- Contenders Hurdle
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The Contenders Hurdle is a Listed National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards (3,319 metres), 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 event was originally titled the Oteley Hurdle, and it was contested over a length of 2 miles (3,219 metres). Winners in the 1970s included Lanzarote and Sea Pigeon, and during the 1980s it was won by Desert Orchid and See You Then.
From the early 1990s until 2007 the race was sponsored by Agfa, and it was known as the Agfa Hurdle. In 1993 its distance was extended by 110 yards (about 100 metres) to the current length. It is presently sponsored by Tote Bookmakers, and in 2011 it was run as the Totesport 0800 221 221 Contenders Hurdle. The 2008 running was classed at Grade 2 level, but the event was reverted to its former Listed status in 2009. The race often serves as a trial for the Champion Hurdle, and the most recent horse to win both events in the same year is Binocular in 2010.
Winners since 1989
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1989 Aldino 6 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood no race 1990 [1] 1991 Voyage Sans Retour 6 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1992 Fidway 7 Peter Scudamore Tim Thomson Jones 1993 Mole Board 11 Carl Llewellyn Jim Old 1994 Muse 7 Paul Holley David Elsworth 1995 Land Afar 8 Graham McCourt John Webber 1996 Atours 8 Richard Dunwoody David Elsworth 1997 Double Symphony 9 Jamie Osborne Charlie Brooks 1998 Master Beveled 8 Tony McCoy David Evans 1999 Midnight Legend 8 Richard Johnson David Nicholson 2000 Auetaler 6 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2001 Teaatral 7 Norman Williamson Charles Egerton 2002 Bilboa 5 Thierry Doumen François Doumen 2003 Rooster Booster 9 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2004 Rhinestone Cowboy 8 Mr J. P. Magnier Jonjo O'Neill 2005 Self Defense 8 Robert Thornton Patrick Chamings 2006 Royal Shakespeare 7 Tom Scudamore Steve Gollings 2007 Detroit City 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2008 Afsoun 6 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2009 Celestial Halo 5 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 Binocular 6 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2011 Binocular 7 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 1 The 1990 running was abandoned because of waterlogging.
References
- pedigreequery.com – Contenders Hurdle – Sandown.
See also
Categories:- National Hunt races in Great Britain
- Sandown Park Racecourse
- National Hunt hurdle races
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