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Cheltenham Festival 15th - 18th March 2005

Cheltenham 2005

2005 running order

2005 results



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3.15pm SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY

Class A, Grade One, £300,000 Guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m .5f. Weights: 4yo 11st 2lb; 6yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: fillies & mares 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £174,000; 2nd: £66,000; 3rd: £33,000; 4th: £15,000; 5th: £7,500; 6th: £4,500

1) HARDY EUSTACE (Lar Byrne) Dessie Hughes IRE b8-11-10 Conor O'Dwyer 7/2 Jt Fav

2) HARCHIBALD (Des Sharkey) Noel Meade IRE 6-11-10 Paul Carberry 7/1

3) BRAVE INCA (Novices Syndicate) Colm Murphy IRE 7-11-10 Barry Cash 10/1

4) ACCORDION ETOILE (Banjo Syndicate) Paul Nolan IRE 6-11-10 John Cullen

5) MACS JOY (Mac’s J Racing Syndicate) Jessica Harrington IRE 6-11-10 Barry Geraghty

6) INTERSKY FALCON (Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill) Jonjo O'Neill tb8-11-10 Tony Dobbin

7) AL EILE (M A Ryan) John Queally IRE 5-11-10 Timmy Murphy

8) ROOSTER BOOSTER (Terry Warner) Philip Hobbs 11-11-10 Richard Johnson

9) BACK IN FRONT (Dermot Cox) Edward O'Grady IRE 8-11-10 Ruby Walsh 7/2 Jt Fav

10) SELF DEFENSE (Fraser Miller Racing) Patrick Chamings 8-11-10 Robert Thornton

11) ROYAL SHAKESPEARE (J B Webb) Steve Gollings 6-11-10 Jim Culloty

12) ESSEX (B P S Syndicate) Michael O'Brien IRE 5-11-10 Tony McCoy

13) ASTONVILLE (Fergus Wilson) Michael Scudamore 11-11-10 Tom Scudamore

14) TURNIUM (Fergus Wilson) Michael Scudamore 10-11-10 James Davies

14 ran Non-Runner: Present Bleu (Vet’s Certificate)

Breeder: Patrick Joyce Breeding: b g Archway (IRE) - Sterna Star (Corvaro)

Dist: nk ,nk, 3, 1.5, .5, 2, 3, nk, 1.75, 3, 3, 17, 20

Tote: Win: £4.40 Places: £1.90; £3.30; £3.00 Exacta: £34.80

Winning Trainer Dessie Hughes Born: October 10, 1943 Based: Osborne Lodge, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland Horses in Training (1996-2004): 32; 26; 41; 31; 41; 46; 52; 62; 73 Cheltenham Festival Wins: (4) Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1982 Miller Hill), Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle (2003 Hardy Eustace), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2004 & 2005 Hardy Eustace) Other Big Race Wins: Isuzu Chase (2000 Rathbawn Prince), John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2003 Leinster) Date of First Trainer’s Licence: 1979. Previously assistant to Michael O’Toole 1966-79 Background Information: Former jockey, won 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and 1979 Champion Hurdle on Monksfield. Father of leading Flat jockey Richard Hughes.

Winning Jockey: Conor O'Dwyer Date of birth: April 8, 1966, County Wexford Cheltenham Festival Winners: (3) totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1996 Imperial Call), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2004 & 2005 Hardy Eustace) Other Big Race Wins: Ladbroke Hurdle (1990 Redundant Pal), Irish Hennessy Gold Cup (1996 Imperial Call), Midlands Grand National (1992 Laura’s Beau), Melling Chase (1998 Opera Hat, 2002 and 2003 Native Upmanship), Red Rum Handicap Chase (1998 Jeffell), Top Novices Hurdle (1999 Joe Mac)

INITIAL QUOTES

SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE

Winning rider Conor O’Dwyer said: "It is unbelievable. He really pinged the last and then he picked up, I could see Paul’s horse Harchibald on my right and halfway up the hill I wasn’t sure if he was going to pick up. I can’t express what I feel and I am ready for what is going to happen when I get back to the unsaddling enclosure and the reception there will be."

Dessie Hughes, trainer of the winner, said: "I’ve never lost faith in him and he loves it round here. He’s tough and he fights and I can’t believe we’ve won it again."

Ruby Walsh, who finished ninth on Back In Front, said: "The pace was not strong enough for me."

Barry Geraghty, said of fifth-placed Macs Joy: "He ran OK but he missed the second last and then he could never get up there with the leaders."

Paul Carberry, rider of runner-up Harchibald, said: "He’s a bridle horse – that’s the only way you can ride him. If you hit the front he stops and so I had to ride him like I did.

"Halfway up the hill I felt that I would get Hardy Eustace but unfortunately for me he just kept going too well. I know people will criticise me and say that I should have got on with it but I think I would have been better off if I had waited a bit longer.

"He gave me a super ride all the way round, he’s just like an aeroplane, and there is always next year."

BOOKMAKER REACTION

Bookmakers make Hardy Eustace favourite to complete a hat trick next year with Ladbrokes quoting him at 5-1 and Cashmans a point longer.

Ladbrokes then go 8 Harchibald, 14 Arcalis and Brave Inca with 20-1 bar, while Cashmans offer Harchibald at 10-1 and Arcalis two points longer.

Race Three: Smurfit Champion Hurdle

Winner’s Quotes:

HARDY IS JUST CHAMPION!

‘Thou Shalt Not Pass’ is clearly the motto of reigning Smurfit Champion hurdler Hardy Eustace, who retained his crown with a brilliant start-to-finish success to hold off fellow Irish challengers Harchibald and Brave Inca by a neck and the same in the opening day showpiece.

Harchibald, who never came off the bridle until the last 50 yards, was still absolutely hacking half-way up the run-in, but when push came to shove and Paul Carberry asked him to win his race he dug his toes in and refused to go past Hardy Eustace, who answered everything that Conor O’Dwyer threw at him.

Ironically, 38-year-old O’Dwyer has only ridden three Festival winners, but he clearly believes in saving himself for the best as, apart from his brace on Hardy Eustace, he also won the Gold Cup on Imperial Call in 1996.

O’Dwyer said: "Hardy Eustace is so full of guts and, and, while I feared the worst when Harchibald ranged alongside pulling double , it was always in the back of my mind that he might not go up the hill, whereas I knew that my fellow would run all the way to the line, so I showed him the stick and he kept on finding for me.

"I did not go as fast as I did last year as I was weighing up the strengths of the opposition and trying to ride two races, but he showed out there today that he is a true champion.

"The blinkers definitely helped, though I was surprised they allowed me such a soft lead in front. We winged the first and he jumped brilliantly and never touched a hurdle all the way round."

Winning trainer Dessie Hughes, who also won the Champion as a jockey on Monksfield in 1979, shook his head as he was showered with congratulations and admitted "I never thought it could happen again."

Hughes, who insisted that he was a lot more emotional than he looked, said: "Hardy Eustace is something else, and I have been saying all winter that he was a better horse than last season.

"Conor rode a brilliant race, but he didn’t go that fast and they had every chance to come and beat him.

"I must confess that I thought we were cooked when Harchibald cruised alongside, but my lad does not know when he is beaten and he dug deep for Conor.

"I never lost faith in the horse, even when he was beaten at Leopardstown over Christmas, and you won’t find anything with a better will to win. He is a dual champion, and, while we’ll now go on to Punchestown, he’ll be back next year trying to emulate Istabraq by making it three."

HARDY EUSTACE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Conor O’Dwyer, in his 23rd`year as a jockey, landed a second successive Smurfit Champion Hurdle aboard Hardy Eustace when coming home a neck clear of Harchibald, who was traded at 1.24 (around 1/4) in running on Betfair.

"He’s full of guts and never knows when he’s beaten," said O’Dwyer. "The thing with him was that he was always going to get to the line and he never gives up. There’s no such thing as an easy two miles at Cheltenham, you need a horse that will get every yard. I’d fear probably Harchibald over an easy two miles.

"I know Paul (Carberry on Harchibald) was travelling well but if he had had anything under him he’d have made up half a length. To win like that, when you look beaten, makes it even sweeter this year.

"He was a stronger horse this year than last and there’s no reason why he won’t keep going forward. He’s a livelier horse on this type of ground, it makes him go better.

"He had blinkers on and really only needs them to help concentrate if he is going to make the running, in a true-run race he wouldn’t need them."

Trainer Dessie Hughes added: "This was both an unbelievable pleasure and a relief, he was getting a huge amount of exposure this year right up to two minutes before the race.

"We didn’t want to overcook him beforehand and I don’t think I’ve ever had him so fit as he was today. I’m sure we’ll go the same sort of route next year."

"His jumping was something else today, I’ve seen an awful lot of Champion Hurdles in my lifetime but I’ve never seen a horse leap like that.

"Paul Carberry was very gracious in defeat and gave his horse every chance to win."

Owner Lar Byrne backed the horse at huge odds on Betfair last year and said: "I left Betfair alone this year but there’s a man in Baltinglass and another in Cork I’ll be anxious to see next week, they won’t be so pleased to see me!

"I don’t think there’s ever been a Champion Hurdle like it with seven Irish horses and it’s great to be able to say I had an argument with all of them and won the argument.

"Every fellow who buys a horse dreams of this, I just happen to be the lucky owner. It is all down to Dessie and the team at Osborne Lodge and to Conor.

"We also have to remember Kieran Kelly again today and I’d like to think he played a little part in both these wins.

"The horse didn;t get the credit he deserved last year and the press boys will have to talk about him now - he was the Champion and remains the Champion.

MEADE BACKS CARBERRY

Noel Meade defended jockey Paul Carberry who was beaten on Harchibald after cruising up behind winner Hardy Eustace but being unable to go on and win hurdling’s Blue Riband by a neck.

The trainer said: "Harchibald has to be held up - when he gets to the front he eases down as you saw when he beat Rooster Booster at Kempton. I thought that Paul gave him a brilliant ride - were the crowd booing? - I didn’t realise as I thought that he gave him a great ride.

"If Harchibald had got to the front anywhere but the last 50 yards, the other horse would have passed him again and would have got back up. I have no problem at all with that ride and I didn’t realise that Paul got any criticism.

"It’s great to be here and we’re alive, no-one is dead. I watched the race with Dessie [Hughes, trainer of Hardy Eustace] and I thought that our fellow had it won. But Hardy Eustace was the wrong horse to come up against - I would say that there is a good chance of turning the form around at Punchestown. I’m delighted and the winner dug deep.

"I think this race might have been a bit special and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them up against each other again next year - it reminded me a bit of Sea Pigeon and Monksfield."

The winning distance was a neck with the same distance back to third-placed Brave Inca.

Colm Murphy, Brave Inca’s trainer, said: "We’ll see how he is before we think about Aintree and Punchestown.

"We’ll see what the ground is like - he races like a lazy horse but he’s got a lot of toe. He jumps better with a bit of life in the ground.

"We are spoilt for choice with this horse - I’m absolutely delighted and we’ll let him tell us when to run. He could go chasing next season and we’ll sit down and see - I would say that it is probably more than likely."

SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE FACTS

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, and in 1943 and 1944 because of the Second World War.

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 2005, the race will have total prize money of £300,000.

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 Nornian 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 last year’s winner Hardy Eustace, 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.

SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE RESULTS

2004-HARDY EUSTACE 7-11-10 Owner-Laurence Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-33/1

2ND-Rooster Booster 10-11-10 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-11/8 Fav

3RD-Intersky Falcon 7-11-10 Owner-Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill; Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Liam Cooper; SP-8/1

14 ran, Time-3m 54.50s; Dist-5, 4

2003-ROOSTER BOOSTER 9-12-00 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-9/2

2ND-Westender 7-12-00 Owner-Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Rodi Greene; SP- 33/1

3RD-Rhinestone Cowboy 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/2 Fav 17 ran, Time-3m 54.70s; Dist-11, 3

2002-HORS LA LOI III 7-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-10/1

2ND-Marble Arch 6-12-00 Owner-Martin Wilson, Rory Sweet and Mary Wilson; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-25/1

3RD-Bilboa 5-11-09 Owner-Jorg Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Thierry Doumen; SP-14/1

15 ran, Time-3m 53.80s; Dist- 3, .5 2/1 Fav Istabraq (pu)

2001 Cancelled

2000-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 8-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-8/15 Fav

2ND-Hors La Loi III 5-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-11/1

3RD-Blue Royal 5-12-00 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-16/1

12 ran, Time-3m 48.10s; Dist-4, nk

1999-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 7-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/9 Fav

2ND-Theatreworld 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-16/1 3RD-French Holly 8-12-00 Owner-Kieran Flood; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Andrew Thornton; SP-11/2 14 ran, Time 3m 56.7s; Dist-3.5, 2.5

1998-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 6-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-3/1 Fav

2ND-Theatreworld 6-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-20/1

3RD-I’m Supposin 6-12-00 Owner-Nicholas Cooper; Trainer-Richard Rowe; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-6/1 18 ran, Time 3m 49.1s; Dist-12, 1

1997-WINNER-MAKE A STAND 6-12-00 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/1

2ND-Theatreworld 5-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-33/1

3RD-Space Trucker 6-12-00 Owner-Elaine Queally; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-John Shortt; SP-9/2 17 ran, Time-3m 48.4s, Dist-5, .75 7/2 Fav Large Action (pu)

1996-WINNER-COLLIER BAY 6-12-00 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Graham Bradley; SP-9/1

2ND-Alderbrook 7-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-10/11 Fav

3RD-Pridwell 6-12-00 Owner-Jones, Berstock and Fleet Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Chris Maude; SP-33/1 16 ran, Time-3m 59.0s, Dist-2.5, 6

1995-WINNER-ALDERBROOK 6-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-11/2

2ND-Large Action 7-12-00 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Oliver Sherwood; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-4/1 Jt Fav

3RD-Danoli 7-12-00 Owner-Dan O’Neill; Trainer-Tom Foley IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/1 Jt Fav

14 ran, Time-4m 03.1s, Dist-5, 2

1994-WINNER-FLAKEY DOVE 8-11-09 Owner-John Price; Trainer-Richard Price; Jockey-Mark Dwyer; SP-9/1

2ND-Oh So Risky 7-12-00 Owner-Oh So Risky Syndicate; Trainer-David Elsworth; Jockey-Paul Holley; SP-9/4 Fav

3RD-Large Action 6-12-00 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Oliver Sherwood; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-8/1 15 ran, Time-4m 2.3s, Dist-1.5, .75

CHAMPION HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR

(Sponsored by Smurfit since 1991, Waterford Crystal Champion Hurdle 1978-1990, no sponsor before 1978)

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-10 Conor O’Dwyer Dessie Hughes IRE Laurence 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 MacAlpine 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

2004 SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE RESULT IN DETAIL

Class A, Grade One, £300,000 Guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m 5f, Weights: 4yo 11st 3lb, 5yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: fillies & mares 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £174,000; 2nd: £66,000; 3rd: £33,000; 4th: £15,000; 5th: £7,500; 6th: £4,500

1) HARDY EUSTACE (Laurence Byrne) Dessie Hughes IRE b1 7-11-10 Conor O'Dwyer 33/1

2) ROOSTER BOOSTER (Terry Warner) Philip Hobbs 10-11-10 Richard Johnson 11/8 Fav

3) INTERSKY FALCON (Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill) Jonjo O'Neill tb7-11-10 Liam Cooper 8/1

4) FOREMAN (J P McManus) Thierry Doumen FR 6-11-10 Thierry Doumen 10/1

5) WESTENDER (Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst) Martin Pipe b8-11-10 Tony McCoy 16/1

6) FOTA ISLAND (J P McManus) Mouse Morris IRE b6-11-10 David Casey 50/1

7) GOLDEN CROSS (Exors of the late Mrs H Johnson) Mick Halford IRE p5-11-10 Paul Carberry 40/1

8) RIGMAROLE (Mark & Tessa Woodhouse) Paul Nicholls t6-11-10 Ruby Walsh 4/1

9) SPECULAR (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 8-11-10 Barry Geraghty 14/1

10) SELF DEFENSE (Fraser Miller Racing) Emma Lavelle 7-11-10 Barry Keniry 66/1

11) HASTY PRINCE (F F Racing Services Partnership III) Jonjo O'Neill 6-11-10 Tony Dobbin 50/1

12) LIMERICK BOY (Favourites Racing) Venetia Williams 6-11-10 Sam Thomas 16/1

13) DAVENPORT MILENIUM (Miriam O’Callaghan) Willie Mullins IRE 8-11-10 Timmy Murphy 25/1

PU) GEOS (Thurloe Finsbury) Nicky Henderson 9-11-10 Mick FitzGerald 20/1

14 ran Going: Good

Breeder: Patrick Joyce Breeding: b g Archway (IRE) - Sterna Star

Distances: 5, 4, 1.25, nk, 3, 6, 2.5, 4, sh, 0.75, 1, 1.5 Time: 3m 54.50s

Tote Win: £39.90 Places: £5.90; £1.60; £3.20 Exacta: £112.70

Winning Trainer: Dessie Hughes Born: October 10, 1943 Based: Osborne Lodge, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland Horses in Training (1996-2003): 32; 26; 41; 31; 41; 46; 52; 62 Cheltenham Festival Wins: (3) Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1982 Miller Hill), Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle (2003 Hardy Eustace), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Hardy Eustace) Date of First Trainer’s Licence: 1979. Previously assistant to Mick O’Toole 1966-79. Former jockey, won 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Davy Lad and 1979 Champion Hurdle on Monksfield. Father of leading Flat jockey Richard Hughes.

Winning Jockey: Conor O'Dwyer Date of birth: April 8, 1966, County Wexford Cheltenham Festival Winners: (2) totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1996 Imperial Call), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Hardy Eustace) Other Big Race Wins: LADBROKE HURDLE (1990 Redundant Pal), IRISH HENNESSY GOLD CUP (1996 Imperial Call), MIDLANDS GRAND NATIONAL (1992 Laura’s Beau), Martell Cognac Melling Chase (1998 Opera Hat, 2002 and 2003 Native Upmanship), Martell Red Rum Handicap Chase (1998 Jeffell), Barton and Guestier Top Novices Hurdle (1999 Joe Mac)

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