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unusual facts about Champion Hurdle


Champion Hurdle

A new sponsor, Smurfit (now known as the Smurfit Kappa Group), began supporting the race in 1991.


Toby Balding

He finally retired on the final day of the 2004 Flat season and is one of the few men to have trained the winner of the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.

Victoria Smurfit

The family, headed by Victoria's uncle Michael Smurfit, sponsor a number of sporting events including the Smurfit European Open and the Champion Hurdle.


see also

Dawn Run

In her second season, she won eight of her nine races, including the English Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leapardstown, both over two miles, and the French Champion Hurdle (Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil) at Auteuil over three miles, becoming the first horse to complete the treble.

The decision was then made by her owner to send her back to France to try to repeat her 1984 win in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle).

Nicky Henderson

Binocular's Champion Hurdle gave Henderson a fifth win in the race, equalling the record held by Peter Easterby.

Tim Easterby

Peter Easterby also trained Night Nurse, who was successful in the Champion Hurdle on two occasions and in 1981 was narrowly denied a Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph by Little Owl, ironically also trained by Peter Easterby.