Contenders Hurdle
2022
White, red stripe, diabolo on sleeves Red, black diamond, red sleeves, yellow diamonds, black cap, red diamonds Pink, mauve star, mauve sleeves, pink stars and cap
Goshen Guard Your Dreams Global Citizen
2020-2011
2020
Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap
Quel Destin Call Me Lord Eldorado Allen
2019
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap
Buveur D'Air Vision Des Flos Roksana
2018
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Dark blue and white diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Orange, pink hoops, orange cap
Buveur D'Air John Constable Cap'n
2017
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, halved sleeves Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap
Buveur D'air Rayvin Black Irving
2016
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Emerald green, yellow hoops, halved sleeves Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Connetable Rayvin Black Peace And Co
2015
Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Garde La Victoire Jollyallan Bristol De Mai
2013
Dark green, white cross belts, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap Dark blue, white chevron, white and dark blue striped sleeves Green, yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, hooped cap
Rock On Ruby Countrywide Flame Clerk's Choice
2011
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Dark green, dark green and white diabolo on sleeves
Binocular Ruthenoise Siberian Tiger
2010-2001
2010
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Light blue, white chevrons, white sleeves, light blue armlets, light blue and white striped cap Maroon and white diabolo, white and maroon chevrons on sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Binocular Dee Ee Williams Marodima
2009
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Light blue, royal blue hoop, armlets and cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap
Celestial Halo Osana Afsoun
2008
Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap White, Red stars, Red and White hooped sleeves
Afsoun Straw Bear Osako D'airy
2007
Yellow, black chevron, check cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Light Blue, Pink chevrons, Light Blue sleeves, Light Blue cap, Pink star
Detroit City Straw Bear Whispered Promises
2006
White, red stars, red and white hooped sleeves, white cap, red stars Black and Red (quartered), Red sleeves, Black armlets, White cap Black, yellow disc, halved sleeves, black and yellow quartered cap
Royal Shakespeare Alph Mister McGoldrick
2005
Orange, Dark Blue sash, diabolo on sleeves, Orange cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Self Defense Rooster Booster Chivalry
2004
Dark blue Emerald green and red diabolo, white sleeves, emerald green diamonds, white cap, red diamond Black and White diamonds, diabolo on sleeves
Rhinestone Cowboy Garde Champetre Teaatral
2003
Yellow, black chevron, check cap Orange, Dark Blue sash, diabolo on sleeves, Orange cap Yellow, Orange and Yellow hooped cap
Rooster Booster Self Defense Telimar Prince
2002
Maroon and royal blue chevrons, maroon sleeves, dark blue cap Emerald green and maroon (quartered), halved sleeves, emerald green cap Black and White diamonds, diabolo on sleeves
Bilboa Rodock Teaatral
2001
Black and White diamonds, diabolo on sleeves Dark blue, pink sleeves, checked cap Emerald Green, Yellow stripe, Yellow cap
Teaatral Bounce Back Geos
2000-1991
2000
Red, white sleeves, red spots, white cap, red spots Beige, Black hollow box and armlets, quartered cap Blue, pink star and stars on sleeves, pink cap, blue star
Auetaler Mr Percy Master Beveled
1999
Black and white stripes, emerald green and white striped sleeves Blue, pink star and stars on sleeves, pink cap, blue star Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star
Midnight Legend Master Beveled Juyush
1998
Blue, pink star and stars on sleeves, pink cap, blue star Dark blue, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap, yellow diamonds Royal Blue, Yellow striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Yellow star
Master Beveled Shadow Leader Marello
1997
Black, Red chevron, sleeves and cap Purple, yellow sash, halved sleeves, black cap, yellow spots Yellow, blue triple diamond and diamonds on sleeves, yellow cap, blue diamond
Double Symphony Chief's Song Ground Nut
1996
Yellow, blue stripe and sleeves Beige, brown spots, pink sleeves, brown cap Light blue, red stars on body
Atours Land Afar Telasco
1995
Beige, brown spots, pink sleeves, brown cap Dark blue, yellow star and sleeves, yellow star on cap Blue, pink sash, pink cap, blue spots
Land Afar Absalom's Lady Bokaro
1994
Yellow, large blue spots Royal blue, red stars, sleeves and star on cap Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star
Muse Valfinet Mole Board
1993
Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star Royal blue, red stars, sleeves and star on cap Black, dark blue seams, black sleeves, yellow cap
Mole Board Valfinet Ruling
1992
Black, white stars, red sleeves and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap
Fidway Oh So Risky Forest Sun
1991
Grey and red (quartered), red sleeves, grey seams Black, white stars, red sleeves and cap dark blue, pink sash, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap with pink spots
Voyage Sans Retour Fidway Major Inquiry
1990-1988
1989
Eton blue, black sleeves, check cap Yellow, dark blue spots, dark blue sleeves, yellow spots, yellow cap Mauve, mauve and white halved sleeves
Aldino Yaheeb Chesham Squire
1988
Grey and pink (halved), reversed sleeves, striped cap Pink, silver sleeves, mauve and pink hooped cap Light blue, dark blue spots, striped cap
Celtic Chief Celtic Shot Pat's Jester
 

The Contenders Hurdle was a Listed National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which was open to horses aged four years or older. It was run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlongs and 216 yards, or 3,319 metres), and during its running there were eight hurdles to be jumped. The race took place each year in late January or early February.

The race was first run in 1949 and 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 was most recently sponsored by Betfred. The 2008 running was classed at Grade 2 level, but the event was reverted to its former Listed status in 2009. Prior to 2010 it was open to horses aged five and over. The race often served as a trial for the Champion Hurdle, and the last horse to win both events in the same year was Buveur d'Air in 2017 and 2018.

The race was discontinued in 2023. Nicky Henderson who had won six of the last twelve runnings lamented the fact that it would be no longer an option for preparing his intended Champion Hurdle candidates saying "I had my favourite race at Sandown, it was worth nothing, but was perfect timing - but not surprisingly, it only had three or four runners (every year) and they've done away with it."[1] In April 2023 the British Horseracing Authority confirmed that the race had been removed from the jumps pattern programme in the 2022–23 season.[2]

Winners

edit
  • Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1949 National Spirit 8 Bryan Marshall Vic Smyth
1950 National Spirit 9 D Dillon Vic Smyth
1951Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1952 Telegram II 5 Dave Dick Fulke Walwyn
1953Abandoned because of snow
1954 Fastnet Rock 7 A Freeman C Jellis
1955Abandoned because of snow
1956Abandoned because of frost
1957 Vermillion 9 Fred Winter Ryan Price
1958 Retour de Flamme 5 Jimmy Lindley S Warren
1959 Fare Time 6 Fred Winter Ryan Price
1960 Fare Time 7 Fred Winter Ryan Price
1961 Eborneezer 6 Fred Winter Ryan Price
1962 Snuff Box 5 J Gilbert John Benstead
1963Abandoned because of snow and frost
1964 Kirriemuir 4 David Mould Fulke Walwyn
1965 Magic Court 7 P McCarron T Robson
1966Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1967 Chenonceaux 6 D Briscoe Ken Cundell
1968 Into View 5 E P Harty Fred Winter
1969Abandoned because of snow
1970 Major Rose 8 Josh Gifford Ryan Price
1971 Major Rose 9 Paul Kelleway Ryan Price
1972 Phaestus 6 Ken White Fred Rimell
1973 Lanzarote 5 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1974 Lanzarote 6 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1975Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1976 Sea Pigeon 6 Jonjo O'Neill Gordon W. Richards
1977 Bird's Nest 7 Andy Turnell Bob Turnell
1978 Sea Pigeon 8 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1979Abandoned because of frost
1980 Pollardstown 5 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor
1981 Celtic Ryde 6 John Francome Peter Cundell
1982 Heighlin[1] 6 Steve Jobar David Elsworth
1983 Cima 5 Sam Morshead Jim Old
1984 Sula Bula 6 Mr Tim Easterby Peter Easterby
1985 Desert Orchid 6 Colin Brown David Elsworth
1986 See You Then 6 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson
1987 Prideaux Boy 9 Michael Bowlby Graham Roach
1988 Celtic Chief 5 Richard Dunwoody Mercy Rimell
1989 Aldino 6 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood
1990 no race 1990 [2]
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
2012 no race 2012 [3]
2013 Rock On Ruby[4] 8 Noel Fehily Harry Fry
2014 no race 2014 [5]
2015 Garde La Victoire 6 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2016 Connetable 4 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2017 Buveur d'Air 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2018 Buveur d'Air 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2019 Buveur d'Air 8 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2020 Quel Destin 5 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2012 no race 2021 [6]
2022 Goshen 6 Jamie Moore Gary Moore

1 The 1982 race was run at Kempton.
2 The 1990 running was abandoned because of waterlogging.
3 The 2012 running was abandoned due to frost.
4 The 2013 race was run at Doncaster after the original meeting at Sandown became chase only due to the waterlogged state of the hurdle course[3]
5 The 2014 running was abandoned due to going conditions.[4]
6 The 2021 running was abandoned due to waterlogging and the meeting featured an all chase card instead.[5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kempton could be Constitution Hill's last run before Cheltenham". Irish Examiner. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Package of changes agreed to help strengthen performance of British Jump racing". British Horseracing Authority. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Champion Hurdle trial rerouted to Doncaster as the weather beats Sandown's Saturday hurdles card". racingbetter.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Sandown switch to chase card". www.attheraces.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Hurdle races abandoned at Sandown". www.racingtv.com. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2023.