National Spirit Hurdle

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National Spirit Hurdle
2023
Owner Mrs Barbara Hester.svg Owner Mr S Munir.svg Owner Mr P J Vogt.svg
Brewin'upastormSceau RoyalKnappers Hill
Previous years
2022
Owner Mrs Vanessa J Stone.svg Owner Mrs Barbara Hester.svg Owner Graham And Alison Jelley.svg
Botox HasBrewin'upastormGuard Your Dreams
2021
Owner Mrs Barbara Hester.svg Owner Giraffa Racing.svg Owner West Mercia Fork Trucks Ltd.svg
Brewin'upastormMcfabulousMolly Ollys Wishes
2020-2011
2020
Owner Walters Plant Hire Ltd.svg Owner Mr Martin Broughton.svg Owner Mrs Diana Whateley.svg
William HenryQuel DestinThomas Darby
2019
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mr and Mrs Paul Rooney.svg Owner Mr John Davies (Stonehill).svg
Vision Des FlosIf The Cap FitsLil Rockerfeller
2018
Owner The Brooks, Kyle and Stewart Families.svg Owner Mr John Davies (Stonehill).svg Owner The Dons.svg
Old GuardLil RockerfellerAir Horse One
2017
Owner G L Porter.svg Owner Mr A J White.svg Owner Mr S Munir.svg
Camping GroundLe RocherL'Ami Serge
2016
Owner Mr John Davies (Stonehill).svg Owner Mr Nick Peacock.svg Owner Mr P J Vogt.svg
Lil RockerfellerUbakSan Benedeto
2015
Owner Mr J H Wall.svg Owner Dan Macdonald.svg Owner The Cheapskates.svg
KilcooleySilsolCannon Fodder
2014
Owner Mr L H and Mrs T Evans.svg Owner Atlantic Equine.svg Owner C Green and Galloping On The South Downs.svg
Kayf MossMeister EckhartChris Pea Green
2013
Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg Owner Atlantic Equine.svg Owner Mr Des Nichols and Mr Peter Hart.svg
Prospect WellsMeister EckhartDark Lover
2012
Owner Mr R G Tizzard.svg Owner Mr P M Claydon.svg Owner Sir Peter and Lady Gibbings.svg
Third IntentionTopolskiDuc De Regniere
2011
Owner The Stewart Family.svg Owner Mr Peter Harding and Mr Stephen Williams.svg Owner Mrs J K Buckle.svg
Celestial HaloTrenchantAfsoun
2010-2001
2010
Owner Mr Peter Harding and Mr Stephen Williams.svg Owner Mr John Timmons.svg Owner Mr Trevor Hemmings.svg
TrenchantSouffleurAfsoun
2009
Owner Mr W Frewen.svg Owner Mrs Angela Tincknell.svg Owner MR D B T HUGHES.svg
Lough DergPierrot LunaireHills of Aran
2008
Owner Mr W Frewen.svg Owner Mr Barry Winfield.svg Owner Michael Tabor.svg
Lough DergMy Way de SolzenRefinement
2007
Owner Mr R B Holt.svg Owner Michael Tabor.svg Owner Mr Peter Oppenheimer.svg
UnitedRefinementHereditary
2006
Owner Mr Barry Winfield.svg Owner Elite Racing Club.svg Owner Mr Ged Mason.svg
My Way de SolzenDancing BaySporazene
2005
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Professor D B A Silk.svg Owner The Stewart Family.svg
Blue CanyonCopelandLe Duc
2004
Owner Mr Ben Arbib.svg Owner M Benavides.svg Owner R Doel,A Black,Dr J Howells and D Broad.svg
StarzaanVic TotoBig Moment
2003
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner Mrs Angela Brodie.svg Owner Mr Neil Smith.svg
ClassifiedTelimar PrinceComex Flyer
2002
Owner P H Betts.svg Owner Lady Harris.svg Owner Mrs F Montauban.svg
RoubleStromnessJair Du Cochet
2001
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Mrs D Thompson.svg Owner R K Carvill.svg
BaracoudaSolo MioHulysse Royal
2000-1991
2000
Owner Oh So Bright Syndicate.svg Owner Mrs E J Williams.svg Owner J F Garrett.svg
Male-Ana-MouMaster BeveledCount Campioni
1999
Owner Mr D A Johnson.svg Owner F N Doyle.svg Owner Lady Clarke.svg
Lady CricketLord Of LoveToto Toscato
1998
Owner Mrs Elizabeth Kiernan.svg Owner Mr Michael H Watt.svg Owner Mrs Shirley Robins.svg
ShahrurDarakshanSerenus
1997
Owner Melplash Racing.svg Owner Tidmarsh Racing Club.svg Owner Ron Atkins.svg
St VilleRoger's PalRaahin
1996
Owner Peter Wiegand.svg Owner Mrs Laura Pegg.svg Owner David F Wilson.svg
MelnikFlight LieutenantBlazon Of Troy
1993
Owner Edward P Winfield.svg Owner Berkshire Commercial Components Ltd.svg Owner Mrs S R Crowe.svg
FlownKettiHighland Bounty
1992
Owner Lady Clarke.svg Owner Mrs S A Willis.svg Owner Mrs T Brown.svg
Honest WordProperoMajor Inquiry
1991
Owner Peter Redding.svg Owner Tony Geake.svg Owner Mrs J M Ryan.svg
Al AsoofBeech RoadSondrio
1990-1988
1990
Owner Mrs Amanda Perrett.svg Owner Tony Geake.svg Owner Mrs S A Willis.svg
VagadorBeech RoadPropero
1989
Owner Tony Geake.svg Owner Mrs Amanda Perrett.svg Owner J Bishop.svg
Beech RoadVagadorLittle Toro
1988
Owner Mrs Amanda Perrett.svg Owner N R J Wellington.svg Owner Robert W Dilley.svg
VagadorHigh KnowlJuven Light
 

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 3 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 33 yards or 3,852 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 Stayers' 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
1971Varma5David MouldM Masson
1972St Patrick's Blue7David MouldD Tatlow
1973Brantridge Farmer5Richard RowellAuriol Sinclair
1974Brantridge Farmer6 Terry Biddlecombe Fulke Walwyn
1975Bladon5R Kington Fred Winter
1976 Comedy of Errors 9John Burke Fred Rimell
1977 Comedy of Errors 10John Burke Fred Rimell
1978Kybo5 Bob Champion Josh Gifford
1979Bird's Nest9Andy TurnellBob Turnell
1980Snowtown Boy5 John Francome Fred Winter
1981Random Leg6 Bob Champion Josh Gifford
1982Mr Moonraker5P CarvillMiss S Morris
1983Abandoned because of frost
1984Cut A Dash5 John Francome Mrs N Smith
1985Abandoned because of frost
1986Abandoned because of frost
1987Corporal Clinger8 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
2008Lough Derg8 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2009Lough Derg9 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2010Trenchant5 Robert Thornton Alan King
2011 Celestial Halo 7 Harry Skelton Paul Nicholls
2012Third Intention5Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard
2013Prospect Wells8 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls
2014Kayf Moss6Rhys FlintJohn Flint
2015Kilcooley6 Noel Fehily Charlie Longsdon
2016Lil Rockerfeller5Trevor WhelanNeil King
2017Camping Ground7Joshua MooreGary Moore
2018Old Guard7Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2019Vision Des Flos6 Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard
2020William Henry10 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2021Brewin'upastorm8 Aidan Coleman Olly Murphy
2022Botox Has6Joshua MooreGary Moore
2023Brewin'upastorm10 Aidan Coleman Olly Murphy

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fontwell Park Racecourse</span>

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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

References