THE FESTIVAL 2017 MEDIA GUIDE

Jockey Tom Scudamore celebrates with the trophy after
winning the Ryanair World Hurdle on Thistlecrack
SUN BETS STAYERS’
HURDLE
Marathon hurdlers have been catered for at
Cheltenham since 1912, when a three-mile contest
over the smaller obstacles – the Stayers’ Selling
Hurdle – was introduced. The first running went to
the six-year-old Aftermath (who was bought in for
105 guineas), and the last in 1938 to Chestnut (sold
for 115 guineas).
The first running went to the six-yearold
Aftermath (who was bought in for Stroller in 1956, who had been
class was Vincent O’Brien-trained
105 guineas), and the last in 1938 to beaten a head by Clair Soleil in the
Chestnut (sold for 115 guineas).
1955 Champion Hurdle and then fell
as favourite for the 1956 two-mile
A three-mile conditions race in the championship before making amends,
division was introduced at the first by a short-head, in the longer contest
post-war Festival in 1946, the Spa two days later.
Hurdle, which was immediately well
supported.
Clair Soleil took the Spa Hurdle in 1959
and another Champion Hurdle winner,
In its first year, the race was run in two Merry Deal, followed suit in 1962, five
17-runner divisions, won by Haze and years after his first Festival victory.
Tregor, on the meeting’s final day, each They are the only two horses to have
worth £196, the lowest prize on offer, won both races.
and was split again in 1948.
The first winner with pretensions to
The first dual victor of the Spa Hurdle,
in 1963 and 1967, was Beau Normand,
a very smart hurdler/chaser trained by
Bob Turnell.
In between Antiar, owned by The
Queen Mother and ridden by Dave
Dick, became the only winner in Royal
colours at The Festival in 1965.
Trelawney, who had already notched
two Ascot Stakes-Queen Alexandra
Stakes doubles on the Flat at
Royal Ascot, scored under Terry
Biddlecombe in 1966.
For three years, 1968-70, there was
no long-distance conditions race at
The Festival. The Spa Hurdle was
transferred to the April meeting in
1968, swopping spots in the racing
calendar with the Triumph Hurdle,
before returning in 1971.
The race’s name was changed to the
Lloyds Bank Hurdle in 1972 when
Parlour Moor, trained by Tom Jones
and ridden by Macer Gifford, took the
44