For the first time ever this year, Irish-trained horses make up more than half of those engaged in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, for which the 2007 entries are revealed today.
No less than 17 of the 28 entries are trained in Ireland, including the first three horses home in 2006 - Brave Inca, Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace. Brave Inca appears as good as ever with victories in Grade One events at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown on his last two starts. Macs Joy has not run since reversing the placings with Brave Inca at Punchestown in April while Hardy E Tustace, successful in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in both 2004 and 2005, bids for a rare third victory.
Trainer Noel Meade holds a strong hand in this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, worth a record £360,000 and run on Tuesday, March 13. The Co Meath handler is responsible for Harchibald, runner-up to Hardy Eustace in 2005, Stan James Christmas Hurdle victor Jazz Messenger, the very smart Iktitaf, second behind Brave Inca in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, and Sweet Wake.
Other contenders from Ireland include the brilliant mare Asian Maze, the Grade One-winning novice Hide The Evidence, last season’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Newmill and Feathard Lady, who is unbeaten in seven starts but has not been seen out since winning the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown in December, 2005.
But it is a British-trained horse who currently heads the betting. The Philip Hobbs-trained Detroit City, winner of the 2006 JCB Triumph Hurdle, has won both his starts impressively at Cheltenham this year, first defying top-weight with an authoritative display in the Greatwood Hurdle at The Open on November 12 and then taking the Boylesports.com International by a length from Hardy Eustace on December 9. If he were to land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, he would collect a £200,000 bonus, generously provided by Boylesports.
Acambo, Noble Request, 2006 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle winner Desert Quest and Straw Bear are among the remainder of the British-trained entries.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, commented: “It is a golden era for hurdling and the 2007 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle entries are bursting with quality. We have seen Irish-trained 1-2-3s for the past two years but the 2006 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Detroit City has emerged as a live contender to keep the title at home for the first time since 2003, when Rooster Booster scored for the same connections.”
1. The Champion Hurdle was inaugurated in 1927, with a value to the winner of £365. The race was abandoned in 1931 due to persistent frost, in 1943 and 1944 because of the Second World War, and in 2001 because of foot and mouth disease.
2. There have only been two sponsors of this great race since its inception. This statistic conceals a dramatic turn of events in 1990, when a major banking group, whose intended sponsorship was to raise the added value of the race by 66 per cent to £120,000, withdrew before its first running. The Smurfit Group stepped in at that point and has remained a loyal sponsor ever since. In 2007, the race will have total prize money of £360,000, up from £340,000 in 2006. Kappa was added to the title in 2006 to reflect the company’s new corporate identity.
3. The largest field has been 24 (1964 and 1991) and the smallest three (1932). The first five runnings of the race saw a total of only 24 runners between them.
4. The Champion Hurdle is a contest for multiple winners. Peter Easterby won the race most often as a trainer, with five victories from three horses, Saucy Kit (1967), Night Nurse (1976 and 1977) and Sea Pigeon (1980 and 1981). Vic Smyth and Fred Winter both had four wins, and a further five trainers have captured the hurdling crown on three occasions.
5. Among jockeys, Tim Molony won the race most often with four victories, on Hatton's Grace (1951) and Sir Ken (1952, 1953 & 1954). Fred Winter, Jimmy Uttley, Steve Smith Eccles and most recently Charlie Swan were each successful three times.
6. The most successful owner is still Dorothy Paget, who won the race four times thanks to Insurance (1932, 1933), Solford (1940) and Distel (1946).
7. Istabraq, successful in the three Champion Hurdles from 1998 to 2000, was retired after failing to become the first horse to win the race four times in 2002. The four other three-time winners are Hatton’s Grace (1949-51), Sir Ken (1952-54), Persian War (1968-70) and See You Then (1985-87).
8. The race has been won seven times by entires, but only twice by mares - Dawn Run (1984) and Flakey Dove (1994).
9. Four greys have won, the most recent being Rooster Booster in 2003. The others were Kribensis in 1990, Victor Norman in 1936, and Our Hope in 1938. Only one roan horse has won the Champion Hurdle, Anzio in 1962.
10. Istabraq’s success in 2000 in a time of 3 minutes 48.1 seconds beat the previous Champion Hurdle record time, set by Make A Stand in 1997, of 3 minutes 48.4 seconds.
11. Dessie Hughes, who trained Hardy Eustace to win in 2004 and 2005, is only the fourth person to have both ridden and trained a Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner, having partnered Monksfield in 1979. The others to have achieved this double are Fred Winter, Fred Rimell and Gerry Wilson.
THE SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE
Class 1, Grade One, £360,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 3.15pm, Tuesday, March 13. For four-year-olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the senior BHB Jump Handicapper following a review of the horses entered and taking account of races run up to and including March 6 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 6 would merit a minimum rating of 130 - the decision of the Senior BHB Jump Handicapper shall be final), two miles & half a furlong. Weights: 4yo: 11st 2lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 10, entries revealed January 15 (28 entries). Forfeit stage February 20, £18,000 supplementary entry stage March 7, six-day confirmation stage March 7, final declaration 10.00am, March 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Friday, January 12.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
1350-11 ACAMBO (GER) 6 David Johnson David Pipe
1153-1F AFSOUN (FR) 5 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
146-054 AL EILE (IRE) 7 Michael Ryan John Queally IRE
P505-44 ARCALIS 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
F11-024 ASIAN MAZE (IRE) 8 Sheila Moore Tom Mullins IRE
112-311 BRAVE INCA (IRE) 9 Novices Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE
102222 BREATHING FIRE 5 Howard Spooner Jessica Harrington IRE
10-1203 DESERT QUEST (IRE) 7 Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls
1111-11 DETROIT CITY (USA) 5 Terry Warner Philip Hobbs
111/111- FEATHARD LADY (IRE) 7 Lord Of The Ring Syndicate Colm Murphy IRE
21312-4 HARCHIBALD (FR) 8 Des Sharkey Noel Meade IRE
0323-12 HARDY EUSTACE (IRE) 10 Lar Byrne Dessie Hughes IRE
021111 HIDE THE EVIDENCE (IRE) 6 Maynard Hamilton Jessica Harrington IRE
21-1112 IKTITAF (IRE) 6 Pat Sloan Noel Meade IRE
033-311 JAZZ MESSENGER (FR) 7 R S T Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
04-2426 KAWAGINO (IRE) 7 K J Pike Seamus Mullins
542121- MACS JOY (IRE) 8 Mac's J Racing Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE
021536 MARBLE GARDEN (USA) 6 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard FR
10F-041 MISTER HIGHT (FR) 5 Peter Garvey Willie Mullins IRE
43111-4 NEWMILL (IRE) 9 Mary Hayes John Murphy IRE
211-422 NOBLE REQUEST (FR) 6 Karola Vann Philip Hobbs
00-0110 OVERSTRAND (IRE) 8 Dr Richard Newland Dr Richard Newland
1101-06 QUATRE HEURES (FR) 5 John Mc's Winchester Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
1B-1443 SILENT OSCAR (IRE) 8 P Convery Harry Rogers IRE
1212-14 STRAW BEAR (USA) 6 J P McManus Nick Gifford
1444- SUBLIMITY (FR) 7 W Hennessy John Carr IRE
1156-0 SWEET WAKE (GER) 6 High Street Ceathar Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
1150-12 TARLAC (GER) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
28 entries
17 Irish-trained
1 French-trained
Latest totesport betting (correct on 12/01/06)
11/4 Detroit City, 7/2 Brave Inca, 8/1 Iktitaf, 9/1 Macs Joy, 10/1 Hardy Eustace, 12/1 Harchibald, 12/1 Straw Bear, 14/1 Feathard Lady, 16/1 Jazz Messenger, 16/1 Noble Request, 16/1 Asian Maze, 20/1 Desert Quest, 25/1 Acambo, 33/1 Arcalis, 50/1 Cuan Na Grai, 50/1 Sky's The Limit, 50/1 Sweet Wake, 66/1 Faasel. Others on request.
BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE
4 Entries
Noel Meade IRE
3 Entries
Jessica Harrington IRE
2 Entries
Nicky Henderson (1985, 1986 & 1987 SEE YOU THEN)
Philip Hobbs (2003 ROOSTER BOOSTER)
Willie Mullins IRE
Colm Murphy IRE (2006 BRAVE INCA)
1 Entry
John Carr IRE
Richard Chotard FR
Nick Gifford
Dessie Hughes IRE (2004 & 2005 HARDY EUSTACE)
Howard Johnson
Seamus Mullins
Tom Mullins IRE
John Murphy IRE
Dr Richard Newland
Paul Nicholls
David Pipe
John Queally IRE
Harry Rogers IRE
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - Analysis
A total of 28 entries, including a record 17 from Ireland, have been received for the £360,000 Grade One Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, run over two miles and half a furlong at Cheltenham on Tuesday, March 13, the first day of The Festival 2007.
Ireland has taken hurdling’s greatest prize a total of 16 times since its inception in 1927, including six of the last eight runnings and Brave Inca, who led home a 1-2-3-4 for the Emerald Isle last year, will be back to try and confirm himself the top two-mile hurdler in Europe. Colm Murphy’s tough nine-year-old has looked in fantastic form this season, displaying all his battling qualities last time out when outstaying Iktitaf to take the Grade One December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29.
He could be joined at Cheltenham by stable companion Feathard Lady. Unbeaten in seven career starts, the seven-year-old mare has not been seen on a racecourse since capturing the 2005 Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Sandown Park, where she defeated Self Defense by 12 lengths.
Iktitaf landed his first three starts over hurdles this season, bringing up the hat-trick in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, before finding Brave Inca too good in the December Festival Hurdle on his latest outing.
His trainer Noel Meade looks to have a strong hand this year, with 2005 runner-up and multiple Grade One winner Harchibald and Grade One Christmas Hurdle hero Jazz Messenger joined by Sweet Wake, whose decent form as a novice last term included fifth place behind Noland in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival.
County Kildare handler Dessie Hughes won the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle as a jockey aboard Monksfield in 1979 and has taken the race twice in his current vocation with Hardy Eustace, successful in 2004 and 2005.
The tough 10-year-old could only manage third last year, with compatriots Macs Joy and Al Eile in second and fourth respectively, but he has looked in great shape this season, following a wide margin win in the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle in November with a close second to Detroit City in the Grade Two Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham on December 9.
Detroit City, trained by Philip Hobbs, who also has Noble Request entered, looks the top home-based contender having landed his last six starts over obstacles, including the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last year.
His Boylesports.com International victory at Cheltenham followed a 14-length romp in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at the same track in November. The five-year-old grey, who sports owner Terry Warner’s black and yellow colours carried to victory in the 2003 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle by Rooster Booster, is in line for a £200,000 bonus offered by Boylesports if he goes on to score at Cheltenham.
Nick Gifford has a smart performer in Straw Bear, second to Noland in the Grade One Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices Hurdle at The 2006 Festival. He subsequently took the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree by 13 lengths, and scored on his comeback in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, only to run below par next time when a well-beaten fourth to Jazz Messenger in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Nicky Henderson landed the Cheltenham prize three times with See You Then (1985 - 1987) and has two entries in the shape of Afsoun and Tarlac.
Fifth to Detroit City in the JCB Triumph Hurdle a year ago, Afsoun scored impressively on his reappearance at Newbury in November but then fell when still travelling well in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, while Tarlac also scored on his seasonal return over two miles at Ascot on November 17, before running an excellent length second to Acambo, representing David Pipe, in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at the same track a month later.
Champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls has yet to send out the winner of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. Desert Quest, impressive when recording a two and a half length success in the Grade Three Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at The Festival last year, could try and alter that statistic.
Asian Maze, trained by Tom Mullins, has done her connections proud, having scored four times at Grade One level. Despite falling at the fourth flight in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle last year, the eight-year-old could have another crack at the two-mile prize.
An intriguing contender is Newmill, trained by John Murphy. Victorious in last year’s Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase, now sponsored by Seasons Holidays, he could bid for a repeat win in the two-mile chase on the Wednesday of The Festival, but also holds a Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle entry.
Macs Joy’s trainer, Jessica Harrington, has also entered Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner Hide The Evidence and Breathing Fire, who fell in the JCB Triumph Hurdle last year, while Willie Mullins has entered Quatre Heures, victorious in the Grade One Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle at Punchestown in April, and Mister Hight, who boasts Grade Two winning form as a juvenile hurdler from 2006.
The Harry Rogers-trained Silent Oscar ran far better than his 100/1 odds suggested he would when third, beaten just over seven lengths, to Brave Inca and Iktitaf in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown, while John Carr’s Sublimity finished fourth to Iktitaf in the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on his last start in April.
Howard Johnson could be represented by 2005 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero and last year’s fifth Arcalis, Seamus Mullins could run Kawagino, who ran a blinder last season when seventh to Brave Inca at 500/1, and Dr Richard Newland has entered Overstrand, successful in the competitive William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in December.
The Richard Chotard-trained Marble Garden, owned by Fergus Wilson, won over fences at Auteuil in September, and is the only entry from France.
SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR
(Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle since 2006, Smurfit Champion Hurdle 1991-2005, Waterford Crystal Champion Hurdle 1978-1990,
no sponsor before 1978)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2006 Brave Inca 8-11-10 Tony McCoy Colm Murphy IRE Novices Syndicate 7/4F 18
2005 Hardy Eustace 8-11-10 Conor O’Dwyer Dessie Hughes IRE Lar Byrne 7/2JF 14
2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-10 Conor O’Dwyer Dessie Hughes IRE Lar Byrne 33/1 14
2003 Rooster Booster 9-12-00 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Terry Warner 9/2 17
2002 Hors La Loi III 7-12-00 Dean Gallagher James Fanshawe Paul Green 10/1 15
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Istabraq 8-12-00 Charlie Swan Aidan O’Brien IRE J P McManus 8/15F 12
1999 Istabraq 7-12-00 Charlie Swan Aidan O’Brien IRE J P McManus 4/9F 14
1998 Istabraq 6-12-00 Charlie Swan Aidan O’Brien IRE J P McManus 3/1F 18
1997 Make A Stand 6-12-00 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe Peter Deal 7/1 17
1996 Collier Bay 6-12-00 Graham Bradley Jim Old Wally Sturt 9/1 16
1995 Alderbrook 6-12-00 Norman Williamson Kim Bailey Ernie Pick 11/2 14
1994 Flakey Dove 8-11-09 Mark Dwyer Richard Price John Price 9/1 15
1993 Granville Again 7-12-00 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Eric Scarth 13/2 18
1992 Royal Gait 9-12-00 Graham McCourt James Fanshawe Sheikh Mohammed 6/1 16
1991 Morley Street 7-12-00 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding Michael Jackson Bloodstock Ltd 4/1F 24
1990 Kribensis 6-12-00 Richard Dunwoody Michael Stoute Sheikh Mohammed 95/40F 19
1989 Beech Road 7-12-00 Richard Guest Toby Balding Tony Geake 50/1 15
1988 Celtic Shot 6-12-00 Peter Scudamore Fred Winter David Horton 7/1 21
1987 See You Then 7-12-00 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud Ltd 11/10F 18
1986 See You Then 6-12-00 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud Ltd 5/6F 23
1985 See You Then 5-12-00 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson Stype Wood Stud Ltd 16/1 14
1984 Dawn Run 6-11-09 Jonjo O'Neill Paddy Mullins IRE Charmian Hill 4/5F 14
1983 Gaye Brief 6-12-00 Richard Linley Mercy Rimell Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin 7/1 17
1982 For Auction 6-12-00 Mr Colin Magnier Michael Cunningham IRE F Heaslip 40/1 14
1981 Sea Pigeon 11-12-00 John Francome Peter Easterby Pat Muldoon 7/4F 14
1980 Sea Pigeon 10-12-00 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby Pat Muldoon 13/2 9
1979 Monksfield 7-12-00 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh IRE Dr Michael Mangan 9/4F 10
1978 Monksfield 6-12-00 Tommy Kinane Des McDonogh IRE Dr Michael Mangan 11/2 13
1977 Night Nurse 6-12-00 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby Reg Spencer 15/2 10
1976 Night Nurse 5-12-00 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby Reg Spencer 2/1F 8
1975 Comedy Of Errors 8-12-00 Ken White Fred Rimell Ted Wheatley 11/8F 13
1974 Lanzarote 6-12-00 Richard Pitman Fred Winter Lord Howard de Walden 7/4 7
1973 Comedy Of Errors 6-12-00 Bill Smith Fred Rimell Ted Wheatley 8/1 8
1972 Bula 7-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Bill Edwards-Heathcote 8/11F 12
1971 Bula 6-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Bill Edwards-Heathcote 15/8F 9
1970 Persian War 7-12-00 Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Henry Alper 5/4F 14
1969 Persian War 6-12-00 Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Henry Alper 6/4F 17
1968 Persian War 5-11-12 Jimmy Uttley Colin Davies Henry Alper 4/1 16
1967 Saucy Kit 6-12-00 Roy Edwards Peter Easterby K F Alder 100/6 23
1966 Salmon Spray 8-12-00 Johnnie Haine Bob Turnell Mrs John Rogerson 4/1 17
1965 Kirriemuir 5-12-00 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn Mrs Dorothy Beddington 50/1 19
1964 Magic Court 6-12-00 Pat McCarron Tommy Robson J McGhie 100/6 24
1963 Winning Fair 8-12-00 Mr Alan Lillingston George Spencer IRE George Spencer 100/9 21
1962 Anzio 5-11-12 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn Sir Thomas Ainsworth 11/2 14
1961 Eborneezer 6-12-00 Fred Winter Ryan Price Dr B N Pajgar 4/1 17
1960 Another Flash 6-12-00 Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator IRE J J Byrne 11/4F 12
1959 Fare Time 6-12-00 Fred Winter Ryan Price Gerry Judd 13/2 14
1958 Bandalore 7-12-00 George Slack Stan Wright Mrs Dorothy Wright 20/1 18
1957 Merry Deal 7-12-00 Grenville Underwood Arthur Jones Arthur Jones 28/1 16
1956 Doorknocker 8-12-00 Harry Sprague Charlie Hall Clifford Nicholson 100/9 14
1955 Clair Soleil 6-12-00 Fred Winter Ryan Price Gerry Judd 5/2F 21
1954 Sir Ken 7-12-00 Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Maurice Kingsley 4/9F 13
1953 Sir Ken 6-12-00 Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Maurice Kingsley 2/5F 7
1952 Sir Ken 5-11-12 Tim Molony Willie Stephenson Maurice Kingsley 3/1F 16
1951 Hatton’s Grace 11-12-00 Tim Molony Vincent O'Brien IRE Mrs Harry Keogh 4/1 8
1950 Hatton’s Grace 10-12-00 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien IRE Mrs Harry Keogh 5/2F 12
1949 Hatton’s Grace 9-12-00 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien IRE Mrs Harry Keogh 100/7 14
1948 National Spirit 7-12-00 Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Len Abelson 6/4F 12
1947 National Spirit 6-12-00 Danny Morgan Vic Smyth Len Abelson 7/1 13
1946 Distel 5-11-10 Bobby O'Ryan Charlie Rogers IRE Dorothy Paget 4/5F 8
1945 Brains Trust 5-11-10 Fred Rimell Gerry Wilson F Blakeway 9/2 16
1943-44 No Race
1942 Forestation 4-11-00 Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Vic Smyth 10/1 20
1941 Seneca 4-11-00 Ron Smyth Vic Smyth Sir Malcolm McAlpine 7/1 6
1940 Solford 9-12-00 Sean Magee Owen Anthony Dorothy Paget 5/2F 8
1939 African Sister 7-12-00 Keith Piggott Charles Piggott H Brueton 10/1 13
1938 Our Hope 9-12-00 Perry Harding Roderic Gubbins Roderic Gubbins 5/1 5
1937 Free Fare 9-12-00 Georges Pellerin Ted Gwilt Ben Warner 2/1F 7
1936 Victor Norman 5-11-00 Frenchie Nicholson Morgan Blair Michael Stephens 4/1 8
1935 Lion Courage 7-12-00 Gerry Wilson F Brown R Fox Carlyon 100/8 11
1934 Chenango 7-12-00 Danny Morgan Ivor Anthony Pete Bostwick 4/9F 5
1933 Insurance 6-12-00 Billy Stott Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 10/11F 5
1932 Insurance 5-12-00 Ted Leader Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 4/5F 3
1931 No race
1930 Brown Tony 4-11-00 Tommy Cullinan Jack Anthony Mrs J de Selincourt 7/2 5
1929 Royal Falcon 6-12-00 Dick Rees Bob Gore Miss Williams-Bulkeley 11/2 6
1928 Brown Jack 4-11-00 Bilby Rees Aubrey Hastings Major Harold Wernher 4/1 6
1927 Blaris 6-12-00 George Duller Bill Payne Mrs H Hollins 11/10F 4
2006 SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE
RESULT IN DETAIL
Grade 1 (Class 1), 2m 110yds, Old Course £340,000 guaranteed For 4yo+ Weights 4yo 11st 2lb; 5yo+ 11st 10lb Allowances fiillies and mares 7lb Entries 35 pay £385 First Forfeit 23 pay £770 Second Forfeit 1 pay £17,000 Confirmed 19 pay £385 Penalty Value 1st £202,683.30 2nd £76,032.89 3rd £38,069.77 4th £18,981.56 5th £9,526.33 6th £4,763.16
1 BRAVE INCA (IRE) (Novices Syndicate) Colm Murphy IRE 8-11-10 Tony McCoy 7/4f
2 MACS JOY (IRE) (Mac’s J Racing Syndicate) Jessica Harrington IRE 7-11-10 Barry Geraghty 13/2
3 HARDY EUSTACE (IRE) (Laurence Byrne) Dessie Hughes IRE 9-11-10 Conor O'Dwyer 11/2 2f
4 AL EILE (IRE) (Michael Ryan) John Queally IRE 6-11-10 Timmy Murphy 8/1
5 ARCALIS (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Howard Johnson 6-11-10 Graham Lee 9/1
6 BRIAREUS (Emma Lambourne) Andrew Balding 6-11-10 Mr Tom Greenall 20/1
7 KAWAGINO (IRE) (K J Pike) Seamus Mullins 6-11-10 Jamie Moore 500/1
8 FAASEL (IRE) (Jim Ennis) Nicky Richards 5-11-10 Tony Dobbin 16/1
9 THE FRENCH FURZE (IRE) (Jim Ennis) Nicky Richards 12-11-10 Brian Harding 150/1
10 ROYAL SHAKESPEARE (FR) (John Webb) Steve Gollings 7-11-10 Tom Scudamore 100/1
11 INTERSKY FALCON (Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill) Jonjo O'Neill 9-11-10 Mick Fitzgerald 66/1
12 ADMIRAL (IRE) (Willie McKay) Richard Guest 5-11-10 Paul O'Neill 150/1
13 ASTONVILLE (FR) (Fergus Wilson) Phillippe Cottin FR 12-11-10 Ben Hitchcott 500/1
14 FIEPES SHUFFLE (GER) (Stall Jenny) Christian Von Der Recke GER 6-11-10 Paul Carberry 50/1
F PENZANCE (Elite Racing Club) Alan King 5-11-10 Robert Thornton 40/1
F ASIAN MAZE (IRE) (Sheila Moore) Tom Mullins IRE 7-11-03 Ruby Walsh 12/1
P LEO'S LUCKYMAN (USA) (Sandra Brookhouse) Roger Brookhouse 7-11-10 J P McNamara 500/1
P TURNIUM (FR) (Fergus Wilson) Phillippe Cottin FR 11-11-10 James Davis 500/1
18 ran
Time: 3m 50.00s
Distances: 1, 3.5, 6, .75, 9, sh, .75, sh, 8, 6, 15, dist, dist
Breeder: D W McCauley
Breeding: b g Good Thyne (USA) - Wigwam Mam (IRE)
Tote: Win;£2.70 Places;£1.30, £2.50, £2.40 Exacta; £12.00
Winning Trainer: Colm Murphy Age: 30 Based: Ballinadrummin, Killena, Gorey, Co Wexford Other Details: Former amateur rider, has a degree in accountancy. First started training in 2000, having previously spent six years with Aidan O’Brien (at both Piltown and Ballydoyle) Cheltenham Festival Wins (2): Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2004 Brave Inca); Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (2006, Brave Inca) Other major wins include: Deloitte Novice Hurdle (2004 Brave Inca); Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (2004 Brave Inca); Emo Oil Champion Hurdle (2005 Brave Inca); Morgiana Hurdle (2005 Brave Inca); December Festival Hurdle (2005 Brave Inca); Christmas Hurdle (2005 Feathard Lady), AIG Europe Champion Hurdle (2006 Brave Inca) Wins in Britain (2003/2004-2004/05): 1; 0 Wins in Britain this Season: 2
Winning Jockey: Anthony Peter McCoy Date of Birth: 04/05/74 First Winner: Thurles, 26/03/92 (First winner in Britain: 07/09/94, Exeter, Chickabiddy) Apprenticeship: Four years with Jim Bolger. Cheltenham Festival Wins: (16) GRAND ANNUAL CHASE (1996 Kibreet, 1998 Edredon Bleu), IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE CHASE (1997 Or Royal, 1998 Champleve, 2004 Well Chief), SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE (1997 Make A Stand, 2006 Brave Inca), TOTE GOLD CUP (1997 Mr Mulligan), CATHCART CHASE (1998 Cyfor Malta, 2002 Royal Auclair) Pertemps Final (1998 Unsinkable Boxer), VINCENT O’BRIEN COUNTY HURDLE (1998 Blowing Wind), GERRARD SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE (1999 Hors La Loi III), THE MILDMAY OF FLETE CHALLENGE CUP HCAP CHASE (1999 Majadou), QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (2000 Edredon Bleu), WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER (2003 Liberman) Leading Rider at The Festival: 1997 (3), 1998 (5). Other major wins: KING GEORGE VI CHASE (2002 Best Mate), SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL (1997 Belmont King), REHEARSAL CHASE (1996 Belmont King), PADDY POWER GOLD CUP (1998 Cyfor Malta, 2000 Lady Cricket, 2001Shooting Light), PILLAR PROPERTY CHASE (1999 Cyfor Malta), TRIPLEPRINT GOLD CUP CHASE (1998 Northern Starlight), EXTRAMAN HENRY VIII NOVICES’ CHASE (1998 Dines), MILDMAY & CAZALET HCAP CHASE (1999 Eudipe), LONG DISTANCE HURDLE (1999 Galant Moss, 2003 Deano’S Beano, 2004 Baracouda), SCILLY ISLES NOVICES’ CHASE (2000 Upgrade, 2003 Tarxien), FIRST NATIONAL GOLD CUP H’CAP CHASE (2000 Upgrade, 2001 Wahiba Sands), CHALLOW HURDLE (2001 Classified), GAME SPIRIT CHASE (2002 Lady Cricket), TOTE GOLD TROPHY (2002 Copeland), LONG WALK HURDLE (2002 Deano’s Beeno, 2004 Baracouda), RENDLESHAM HURDLE (2003 Deano’s Beano), RITZ CLUB ASCOT CHASE (2003 Tiutchev), CLEEVE HURDLE (2003 Classified), SUNDERLANDS IMPERIAL CUP (2003 Korelo), FINALE JUVENILE HURDLE (2004 Phar Bleu), POWERS GOLD CUP (2005 Like-A-Butterfly), SCOTTISH CHAMPION HURDLE (2005 Genghis), PETERBOROUGH CHASE (2005 Impek), FELTHAM NOVICES’ CHASE (2005 Darkness), DECEMBER FESTIVAL HURDLE (2005 Brave Inca), AIG EUROPE CHAMPION HURDLE (2006 Brave Inca) Winners 1994/5-2004/05:74,175, 189,253,186,245,191, 289, 257, 209, 199 Wins this season: 162
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