A total of 50 entries - 15 more than in 2005 - are revealed today for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which boasts £230,000 in prize money and is the feature event on The Festival’s penultimate day, Thursday, March 16.
Although last year’s winner Inglis Drever will be absent through injury, his stablemates No Refuge, Akilak and Royal Rosa are among those who could bid for the prestigious prize and provide trainer Howard Johnson with a strong back-up team.
The form of the Grade 1 totepsort Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27 is well represented by the winner My Way De Solzen, second-placed Neptune Collonges, Starzaan (3rd), Brewster (5th), Carlys Quest (6th) and Mistanoora (7th).
Mighty Man and The Market Man, who finished first and second in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, could reoppose while Martin Pipe has six entries - Classified, It Takes Time, Korelo, Lough Derg, Standin Obligation and Westender.
Rhinestone Cowboy is one of four Jonjo O’Neill-trained entries alongside the star novice hurdler Black Jack Ketchum, Exotic Dancer and Fire Dragon.
A strong international entry includes five French-trained performers - 2002 and 2003 winner Baracouda, his stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon as well as the Arnaud Chaille Chaille-trained duo Ambobo, one of last season’s top novices, and Sunspot.
There is a record 13-strong Irish-trained entry including Golden Cross, trained by Mick Halford, the brilliant mare Asian Maze, Strangely Brown, a Grade 1 winner in France for Eric McNamara, Rosaker, successful in the Grade 2 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, and the John Queally-trained Al Eile.
Mike Dillon, PR Director at Ladbrokes, said: “We’re thrilled with both the number and quality of the entries in this year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle. There’s obviously a sadness that the reigning champion is not able to defend his crown but it means that we have a very open and exciting race in prospect.”
Edward Gillespie, Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse, added: “Victory in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle ensured Inglis Drever success in last season’s inaugural British Horseracing Board Order of Merit and we have another high-quality race in prospect this year with 13 entries from Ireland and five from France along with a strong home team.”
Ladbrokes latest betting is: 4 Rhinestone Cowboy, 9/2 Baracouda, 5 No Refuge, 10 Asian Maze, Golden Cross, 14 My Way De Solzen, Royal Rosa, 16 Al Eile, Ambobo, Attorney General, Black Jack Ketchum, Mighty Man, Neptune Collonges, 20 Millenium Royal, Patriarch Express, The Market Man, 25 Blue Canyon, Standin Obligation, 33 Crystal D'Ainay, Emotional Moment, It Takes Time, Korelo, Lough Derg, Sunspot, 40 Classified, Essex, Rosaker, 50 Dancing Bay, Exotic Dancer, Fire Dragon, Lord Sam, Starzaan, Strangely Brown, Westender, 66 Akilak, Brewster, Holy Orders, It's Just Harry, Redemption, Royal Paradise, 100 Davenport Milenium, Mistanoora, My Will, Rooftop Protest, Tramantano, 150 Don't Be Bitin, Sh Boom, 200 Carlys Quest, 500 It's Wallace Jnr, The Joker
1. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is one of the youngest races at The Festival. Known as the Stayers’ Hurdle up to and including 2004, it was only introduced with its current race conditions in 1972. Before that, it was known as the Spa Hurdle.
2. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle has been run on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the meeting. It moved to its current Thursday slot in 1993.
3. Its first year of sponsorship was 1972, under the title of the Lloyds Bank Hurdle. There have been four sponsors of the race, Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990 and Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. 2005 was the first year of Ladbrokes’ sponsorship and prize money currently stands at £230,000, up £30,000 on last year.
4. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is a favourite with the Irish, who have won it nine times, most recently in 1995 with Dorans Pride. Baracouda provided a first success for France in 2002 and followed up again in 2003. In 2004, he was runner-up to Iris’s Gift and again last year to Inglis Drever.
5. The late Fulke Walwyn is the only trainer to have won it more than twice. The race was dominated in the mid-eighties by Crimson Embers, trained by Walwyn, and the winner in 1982 and 1986. Indeed, Crimson Embers would have been awarded the race in the stewards’ room in 1985 had his rider declined to give evidence to the enquiry afterwards, but the trainer won the race anyway with Rose Ravine. The owner, Pam Smart, was ambivalent about the result - she owned both horses!
6. Gaye Chance, the winner in 1984, was a full-brother to the 1983 Champion Hurdle winner Gaye Brief. Both horses were trained by Mercy Rimell.
7. No horse has managed to win both the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
8. A total of 10 favourites have been successful.
9. The smallest field to go to post was eight in 1973 while the largest was 22 in both 1985 and 1990.
10. There have been three dual winners - Crimson Embers (1982 & 1986), Galmoy (1987 & 1988) and Baracouda (2002 & 2003). No horse has won the race three times.
11. Tommy Carberry, Stuart Shilston, Tommy Carmody, Mark Perrett, Charlie Swan, Jamie Osborne and Thierry Doumen are the most successful jockeys, each recording two victories. No current jockey has won more than once.
12. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle forms part of the British Horseracing Board’s 63-race Order Of Merit competition and Inglis Drever, successful at Cheltenham last season, landed the £250,000 first prize.
THE LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE
Class 1, Grade One, £230,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 3.15pm, Thursday, March 16. For four-year-olds and upwards, three miles. Weights: 4yo: 11st 1lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 11, entries revealed January 17 (50 entries). Forfeit stage February 21, £11,500 supplementary entry stage March 11, five-day confirmation stage March 11, final declaration 10.00am, March 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 16.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
113-3U55 AKILAK (IRE) 5 ADA Partnership Howard Johnson
063301- AL EILE (IRE) 6 Michael Ryan John Queally IRE
111211- AMBOBO (USA) 6 Sean Mulryan Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FR
11211-1 ASIAN MAZE (IRE) 7 Mrs C A Moore Tom Mullins IRE
240-011 ATTORNEY GENERAL (IRE) 7 Wally Sturt Jim Old
12/112-2 BARACOUDA (FR) 11 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
11-111 BLACK JACK KETCHUM (IRE) 7 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
50110-2 BLUE CANYON (FR) 8 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
1232-55 BREWSTER (IRE) 9 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Ian Williams
0-1P0560 CARLYS QUEST 12 Ms L Neville Ferdy Murphy
41/2114//- CLASSIFIED (IRE) 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
1P3-4344 CRYSTAL D'AINAY (FR) 7 Tony Fisher & Jeni Fisher Alan King
2025-U3 DANCING BAY 9 Elite Racing Club Nicky Henderson
223350 DAVENPORT MILENIUM (IRE) 10 P M Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
20-5152 DON'T BE BITIN (IRE) 5 A Mulvey Eoin Griffin IRE
1P-0422 EMOTIONAL MOMENT (IRE) 9 Watercork Syndicate Tom Taaffe IRE
3110-25 ESSEX (IRE) 6 B P S Syndicate Michael O'Brien IRE
03-331F EXOTIC DANCER (FR) 6 Sir Robert Ogden Jonjo O'Neill
0-1P222 FIRE DRAGON (IRE) 5 Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill
3/3100/-2 GOLDEN CROSS (IRE) 7 P Johnson Mick Halford IRE
056/4-050 HOLY ORDERS (IRE) 9 A McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
1042-40 IT TAKES TIME (IRE) 12 David Johnson Martin Pipe
3//3/112-0 IT'S JUST HARRY 9 James Blackshaw Charles Egerton
1300/1-4 ITS WALLACE JNR 7 Michael Moriarty Sheena West
1256-463 KORELO (FR) 8 David Johnson Martin Pipe
1F3P-5P LORD SAM (IRE) 10 Plain Peeps Victor Dartnall
01-2F13 LOUGH DERG (FR) 6 W Frewen Martin Pipe
111-012 MIGHTY MAN (FR) 6 Joss Hanbury Henry Daly
31/-1116 MILLENIUM ROYAL (FR) 6 Jorg Vasicek Francois Doumen FR
420/12-0 MISTANOORA 7 A M J Duggan Nigel Twiston-Davies
5102-21 MY WAY DE SOLZEN (FR) 6 B Winfield, A Longman, J Wright & C Fenton Alan King
21-2023 MY WILL (FR) 6 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
F1-1412 NEPTUNE COLLONGES (FR) 5 John Hales Paul Nicholls
1211-1 NO REFUGE (IRE) 6 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
121F14- PATRIARCH EXPRESS 9 A W Muir Sue Smith
0-2F064 REDEMPTION 11 John Duggan & Michael Purtill Nigel Twiston-Davies
16131/1- RHINESTONE COWBOY (IRE) 10 Sue Magnier Jonjo O'Neill
151110 ROOFTOP PROTEST (IRE) 9 M G Byrne Tom Hogan IRE
P36-621 ROSAKER (USA) 9 High Street Ceathar Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
110-635 ROYAL PARADISE (FR) 6 Patrick Delaney Jnr Tom Foley IRE
2112/03- ROYAL ROSA (FR) 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
5P-P500 SH BOOM 8 T G K Construction Ltd Steve Brookshaw
11-111P STANDIN OBLIGATION (IRE) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
31054/-3 STARZAAN (IRE) 7 Ben Arbib Hughie Morrison
3-21003 STRANGELY BROWN (IRE) 5 We Didn't Name Him Syndicate Eric McNamara IRE
1111-13 SUNSPOT 6 Sean Mulryan Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FR
14/1101/-0 THE JOKER (IRE) 8 J Killen Joe Magee IRE
121-112 THE MARKET MAN (NZ) 6 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
521/-200 TRAMANTANO 7 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
4R-40P4 WESTENDER (FR) 10 Matt Archer & The Late Jean Broadhurst Martin Pipe
50 entries
13 Irish-trained
5 French-trained
Breakdown of Entries by Trainer with Past Successes in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle
6 Entries
Martin Pipe (1996 Cyborgo, 1994 Balasani)
4 Entries
Jonjo O’Neill (2004 Iris’s Gift)
3 Entries
Francois Doumen FR (2002 & 2003 Baracouda)
Howard Johnson (2005 Inglis Drever)
Nigel Twiston-Davies
2 Entries
Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FR
Nicky Henderson (2000 Bacchanal, 1989 Rustle)
Alan King
Willie Mullins IRE
Paul Nicholls
1 Entry
Steve Brookshaw
Henry Daly
Victor Dartnall
Charlie Egerton
Tom Foley IRE
Eoin Griffin IRE
Michael Halford IRE
Tom Hogan IRE
Joe Magee IRE
Eric McNamara IRE
Noel Meade IRE
Hughie Morrison
Tom Mullins IRE
Ferdy Murphy
Michael O’Brien IRE
Jim Old
John Queally IRE
Sue Smith
Tom Taaffe IRE
Ian Williams
Sheena West
HORSES ENTERED IN BOTH THE SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE
AND THE LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE
Al Eile
Ambobo
Asian Maze
Essex
Golden Cross
Sh Boom
Sunspot
Ladbrokes World Hurdle - Analysis
The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is the feature championship event on Thursday, March 16, at The Festival and brings together the best three-mile hurdlers in Europe for what is always a fascinating contest. This season’s 50-strong entry is 15 more than in 2005 and is the biggest since 2001 when 56 were entered for the Grade One contest.
With last season’s victor Inglis Drever sidelined through injury, Baracouda heads an entry packed with seasoned championship contenders and exciting young pretenders.
Baracouda proved himself one of the greatest three-mile hurdlers of all time with victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in 2002 and 2003. Francois Doumen’s 11-year-old finished runner-up the past two seasons and could bid to become the first three-time winner of the race.
The Frenchman has also entered Blue Canyon and the hugely exciting Millenium Royal, winner of a Grade One hurdle at Auteuil on November 5.
Last year’s successful trainer Howard Johnson also has three entries, chief among them being last season’s Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle winner No Refuge who held Blue Canyon in second at Windsor in November. The County Durham trainer could also field the classy Royal Rosa, who has been off the track since February 2005, and Akilak who failed to fire in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton behind Feathard Lady last time.
Martin Pipe has won the prestigious contest twice with Balasani in 1994 and Cyborgo two years later and the champion trainer has the strongest entry numerically with six. Westender, second to Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle, finished fourth to Inglis Drever in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle last year. He filled the same position behind The French Furze at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
The Pipe contingent also includes the veteran It Takes Time, and 2003 Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle winner Classified, who has been off the course since finishing fourth to Baracouda in that year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Lough Derg, Korelo and Standin Obligation, a winner at The Open in November but below-par when pulled-up at Haydock later that month, complete the Pipe sextet.
Pipe, Doumen and Nicky Henderson are the only trainers who could match Fulke Walwyn’s record of three wins in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, should they saddle successful horse this term. Henderson, who trained Rustle to success in 1989 and Bacchanal in 2000, has entered classy dual-purpose performer Dancing Bay, and The Market Man.
Irish runners have won the race on nine occasions, most recently in 1995 when Doran’s Pride scored for Michael Hourigan. This year there is a 13-strong entry from the Emerald Isle including the John Queally-trained Al Eile. The six-year-old ran a fine seventh in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle last season and then defeated Inglis Drever over two and a half miles in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle three weeks later.
Asian Maze won the Grade One John Smith’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last April. Tom Mullins’ classy mare then posted an impressive performance on her latest start when capturing the Menolly Homes Champion Novices Hurdle at Punchestown later that month. She has also been entered for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
Rosaker took Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle last time, defeating Emotional Moment and Strangley Brown, who was a Grade One Hurdle winner at Auteuil in June, while Holy Orders was last of the five runners.
Essex, winner of last season’s Pierse Hurdle and totesport Trophy, could take his chance. The six-year-old ran second to Brave Inca in the Morgiana Hurdle in November before a disappointing effort behind the same rival in the December Festival Hurdle.
Golden Cross won his first two races back after a lengthy lay-off and then went down by a short head to Solerina in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at the beginning of December. Last season’s classy novice Royal Paradise finished last of six that day while Don’t Be Bitin, Rooftop Protest, The Joker and Davenport Milenium complete the Irish entry.
Jonjo O’Neill trained Iris’s Gift to a thrilling victory over Baracouda in 2004 and the Jackdaws Castle trainer could be four-handed this time.
Rhinestone Cowboy is the proven performer in O’Neill’s quartet but has been off the course since a scintillating victory over stablemate Iris’s Gift in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in April, 2004. That success followed a brilliant defeat of Rooster Booster in the Aintree Hurdle.
The unbeaten Black Jack Ketchum is one of the season’s leading staying novices and won the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle over the course and distance in December. Fire Dragon and Exotic Dancer could also line up for O’Neill.
Alan King was assistant trainer to David Nicholson when the latter saddled Anzum to land the 1999 renewal. King has entered Crystal D’Ainay, who was third in this race in 2004 but pulled-up last term, along with My Way De Solzen, who defeated Inglis Drever in the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow last time.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges was second in the Long Walk Hurdle and the Ditcheat handler also has My Will engaged.
Arnaud Chaille-Chaille has entered two, giving the French a five-strong entry. Ambobo defeated a classy field of novices at Cheltenham a year ago in the Grade Two Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices’ Hurdle but hasn’t raced since, while Sunspot was third to Millenium Royal in Grade One company at Auteuil last time. Both are also in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle
Brewster was a model of consistency last season. He was second to Ambobo that January and then ran third behind Moulin Riche in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival. The nine-year-old has disappointed in two starts this term.
Mighty Man went through last season’s novice campaign unbeaten. Henry Daly’s six-year-old defeated The Market Man at Cheltenham in December and returned to the course in January when he was beaten a head by The French Furze.
Nigel Twiston-Davies could have three runners - Redemption, Mistanoora and Tramantano, who was well-held behind Jim Old’s Attorney General in a three-mile handicap at the course on New Year’s Day, as was Sh Boom.
Patriarch Express landed the 2005 Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle but has not raced since running fourth to Crystal D’Ainay in the Rendlesham Hurdle in February, while Starzaan returned from an absence of 20 months to finish third in the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow last time.
It’s Just Harry ran second to Marcel in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle in 2005 but was disappointing on his sole start this season, while It’s Wallace Jnr will have to step up on his handicap form to be competitive.
Lord Sam was a top-class novice hurdler in 2003 who has been running over fences while the 12-year-old Carly’s Quest won last season’s Grade One Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown but has not fired this season.
LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR
(Ladbrokes World Hurdle from 2005, bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle 2004, Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle 1991-2003, Waterford Crystal Stayers’ Hurdle 1978-90, Lloyds Bank Hurdle 1972-77)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2005 Inglis Drever 6-11-10 Graham Lee Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie 5/1 12
2004 Iris’s Gift 7-11-10 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O’Neill Robert Lester 9/2 10
2003 Baracouda 8-11-10 Thierry Doumen Francois Doumen FR J P McManus 9/4JF 11
2002 Baracouda 7-11-10 Thierry Doumen Francois Doumen FR J P McManus 13/8F 16
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Bacchanal 6-11-10 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Lady Lloyd-Webber 11/2 10
1999 Anzum 8-11-10 Richard Johnson David Nicholson Old Foresters Partnership 40/1 12
1998 Princeful 7-11-10 Rodney Farrant Jenny Pitman Robert Hitchins 16/1 9
1997 Karshi 7-11-10 Jamie Osborne Henrietta Knight Lord Vestey 20/1 17
1996 Cyborgo 6-11-10 David Bridgwater Martin Pipe County Stores (Somerset) Holdings 8/1 19
1995 Dorans Pride 6-11-10 Shane Broderick Michael Hourigan IRE Tom Doran 11/4F 11
1994 Balasani 8-11-10 Mark Perrett Martin Pipe Mark Smith 9/2JF 14
1993 Shuil Ar Aghaidh7-11-05 Charlie Swan Paddy Kiely IRE Mrs Paddy Kiely 20/1 12
1992 Nomadic Way 7-11-10 Jamie Osborne Barry Hills Robert Sangster 15/2 17
1991 King’s Curate 7-11-10 Mark Perrett Stan Mellor C J Ells 5/2F 15
1990 Trapper John 6-11-10 Charlie Swan Mouse Morris IRE Jill Fanning 15/2 22
1989 Rustle 7-11-10 Michael Bowlby Nicky Henderson Robert Waley-Cohen 4/1 21
1988 Galmoy 9-11-10 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern IRE Miss D Threadwell 2/1F 16
1987 Galmoy 8-11-10 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern IRE Miss D Threadwell 9/2 14
1986 Crimson Embers 11-11-10 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn Pam Smart 12/1 19
1985 Rose Ravine 6-11-05 Ricky Pusey Fulke Walwyn Pam Smart 5/1F 22
1984 Gaye Chance 9-11-10 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell Mary Curtis 5/1 14
1983 A Kinsman 7-11-12 Geordie Dun John Brockbank Mrs John Brockbank 50/1 21
1982 Crimson Embers 7-11-12 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn Sally Smart 2/1F 11
1981 Derring Rose 6-11-12 John Francome Fred Winter Peter Savill 3/1 14
1980 Mountrivers 6-11-12 Tommy Ryan Edward O’Grady IRE B Burser 7/1 19
1979 Lighter 6-11-12 Philip Blacker John Edwards G Smith 14/1 14
1978 Flame Gun 6-11-12 Mr Niall Madden Edward O’Grady IRE Mary Kenny 14/1 13
1977 Town Ship 6-11-12 Tommy Carberry Peter Easterby Pat Muldoon 5/2 11
1976 Bit Of A Jig 8-11-12 Dessie Hughes Mick O’Toole IRE Mrs Mick O’Toole 2/1F 12
1975 Brown Lad 9-11-12 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper IRE Mrs Peter Burrell 7/4F 12
1974 Highland Abbe 8-11-12 Richard Smith Les Kennard Mrs K Hankey 15/2 15
1973 Moyne Royal 8-11-12 David Mould Arthur Pitt E Cook 10/1 8
1972 Parlour Moor 8-11-12 Macer Gifford Tom Jones Miss Charlotte Monkton 13/2 11
1) INGLIS DREVER (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Howard Johnson 6-11-10 Graham Lee 5/1
2) BARACOUDA (J P McManus) Francois Doumen FR 10-11-10 Tony McCoy 6/5 Fav
3) RULE SUPREME (John Fallon) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-10 David Casey 4/1
4) WESTENDER (Matt Archer & the late Jean Broadhurst) Martin Pipe b9-11-10 Tom Scudamore 33/1
5) KORELO (David Johnson) Martin Pipe 7-11-10 Timmy Murphy 14/1
6) YOGI (Patrick Delaney Jnr) Tom Foley IRE 9-11-10 Richard Johnson 200/1
7) EXOTIC DANCER (Sir Robert Ogden) Jonjo O'Neill p1 5-11-10 Paul Carberry 150/1
8) THE FRENCH FURZE (Jim Ennis, P McMahonj) Nicky Richards 11-11-10 Brian Harding 250/1
PU) SH BOOM (T G K Construction Ltd) Jonjo O'Neill 7-11-10 Mick Fitzgerald 22/1
PU) CRYSTAL D'AINAY (Tony & Jeni Fisher) Alan King b1 6-11-10 Robert Thornton 10/1
PU) KNIFE EDGE (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill b1 10-11-10 Conor O'Dwyer 200/1
PU) EMOTIONAL MOMENT (Watercork Syndicate) Tom Taaffe IRE 8-11-10 Barry Geraghty 16/1
12 ran
Breeder: Bobby McAlpine & David Pickering Breeding: b g In The Wings - Cormorant Creek (Gorytus)
Dist: 3, 0.75, 2, 7, 1, 1.5, 2.5
Totes Win: £5.60 Places: £1.80; £1.20; £1.70 Exacta: £12.20
Winning Trainer: Howard Johnson Based: White Lea Farm, Crook, County Durham Born: August 11, 1953, Barnard Castle Date of First Licence: 7th July 1986 Previous occupation: worked for Arthur Stephenson, Roy Johnson Wins (1988/9-2003/04): 14,14,10,21,19,32,32,35,23,27,18,19,13,15, 33, 41 Number of horses in training (1990-2004): 40, 32, 33, 55, 63, 70, 47, 53, 56, 51, 46, 48, 40, 36, 78 Cheltenham Festival Wins (4): National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase (1993 Ushers Island), Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2005 Arcalis), Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle (2005 No Refuge), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2005 Inglis Drever) Other major wins: Lonesome Glory Hurdle (1993 Dance Of Words), Dipper Novices’ Chase (1995 Morceli), Tingle Creek Chase (1998 Direct Route), Charlie Hall Chase (2003 Ballybough Rasher, 2004 Grey Abbey), Scottish National (2004 Grey Abbey), Pillar Property Chase (2005 Grey Abbey), Maghull Novices’ Chase (1995 Morceli, 1998 Direct Route), Red Rum Chase (1997 Down The Fell), Topham Chase (1996 Joe White), Melling Chase (1999 and 2000 Direct Route) Wins This Season: 62 Third win of The Festival 2005
Winning Jockey: Graham Lee Born: December 16, 1975 Background: Irish pony-racing circuit, left school at 15 to join handler Noel Meade. Five rides for Meade then joined Dessie McDonogh in County Meath. Ger Lyons t hen obtained Lee a position with Mary Reveley when he was 17. Began riding out for Bill Haigh, before joining Malcolm Jefferson. He is now stable jockey to Howard Johnson, for whom he rode 35 winners in 2003/4. Number of Wins (1993/94-2003/04): 6; 20; 11; 16; 21; 24; 28; 25; 58; 66; 94 First Winner: Navan, November 7, 1992, Blushing Pearl Cheltenham Festival Wins (3): Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2005 Arcalis), Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle (2005 No Refuge), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2005 Inglis Drever) Big Race Wins: Winter Novices’ Hurdle (2003 Inglis Drever); Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (2004 Inglis Drever); totesport Classic Chase (2004 Southern Star); Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (2004 Royal Rosa); Charlie Hall Chase (2003 Ballybough Rasher; 2004 Grey Abbey); Scottish National (2004 Grey Abbey) John Smith’s Grand National (2004 Amberleigh House) Wins This Season: 85 Third win of The Festival 2005
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