Welsh Champion Hurdle

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Welsh Champion Hurdle
2023
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Previous years
2022
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2021
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2020-2011
2019
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2018
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2017
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2016
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2015
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2014
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2013
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2011
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2002–1995
2002
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2000
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1999
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1998
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1997
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1996
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1995
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The Welsh Champion Hurdle is a National Hunt Limited handicap hurdle race in Wales which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ffos Las over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres) and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

Contents

The race was first run in 1969 at Chepstow over 2 miles and continued there until 2002, holding Listed status during the 1980s. The race was usually run on Easter Monday and prior to the 1990s was usually contested by horses that had performed well in the Champion Hurdle. However field sizes were consistently small even in its heyday.

The standard of the race declined in the 1990s, and it was run as a handicap in 1993 and from 2000 until 2002. Unfortunately this change did not result in increased fields and the race was dropped from the calendar in 2003.

In 2010 the race was revived, as a Limited Handicap, scheduled to be run at Ffos Las in February, over 2 miles. However the race was lost to the weather.

The new race did take place in 2011, being won easily by Oscar Whisky, owned by track owner, Dai Walters. [1]

The distance was increased to a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs in 2013. The race was moved to a new date in mid-October in 2016 and reverted to 2 miles. [2]

Winners

YearWinnerAgeWeightJockeyTrainer
1969 Persian War 612-00Jimmy UttleyColin Davies
1970Frozen Alive410–12 Stan Mellor Harry Thomson Jones
1971 Bula 612-00Paul Kelleway Fred Winter
1972Canasta Lad611-08Jeff KingP Bailey
1973 Comedy of Errors 612-00Bill Smith Fred Rimell
1974Canasta Lad811-04Jeff KingP Bailey
1975Lanzarote711-04 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1976 Night Nurse 511-11 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby
1977 Night Nurse 611–12 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby
1978Abandoned because course waterlogged
1979 Monksfield 712-00 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh (Ir)
1980 Sea Pigeon 1012-00 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1981Pollardstown611-09 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor
1982Ekbalco611-09 Jonjo O'Neill Roger Fisher
1983Royal Vulcan511–13David GouldingNeville Callaghan
1984Ra Nova511-08Mark PerrettNan Kennedy
1985Browne's Gazette711–13Dermot BrowneMonica Dickinson
1986Abandoned because course waterlogged
1987High Knowl411-00Jonothon Lower Martin Pipe
1988Past Glories511-06Patrick Farrell Charles Elsey
1989Celtic Shot711-06 Peter Scudamore Charlie Brooks
1990Beech Road812-01Richard Guest Toby Balding
1991Wonder Man611-10Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman
1992Don Valentino711-10Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman
1993Dextra Dove610-04Simon Earle Philip Hobbs
1994 Abandoned due to waterlogging
1995Nemuro711-06Alan McCabe David Elsworth
1996Absalom's Lady811-09A Procter David Elsworth
1997Potentate611-06Jamie Evans Martin Pipe
1998Potentate711-10Jamie Evans Martin Pipe
1999Potentate811–12 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2000Mister Morose1011-10 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies
2001 Abandoned due to Foot and Mouth outbreak
2002Vol Solitaire410-00 Timmy Murphy Paul Nicholls
2003–2009 No Race
2010 Abandoned due to Snow and Frost
2011 Oscar Whisky 611-07 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2012 Abandoned due to Frost
2013Medinas610-10 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King
2014Saphir Du Rheu511-10Harry Derham Paul Nicholls
2015Silsol611-10Jack Sherwood Paul Nicholls
no race Feb 2016 [lower-alpha 1]
2016Garde La Victoire711-10 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2017 The New One 911-05Zac Baker [lower-alpha 2] Nigel Twiston-Davies
2018Silver Streak510-04Adam WedgeEvan Williams
2019Monsieur Lecoq510-05Chester WilliamsJane Williams
2020Sceau Royal811-06 Daryl Jacob Alan King
2021Glory And Fortune610-07Stan SheppardTom Lacey
2022Effernock Fizz710-07Sam EwingCian Michael Collins
2023Nemean Lion611-04Richard PatrickKerry Lee
2024Lump Sum611-06Dylan Johnston Sam Thomas
  1. The February 2016 race was abandoned because of waterlogging. [3]
  2. amateur jockey

See also

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References

  1. "Dai Walters' one-track mind points way forward for competitive racing". The Guardian. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. Scully, Mark. "Welsh Champion Hurdle moved to October slot". Racing Post . Retrieved 14 September 2016.[ dead link ]
  3. "Ffos Las: Welsh Champion trainers to be compensated". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2016.