Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
Encyclopedia
The Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt
hurdle race
in Great Britain
which is open to horses
aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham
over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival
in March.
, an Irish racehorse trainer
who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham Festival, and his name was added to the title of this event in 1995.
For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day.
Most successful horse since 1946:
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Leading jockey
since 1946 (4 wins):
----
Leading trainer
since 1946 (3 wins):
The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost.
It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow.
The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
Recurring sporting events established in 1920 – this race is included under its original title, County Hurdle.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
hurdle race
Hurdling (horse race)
A Hurdle race in England is a National Hunt horse race where the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles that are over three and a half feet high. They are typically made of brush, that has some flexability. Hurdle races always have a minimum of eight hurdles and a minimum distance of two miles ....
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
in March.
History
The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title now honours Vincent O'BrienVincent O'Brien
Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
, an Irish racehorse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham Festival, and his name was added to the title of this event in 1995.
For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day.
Records
Most successful horse since 1946:
- no horse has won this race more than once since 1946
----
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
since 1946 (4 wins):
- Ruby WalshRuby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
– Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Final Approach (2011)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
since 1946 (3 wins):
- Paul NichollsPaul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...
– Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009)
Winners since 1946
- Weights given in stones and poundPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
s; Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr", "Ms", "Lord" etc.Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer 1946 Vidi 5 11-10 Don Butchers Reg Hobbs no race 1947 1948 Cape Light 5 11-01 Joe Maguire Ivor Anthony no race 1949 1950 Blue Raleigh 7 10-00 Jimmy Power Bobby Renton 1951 Southwick 7 10-03 George Spann J. Whiting 1952 Ballymacan 5 10-12 Bryan Marshall Neville Crump 1953 Teapot II 8 12-07 Pat Taaffe Pat TaaffePat Taaffe died in 1992 in Dublin Hospital, aged just 62. His health had been poor for some time.Taaffe is a National Hunt jockey who famously rode Arkle to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1964 and 1966...Clem Magnier 1954 Bold Baby 8 12-00 Paddy Powell Michael Dawson no race 1955 1956 Pommel 9 10-11 Steve Boddy John Waugh 1957 Flaming East 8 10-05 Peter Pickford Ricky Vallance 1958 Friendly Boy 6 10-05 Liam Brennan Joe Osborne 1959 Approval 13 11-02 Derek Leslie Syd Mercer 1960 Albergo 6 12-05 Doug Page Clem Magnier 1961 Most Unusual 6 10-07 Josh Gifford Josh GiffordJosh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career....Bill Ransom 1962 Sky Pink 5 10-11 Fred Winter Fred Winter (horse racing)Frederick Thomas Winter was a British National Hunt racing racehorse jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Jockey four times and British jump racing Champion Trainer eight times. He is the only person to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National as both...Ryan Price H. Ryan PriceHenry Ryan Price 16 August 1912 - 16 August 1986) was a British Thoroughbred horse trainer in both flat and National Hunt racing.Born in Hindhead, Surrey, he is known by his middle name, Ryan. He began his career in horse racing as a jockey based at East Lavant in West Sussex. In 1937, he...1963 Bahrain 6 10-06 Tommy Carberry Tommy CarberryTommy Carberry is a retired National Hunt jockey who was twice overall champion Irish jockey and five times champion national hunt jockey. He rode in his first race in 1958, and was crowned champion apprentice in 1959...Dan Moore 1964 Icy Wonder 5 10-02 Jeff King Vernon Cross 1965 Mayfair Bill 6 10-04 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell 1966 Roaring Twenties 6 11-02 George Milburn Ken Oliver 1967 Cool Alibi 5 10-09 Roddy Reid Rodney Bower 1968 Jolly Signal 6 10-11 Jimmy Uttley Earl Jones 1969 Gay Knight 5 10-03 Aly Branford Les Kennard 1970 Khan 6 09-11 Lord Petersham Delmer Harty 1971 Carry Off 7 10-01 David Goulding Nigel Angus 1972 Cold Day 6 10-08 Ron Hyett Katie Gaze 1973 Current Romance 7 10-07 David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing)David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....Frenchie Nicholson 1974 True Song 5 11-02 Gary Old Donald Underwood no race 1975 1976 Java Fox 6 10-01 Mr George Jones Roy Cambidge 1977 Kilcoleman 5 10-07 Tommy Kinane Billy Boyers no race 1978 1979 Monte Ceco 6 10-12 Colin Tinkler Fred Rimell 1980 Prince of Bermuda 5 10-00 Steve Knight Bob Turnell 1981 Staplestown 6 10-07 Tommy Ryan Edward O'Grady 1982 Path of Peace 6 10-06 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...Chris Thornton 1983 Robin Wonder 5 10-03 Jeff Davies David Elsworth David ElsworthDavid Elsworth is a horse trainer living in the United Kingdom. He is perhaps best known for being the trainer of Desert Orchid, 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme 'n' Reason and 1990 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Barnbrook Again - just three horses amongst a host of top-class performers over...1984 Hill's Guard 5 10-11 Andrew Stringer Andrew Scott 1985 Floyd Floyd (horse)Floyd was an English bred and English trained National Hunt racehorse sired by Relko. The horse was named after the english progressive rock band Pink Floyd....5 10-05 Colin Brown David Elsworth David ElsworthDavid Elsworth is a horse trainer living in the United Kingdom. He is perhaps best known for being the trainer of Desert Orchid, 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme 'n' Reason and 1990 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Barnbrook Again - just three horses amongst a host of top-class performers over...1986 Jobroke 6 10-03 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...Peter Easterby Peter EasterbyMiles Henry 'Peter' Easterby is a retired British racehorse trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer three times....1987 Neblin 8 11-00 Richard Guest Toby Balding Toby BaldingGerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...1988 Cashew King 5 10-04 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon 1989 Willsford WillsfordWillsford was the oldest horse to win the Scottish Grand National and also won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in 1990.He was owned by Arnold Kaplan, Robert Johnson and David Johnson and trained by Jenny Pitman....6 10-08 Michael Bowlby Jenny Pitman Jenny PitmanJenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...1990 Moody Man 5 11-02 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....1991 Winnie the Witch 7 09-08 David Bridgwater Ken Bridgwater 1992 Dusty Miller 6 10-06 Jamie Osborne Jamie OsborneJamie Osborne is a jockey and race horse trainer. Born 28 August 1967 he rode his first winner in March 1986 and in 1999 obtained his trainers licence. Once a favourite of the Queen Mother, he was acquitted of race fixing in 1998.-References:...Simon Sherwood 1993 Thumbs Up 7 10-02 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...1994 Dizzy 6 10-00 Tony Dobbin Tony DobbinTony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...Peter Monteith 1995 Home Counties 6 10-12 James Moffatt Dudley Moffatt 1996 Star Rage 6 10-00 Dean Gallagher Jimmy Harris 1997 Barna Boy 9 10-12 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...1998 Blowing Wind 5 11-08 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....1999 Sir Talbot 5 10-00 Timmy Murphy Timmy MurphyTimothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...Jim Old 2000 Master Tern 5 10-03 Tony Dobbin Tony DobbinTony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...no race 2001 2002 Rooster Booster Rooster Booster (horse)Rooster Booster was a British-bred thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 2003 Champion Hurdle.-Background:Rooster Booster was a gelding whose grey coat and racing style made him easily recognisable. He was the only horse of any consequence produced by the unsuccessful racehorse...8 11-01 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....2003 Spirit Leader 7 11-07 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Jessica Harrington 2004 Sporazene 5 10-13 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2005 Fontanesi 5 10-00 Timmy Murphy Timmy MurphyTimothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....2006 Desert Quest 6 10-10 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2007 Pedrobob 9 10-00 Philip Carberry Tony Mullins 2008 Silver Jaro 5 10-13 Noel Fehily Tom Hogan 2009 American Trilogy 5 11-00 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2010 Thousand Stars 6 10-05 Ms Katie Walsh Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2011 Final Approach 5 10-12 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost.
It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow.
The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
See also
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
Recurring sporting events established in 1920 – this race is included under its original title, County Hurdle.