The 1989 Champion Hurdle was a horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 14 March 1989. It was the 60th running of the Champion Hurdle.

60th Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Date14 March 1989
Winning horseBeech Road (GB)
JockeyRichard Guest
TrainerToby Balding
OwnerTony Geake
1990 →

The winner was Tony Geake's Beech Road, a seven-year-old chestnut gelding trained in Hampshire by Toby Balding and ridden by Richard Guest. Beech Road's victory was a first in the race for jockey, trainer and owner.

Beech Road had established himself as a useful handicap hurdler in his early career but failed to complete the course when tried over fences on two occasions in the early part of the 1988/1989 National Hunt season. He was switched back to hurdling and earned a place in the championship with a twenty length win in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell Racecourse in February. In the 1989 Champion Hurdle he started a 50/1 outsider and won by two lengths from Celtic Chief, with the 1988 winner Celtic Shot in third place. The 11/8 favourite Kribensis finished seventh. Twelve of the fifteen runners completed the course.[1]

Race details

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  • Sponsor: Waterford Crystal
  • Purse: £83,614; First prize: £50,206
  • Going: Good to Soft
  • Distance: 2 miles
  • Number of runners: 15
  • Winner's time: 4m 02.10

Full result

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Pos. Marg. Horse (bred) Age Jockey Trainer (Country) Odds
1 Beech Road (GB) 7 Richard Guest Toby Balding (GB) 50/1
2 2 Celtic Chief (GB) 6 Graham McCourt Mercy Rimell (GB) 6/1
3 1 Celtic Shot (GB) 7 Peter Scudamore Charlie Brooks (GB) 8/1
4 nk Floyd (GB) 9 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth (GB) 14/1
5 nk Vagador (CAN) 6 Mark Perrett Guy Harwood (GB) 20/1
6 1 Mole Board (GB) 7 Hywel Davies Jim Old (GB) 20/1
7 7 Kribensis (IRE) 5 Richard Dunwoody Michael Stoute (GB) 11/8 fav
8 10 Cloughtaney (GB) 8 Willie Mullins Paddy Mullins (IRE) 33/1
9 shd Chatam (USA) 5 Jonathon Lower Martin Pipe (GB) 14/1
10 Condor Pan 6 Tommy Carmody Jim Bolger (IRE) 16/1
11 Wishlon (USA) 6 Ian Shoemark Ron Smyth (GB) 40/1
12 Grey Salute (CAN) 6 Steve Smith Eccles John Jenkins (GB) 10/1
Fell Sprowston Boy (GB) 6 Dermot Browne Paul Kelleway (GB) 100/1
Fell Cashew King 6 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon (GB) 100/1
Fell Chesham Squire 5 Graham Bradley David Elsworth (GB) 66/1
  • Abbreviations: nse = nose; nk = neck; hd = head; dist = distance; UR = unseated rider; PU = pulled up; LFT = left at start; SU = slipped up; BD = brought down

Winner's details

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Further details of the winner, Beech Road

  • Sex: Gelding
  • Foaled: 8 April 1982
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Sire: Nearly A Hand; Dam: North Bovey (Flush Royal)
  • Owner: Tony Geake
  • Breeder: J. Tilling

References

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  1. ^ "Champion Hurdle result". Racing Post. 14 March 1989. Retrieved 2014-04-02.