The 2000 Champion Hurdle was a horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 14 March 2000. It was the 71st running of the Champion Hurdle.

71st Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Date14 March 2000
Winning horseIstabraq (IRE)
JockeyCharlie Swan
TrainerAidan O'Brien (IRE)
OwnerJ. P. McManus
← 1999
2002 →

The winner for the third consecutive year was J. P. McManus's Istabraq, an eight-year-old gelding trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Charlie Swan. Istabraq became the fifth horse to win three Champion Hurdles after Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War and See You Then.

Istabraq started the 8/15 favourite and won by four lengths from the French challenger Hors La Loi III, with Blue Royal a neck away in third. Apart from Istabraq, the only previous winner of the race to run was Make A Stand who finished last. Eleven of the twelve runners completed the course.[1]

Race details

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  • Sponsor: Smurfit
  • Purse: £250,000; First prize: £145,000
  • Going: Good
  • Distance: 2 miles 110 yards
  • Number of runners: 12
  • Winner's time: 3m 48.10

Full result

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Pos. Marg. Horse (bred) Age Jockey Trainer (Country) Odds
1 Istabraq (IRE) 8 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 8/15 fav
2 4 Hors La Loi III (FR) 5 Dean Gallagher François Doumen (FR) 11/1
3 nk Blue Royal (FR) 5 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson (GB) 16/1
4 ½ Ashley Park (IRE) 6 Timmy Murphy Mark Pitman (GB) 25/1
5 2 Stage Affair (USA) 6 Tony McCoy Dermot Weld (IRE) 9/1
6 4 Dato Star (IRE) 9 Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson (GB) 9/1
7 shd Katarino (FR) 5 Norman Williamson Nicky Henderson (GB) 25/1
8 Mr Percy (IRE) 9 Philip Hide Josh Gifford (GB) 66/1
9 19 Theatreworld (IRE) 8 Tommy Treacy Aidan O'Brien (IRE) 12/1
10 22 Alka International (GB) 8 Andrew Thornton Prue Townsley (GB) 200/1
11 10 Make A Stand (GB) 9 Richard Johnson Martin Pipe (GB) 33/1
PU Balla Sola (IRE) 5 Conor O'Dwyer Willie Mullins (IRE) 50/1
  • Abbreviations: nse = nose; nk = neck; hd = head; dist = distance; UR = unseated rider; PU = pulled up; LFT = left at start; SU = slipped up

Winner's details

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Further details of the winner, Istabraq

References

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  1. ^ "Champion Hurdle result". Racing Post. 14 March 2000. Retrieved 2014-03-22.