times from eighteen starts. When transferred to Ireland to race over obstacles he was one of the best Novice Hurdlers of the 2016/2017 season, winning six races including the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, Guinness Novice Hurdle and Spa Novices' Hurdle. His subsequent career was disrupted by chronic injury problems but he recorded his biggest win in March 2018 when he won the Stayers' Hurdle.

References

  1. Mr. A. S. O'Brien (3 March 1952). "Sir Ken given vote". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 Ranger (3 March 1952). "Sir Ken for Champion Hurdle". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. The Ferret (26 February 1952). Dundee Courier http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19520223/085/0005 . Retrieved 27 February 2015.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Leslie Temlett (4 March 1952). "Trainer W. Stephenson pulls off remarkable big race double". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. J. M. KILBURN (5 March 1952). "Sir Ken a worthy champion". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  6. "Cheltenham Returns". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 5 March 1952. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. "Telegram II best bet in Champion Hurdle". Dundee Courier. 4 March 1952. Retrieved 27 February 2015.