December Festival Hurdle

Last updated

Contents

Matheson Hurdle
2023
Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg Owner Barnane Stud Ltd.svg
State ManImpaire Et PasseEchoes In Rain
Previous years
2022
Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci green cap.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg
State ManVaubanSharjah
2021
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Noel Moran.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
SharjahZanahiyrSaint Roi
2020-2011
2020
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Robcour.svg Owner Noel Moran.svg
SharjahAspire TowerPetit Mouchoir
2019
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg Owner Mr C Jones.svg
SharjahPetit MouchoirCoeur Sublime
2018
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner A Potts.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud royal blue cap.svg
SharjahSupasundaeTombstone
2017
Owner George P Mahony.svg Owner Mrs M McMahon.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Mick JazzCilaos EmeryCampeador
2016
Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg Owner Mr John P McManus quartered cap.svg
Petit MouchoirNichols CanyonIvanovich Gorbatov
2015
Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Nichols CanyonIdentity ThiefPlinth
2014
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg
Hurricane FlyJezkiArctic Fire
2013
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Mr Barry Connell.svg
Hurricane FlyJezkiOur Conor
2012
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Moyglare Stud Farm.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg
Hurricane FlyUnaccompaniedThousand Stars
2011
Owner Moyglare Stud Farm.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg Owner Molley Malone Syndicate.svg
UnaccompaniedThousand StarsOscars Well
2010-2001
2010
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg Owner Magestic Syndicate.svg
Hurricane FlySolwhitLuska Lad
2009
Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg Owner Mr W Hennessy.svg Owner Mr Patrick Wilmott.svg
SolwhitSublimityJumbo Rio
2008
Owner Mr W Hennessy.svg Owner Mr Gerard Crehan.svg Owner Novices Syndicate.svg
SublimityWon In The DarkBrave Inca
2007
Owner Mr M A Ryan.svg Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg Owner R S T Syndicate.svg
Al EileHardy EustaceJazz Messenger
2006
Owner Novices Syndicate.svg Owner Mrs Pat Sloan.svg Owner Patrick Convery.svg
Brave IncaIktitafSilent Oscar
2005
Owner Novices Syndicate.svg Owner Mr D P Sharkey.svg Owner Mrs Mary T Hayes.svg
Brave IncaHarchibaldNewmill
2004
Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg Owner Novices Syndicate.svg Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg
Macs JoyBrave IncaHardy Eustace
2003
Owner P Johnson.svg Owner Mr D Thompson.svg Owner Martin Wesson Partners.svg
Golden CrossSpirit LeaderFlame Creek
2002
Owner Mrs N Flynn.svg Owner Robert Sinclair.svg Owner Mr D F Desmond.svg
Liss A PaoraighStage AffairTurtleback
2001
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner B B Horse Racing Club.svg Owner C P McGuinness.svg
IstabraqBust OutPenny Rich
2000-1991
2000
Owner Mr Brian Kearney.svg Owner Dr Michael Smurfit.svg Owner Sunrise Syndicate.svg
Moscow FlyerStage AffairMantles Prince
1999
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Herb M Stanley.svg Owner Crock Of Gold Syndicate.svg
IstabraqDerrymoyleGolden Rule
1998
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Mrs George Donohoe.svg Owner Miss Rita Shah.svg
IstabraqShantariniGazalani
1997
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner B Doyle.svg Owner Patrick F Kehoe.svg
IstabraqPunting PeteLady Daisy
1996
Owner Mrs John Magnier.svg Owner Mr P Garvey.svg Owner D Daly.svg
TheatreworldHill SocietyCockney Lad
1995
Owner Mr W Hennessy.svg Owner Demure Syndicate.svg Owner B Doyle.svg
KharasarSambaraPunting Pete
1994
Owner Hudson Valley Equine Inc.svg Owner G A Hoggard.svg Owner Mrs J M Ryan.svg
Boro EightTropical LakeMagic Feeling
1993
Owner Dr Michael Smurfit.svg Owner William Brennan.svg Owner Michael Tabor.svg
Fortune And FamePadashpanRoyal Derbi
1992
Owner Mrs Rita Polly.svg Owner Miss Catriona M Keating.svg Owner Armon Syndicate.svg
Novello AllegroMuir StationCrowded House
1991
Owner Mrs S Doyle.svg Owner UNKNOWN.svg Owner Foster and Allen Syndicate.svg
Galevilla ExpressClippie LadNancy Myles
1990-1988
1990
Owner Patrick F Kehoe.svg Owner Sean Corscadden.svg Owner T F Lacy.svg
GrabelJennycomequickWelsh Bard
1989
Owner Patrick F Kehoe.svg Owner Mr Paul Green.svg Owner W H O'Gorman.svg
GrabelElementaryWolf Of Badenoch
1988
Owner Patrick F Kehoe.svg Owner C Maye.svg Owner Mr Paul Green.svg
GrabelCloughtaneyLemhill
 

The December Festival Hurdle, currently known by its sponsored title of the Matheson Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Christmas Festival meeting in late December.

Prior to 2013 the race was named the Istabraq Festival Hurdle in honour of Istabraq, who won it four times. The race was run as the Ryanair Hurdle from 2013 to 2018 when Ryanair sponsored the race. [1] Matheson took over the sponsorship from the 2019 running. [2] Former titles of the event included the paddypower.com iPhone App Hurdle, Sean P. Graham Memorial Hurdle and the Bookmakers Hurdle. The race was first run in 1986, and it has held Grade 1 status since 2002. It is often used as a trial for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Four horses have won both races in the same season – Istabraq three times, Hurricane Fly twice and Brave Inca and State Man once each.

Records

Most successful horse (4 wins):

Most successful jockey (6 wins):

Most successful trainer (11 wins):

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1986 Derrymore Boy 4 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1987 Cloughtaney 6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1988 Grabel 5 Willie Mullins [lower-alpha 1] Paddy Mullins
1989 Grabel 6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1990 Grabel 7 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
1991 Galevilla Express 4 Colin Bowens Victor Bowens
1992 Novello Allegro 4 Charlie Swan Noel Meade
1993 Fortune and Fame 6 Brendan Sheridan Dermot Weld
1994 Boro Eight 8 Tommy Treacy Paddy Mullins
1995 Kharasar 5 Mark Dwyer Tony Mullins
1996 Theatreworld 4 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
1997 Istabraq 5 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
1998 Istabraq 6 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
1999 Istabraq 7 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
2000 Moscow Flyer 6 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2001 Istabraq 9 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
2002 Liss A Paoraigh 7 Barry Geraghty John Kiely
2003 Golden Cross 4 Adrian Lane Michael Halford
2004 Macs Joy 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2005 Brave Inca 7 Tony McCoy Colm Murphy
2006 Brave Inca 8 Ruby Walsh Colm Murphy
2007 Al Eile 7 Timmy Murphy John Queally
2008 Sublimity 8 Philip Carberry Robert Hennessy
2009 Solwhit 5 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes
2010 Hurricane Fly 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2011 Unaccompanied 4 Paul Townend Dermot Weld
2012 Hurricane Fly 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2013 Hurricane Fly 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 Hurricane Fly 10 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2015 Nichols Canyon 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2016Petit Mouchoir5 Bryan Cooper Henry de Bromhead
2017Mick Jazz6 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott
2018Sharjah5Patrick Mullins [lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2019Sharjah6Patrick Mullins [lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2020Sharjah7Patrick Mullins [lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2021Sharjah8Patrick Mullins [lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2022State Man5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2023State Man6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 amateur jockey

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Walsh</span> Irish jockey

Rupert "Ruby" Walsh is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of all time, Walsh is the third most prolific winner in British and Irish jump racing history behind only Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson.

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">Ted Walsh</span>

Ted Walsh is an Irish amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer who was born and raised in County Cork but based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Ted is also father to amateur Irish National Hunt jockey, Katie Walsh and professional national hunt jockey Ruby Walsh.

The Savills Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles, and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Christmas Festival meeting in late December.

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in February.

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.

The Morgiana Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.

The Galway Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Galway over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

The Liffey Handicap Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.

The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse at the end of December during the Christmas Festival, over a distance of about 2 miles and during its running there are 8 hurdles to be jumped.

The Mercedes-Benz South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown in December over a distance of about 2 miles and during the race there are eight flights of hurdles to be jumped.

The Istabraq Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Tipperary Racecourse over a distance of about 2 miles, and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.

The Christmas Hurdle is Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of 3 miles and during its running there are 12 flights of hurdles to be jumped.

<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.

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 Leopardstown E.B.F. Mares Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 2 miles and four furlongs and during its running there are 10 flights of hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Christmas Festival at the end of December.

<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.

Paul Townend is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Lisgoold in County Cork and rides primarily for the stable of Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He is a six-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey. He was champion in the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.

References

  1. Lamb, Jessica. "Leopardstown signs festival deal with Ryanair". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  2. "Leopardstown Adds New Sponsor to Christmas Festival". 3 December 2019.