Elite Hurdle
The Elite Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Wincanton over a distance of about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs (1 mile 7 furlongs and 65 yards, or 3,077 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early November.
| Grade 2 race | |
| Location | Wincanton, Wincanton, England |
|---|---|
| Race type | Hurdle race |
| Sponsor | Unibet |
| Website | Wincanton |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1m 7f 65y (3,077 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 0 lb Allowances 7 lb for fillies and mares Penalties 6 lb for winners of a Grade 1 or Grade 2 hurdle race* 4 lb for winners of a Grade 3 or Listed hurdle race* *Half penalties for novice or juvenile wins |
| Purse | £48,000 (2020) 1st: £27,336 |
| 2021 | ||
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| Sceau Royal | Teqany | Belfast Banter |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
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| Sceau Royal | Teqany | Diego Du Charmil |
| 2019 | ||
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| Fusil Raffles | Grand Sancy | Beat The Judge |
| 2018 | ||
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| Verdana Blue | If The Cap Fits | We Have A Dream |
| 2017 | ||
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| London Prize | Lough Derg Spirit | Flying Tiger |
| 2016 | ||
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| Sceau Royal | Rayvin Black | Aristo Du Plessis |
| 2015 | ||
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| Irving | Melodic Rendezvous | Zarib |
| 2014 | ||
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| Purple Bay | Bertimont | Rock on Ruby |
| 2013 | ||
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| Melodic Rendezvous | Far West | Ahyaknowyerself |
| 2012 | ||
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| Zarkandar | Prospect Wells | Balder Succes |
| 2011 | ||
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| Celestial Halo | Aine's Delight | Act of Kalanisi |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Nearby | Tito Bustillo | Dee Ee Williams |
| 2009 | ||
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| Celestial Halo | Mamlook | Whiteoak |
| 2008 | ||
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| Chomba Womba | Takeroc | Katchit |
| 2007 | ||
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| Kings Quay | Chivalry | Poquelin |
| 2006 | ||
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| Crow Wood | Desert Quest | Royal Shakespeare |
| 2005 | ||
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| Royal Shakespeare | Intersky Falcon | Darrias |
| 2004 | ||
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| Perouse | Chief Yeoman | Howle Hill |
| 2003 | ||
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| Well Chief | Quazar | Castleshane |
| 2002 | ||
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| Santenay | Castleshane | Quazar |
| 2001 | ||
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| Azertyuiop | Milligan | Ulundi |
| 2000-1992 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Mister Morose | Seebald | Solo Mio |
| 1999 | ||
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| Wahiba Sands | Chai-Yo | Krabloonik |
| 1998 | ||
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| Grey Shot | Bellator | Dreams End |
| 1997 | ||
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| Pridwell | Mr Percy | Sport Of Fools |
| 1996 | ||
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| Dreams End | Space Trucker | Ground Nut |
| 1995 | ||
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| Atours | Clifton Beat | Absalom's Lady |
| 1994 | ||
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| Valfinet | Jazilah | Oh So Risky |
| 1992 | ||
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| Morley Street | Granville Again | Oh So Risky |
The event was established in 1992, and it was initially held at Cheltenham. It was originally contested over 2 miles and 110 yards. It was transferred to Wincanton and cut to its present length in 1994. The race was run a limited handicap between 1998 and 2017 before reverting to a weight for age conditions race from 2018.[1]
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Sceau Royal - 2016, 2020, 2021
Leading jockey (5 wins):
- Daryl Jacob – Celestial Halo (2011), Zarkandar (2012), Sceau Royal (2016, 2020,2021), Fusil Raffles (2019)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – Azertyuiop (2001), Santenay (2002), Perouse (2004), Celestial Halo (2009, 2011), Zarkandar (2012), Irving (2015)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Weight |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Morley Street | 8 | 11-08 | Richard Dunwoody | Toby Balding |
| no race 1993 | |||||
| 1994 | Valfinet | 7 | 11-02 | Richard Dunwoody | Martin Pipe |
| 1995 | Atours | 7 | 11-02 | Paul Holley | David Elsworth |
| 1996 | Dreams End | 8 | 10–12 | Rodney Farrant | Peter Bowen |
| 1997 | Pridwell | 7 | 11-06 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 1998 | Grey Shot | 6 | 10-03 | Jamie Osborne | Ian Balding |
| 1999 | Wahiba Sands | 6 | 11-07 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2000 | Mister Morose | 10 | 11-10 | Carl Llewellyn | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2001 | Azertyuiop | 4 | 11-10 | Timmy Murphy | Paul Nicholls |
| 2002 | Santenay | 4 | 11-07 | Timmy Murphy | Paul Nicholls |
| 2003 | Well Chief | 4 | 10-05 | Jamie Moore | Martin Pipe |
| 2004 | Perouse | 6 | 10-05 | Christian Williams | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | Royal Shakespeare | 6 | 11-01 | Graham Lee | Steve Gollings |
| 2006 | Crow Wood | 7 | 10-01 | Dougie Costello | John Quinn |
| 2007 | Kings Quay | 5 | 11-09 | Dougie Costello | John Quinn |
| 2008 | Chomba Womba | 7 | 10-06 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2009 | Celestial Halo | 5 | 11-10 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2010 | Nearby | 6 | 10-05 | Chris Davies | Philip Hobbs |
| 2011 | Celestial Halo | 7 | 11-10 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
| 2012 | Zarkandar | 5 | 11-10 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls |
| 2013 | Melodic Rendezvous | 7 | 11-10 | Nick Scholfield | Jeremy Scott |
| 2014 | Purple Bay | 5 | 10–11 | Mikey Ennis | John Ferguson |
| 2015 | Irving | 7 | 11–10 | Nick Scholfield | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | Sceau Royal | 4 | 11-10 | Daryl Jacob | Alan King |
| 2017 | London Prize | 6 | 10-09 | Tom O'Brien | Ian Williams |
| 2018 | Verdana Blue | 6 | 10-11 | Jeremiah McGrath | Nicky Henderson |
| 2019 | Fusil Raffles | 4 | 11-03 | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson |
| 2020 | Sceau Royal | 8 | 11-00 | Daryl Jacob | Alan King |
| 2021 | Sceau Royal | 9 | 11-06 | Daryl Jacob | Alan King |
References
- "Mares the focus as BHA Jump Pattern Committee announces changes for 2018/19 season". British Horseracing Authority. 3 October 2018.
- pedigreequery.com – Elite Hurdle – Wincanton.






































































