# County Handicap Hurdle

The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap 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 (2 miles and 179 yards, or 3,382 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.

## History

The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title between 1995 and 2016 was the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in honour of Vincent O'Brien, an Irish racehorse trainer who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham festival.
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. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.

## Records

Most successful horse since 1946:
* no horse has won this race more than once since 1946
Leading jockey since 1946 (5 wins):
* Paul Townend - Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), Kargese (2025)
Leading trainer since 1946 (8 wins):
* Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), Kargese (2025)

## List of renewals

* Weights given in stones and pounds.
| Date | Winner | SP | Age | Weight (st-lb) | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Runners |
| 11-03-1920 1920, 11 March | Trespasser | 1000.5714285714 4/7F | 4 | 11-09 | George Duller | J. M. Bell | P. Heybourn | 8 |
| 3-03-1921 1921, 3 March | Water Bottle | 1005 5/1 | — | 11–13 | Fred Croney | Adam Scott | A. Scott | 12 |
| 9-03-1922 1922, 9 March | Lukeston | 1003.3333333333 100/30 | — | 12-02 | Fred Rees | Harrison | E. Tattersall | 7 |
| 7-03-1923 1923, 7 March | Assaroe | 1006 6/1 | — | 11–10 | Frank Brown | Newey | Stanley Howard | 7 |
| 12-03-1924 1924, 12 March | Argo | 1002 2/1F | — | 11-08 | George Duller | Coulthwaite | Lord Londesborough | 13 |
| 11-03-1925 1925, 11 March | Rosecome | 1014.2857142857 100/7 | 5 | 10-06 | James East | W. McKie | A. Sanders | 15 |
| 9-03-19261926, 9 March | Checktaker | 1002.5 5/2F | 5 | 11–11 | George Duller | H. Harrison | Harrison | 13 |
| 8-03-19271927, 8 March | Rolie | 1007 7/1 | 6 | 11-06 | Howard Cheshire | T. Rimell | T. Rimell | 11 |
| 14-03-19281928, 14 March | Truthful James | 1007 7/1 | — | 11-03 | Billy Parvin | Captain Bay Powell | Milne | 15 |
| 13-03-19291929, 13 March | Castlederg | 1008 8/1 | 7 | 11-02 | Fred Rees | Whitelaw | Whitelaw | 14 |
| 12-03-19301930, 12 March | Gonedry | 1004.5 9/2 | 8 | 10–11 | Patrick Dennis | H. Dyke Dennis | Pellerin | 15 |
| 01-01-1931 no race 1931 |||||||||
| 3-03-19321932, 3 March | Fouquet | 1002.75 11/4 | 5 | 10-00 | Billy Stott | F. Wootton | S. Wootton | 10 |
| 9-03-19331933, 9 March | Hightide IV. | 1020 20/1 | 7 | 11-03 | Gerry Wilson | Bullock | T. Richardson | 13 |
| 8-03-19341934, 8 March | Jack Grange | 1008 8/1 | 5 | 10-00 | William Hollick | Barthropp | Sir A. McAlpine | 17 |
| 14-03-19351935, 14 March | Polly Stephens | 1002 2/1F | 8 | 11-00 | Staff Ingham | Cundell | Rieb | 15 |
| 12-03-19361936, 12 March | Back Isle | 1007 7/1 | 8 | 11-03 | Fulke Walwyn | Roberts | C. Jones | 21 |
| 01-01-1937 no race 1937 |||||||||
| 10-03-19381938, 10 March | Prince Rouge | 1010 10/1 | 8 | 10–12 | J. Prendergast | W. Stubbs | Mrs D. Thomas | 17 |
| 9-03-19391939, 9 March | Abbot's Own | 1006.5 13/2 | 8 | 12-01 | Frenchie Nicholson | O'Sullivan | Mrs E. Scott | 17 |
| 20-03-19401940, 20 March | Sam Brown | 1006 6/1 | 6 | 11-01 | Fred Rimell | trained privately | M. C. Willes | 10 |
| 20-03-19411941, 20 March | Celibate II | 1007 7/1 | 9 | 11-04 | William Hollick | David Dick | Mrs D. P. Dick | 19 |
| 21-03-19421942, 21 March | Red April | 1012.5 100/8 | 5 | 11–13 | Eric Foley | Stalbridge | M. Jones | 21 |
| 01-01-1943 no race 1943–45 |||||||||
| 14-03-19461946, 14 March | Vidi | 1006 6/1 | 5 | 11–10 | Don Butchers | Reg Hobbs | A. E. Saunders | 27 |
| 01-01-1947 no race 1947 |||||||||
| 4-03-19481948, 4 March | Cape Light | 1002 2/1F | 5 | 11-01 | Joe Maguire | Ivor Anthony | — | 21 |
| 01-01-1949 no race 1949 |||||||||
| 9-03-19501950, 9 March | Blue Raleigh | 1025 25/1 | 7 | 10-00 | Jimmy Power | Bobby Renton | Mrs L. Brotherton | 19 |
| 25-04-19511951, 25 April | Southwick | 1014.2857142857 100/7 | 7 | 10-03 | George Spann | J. Whiting | — | 21 |
| 6-03-19521952, 6 March | Ballymacan | 1014.2857142857 100/7 | 5 | 10–12 | Bryan Marshall | Neville Crump | H. D. Waddington | 20 |
| 5-03-19531953, 5 March | Teapot II | 1004 4/1 | 8 | 12-07 | Pat Taaffe | Clem Magnier | — | 16 |
| 1954 | Bold Baby | | 8 | 12-00 | Paddy Powell | Michael Dawson | | |
| 01-01-1955 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 | Bill Ransom | | |
| 1962 | Sky Pink | | 5 | 10–11 | Fred Winter | Ryan Price | | |
| 1963 | Bahrain | | 6 | 10-06 | Tommy Carberry | 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 | Frenchie Nicholson | | |
| 1974 | True Song | | 5 | 11-02 | Gary Old | Donald Underwood | | |
| 01-01-1975 no race 1975 |||||||||
| 1976 | Java Fox | | 6 | 10-01 | George Jones | Roy Cambidge | | |
| 1977 | Kilcoleman | | 5 | 10-07 | Tommy Kinane | Billy Boyers | | |
| 01-01-1978 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 | Chris Thornton | | |
| 1983 | Robin Wonder | | 5 | 10-03 | Jeff Davies | David Elsworth | | |
| 1984 | Hill's Guard | | 5 | 10–11 | Andrew Stringer | Andrew Scott | | |
| 1985 | Floyd | | 5 | 10-05 | Colin Brown | David Elsworth | | |
| 1986 | Jobroke | | 6 | 10-03 | Jonjo O'Neill | Peter Easterby | | |
| 1987 | Neblin | | 8 | 11-00 | Richard Guest | Toby Balding | | |
| 17-03-19881988, 17 March | Cashew King | 1009 9/1 | 5 | 10-04 | Trevor Wall | Bryan McMahon | Mrs J A Wall | 24 |
| 16-03-19891989, 16 March | Willsford | 1011 11/1 | 6 | 10-08 | Michael Bowlby | Jenny Pitman | A M Kaplan | 21 |
| 15-03-19901990, 15 March | Moody Man | 1009 9/1 | 5 | 11-02 | Peter Hobbs | Philip Hobbs | James Burley | 20 |
| 14-03-19911991, 14 March | Winnie the Witch | 1033 33/1 | 7 | 09-08 | David Bridgwater | Ken Bridgwater | Paddocks Thoroughbred Racing Ltd | 26 |
| 12-03-19921992, 12 March | Dusty Miller | 1009 9/1 | 6 | 10-06 | Jamie Osborne | Simon Sherwood | Watership Down Racing | 27 |
| 18-03-19931993, 18 March | Thumbs Up | 1016 16/1 | 7 | 10-02 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson | Michael Buckley | 21 |
| 17-03-19941994, 17 March | Dizzy | 1012 12/1 | 6 | 10-00 | Tony Dobbin | Peter Monteith | Lt-Col W L Monteith | 24 |
| 16-03-19951995, 16 March | Home Counties | 1014 14/1 | 6 | 10–12 | James Moffatt | Dudley Moffatt | Roxy Cinemas (dalton) | 23 |
| 14-03-19961996, 14 March | Star Rage | 1014 14/1 | 6 | 10-00 | Dean Gallagher | Jimmy Harris | J David Abell | 28 |
| 13-03-19971997, 13 March | Barna Boy | 1014 14/1 | 9 | 10–12 | Richard Dunwoody | Nicky Henderson | Lynn Wilson | 20 |
| 19-03-19981998, 19 March | Blowing Wind | 1001.875 15/8F | 5 | 11-08 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe | P A Deal | 27 |
| 18-03-19991999, 18 March | Sir Talbot | 1010 10/1 | 5 | 10-00 | Timmy Murphy | Jim Old | W E Sturt | 28 |
| 16-03-20002000, 16 March | Master Tern | 1004.5 9/2F | 5 | 10-03 | Tony Dobbin | Jonjo O'Neill | John P McManus | 21 |
| 01-01-2001 no race 2001 |||||||||
| 14-03-20022002, 14 March | Rooster Booster | 1008 8/1 | 8 | 11-01 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs | Terry Warner | 21 |
| 13-03-20032003, 13 March | Spirit Leader | 1010 10/1 | 7 | 11-07 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington | D Thompson | 28 |
| 18-03-20042004, 18 March | Sporazene | 1007 7/1J | 5 | 10–13 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | Ged Mason & David Jackson | 23 |
| 18-03-20052005, 18 March | Fontanesi | 1016 16/1 | 5 | 10–10 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe | The Johnson Family | 30 |
| 17-03-20062006, 17 March | Desert Quest | 1004 4/1J | 6 | 10–10 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | Mrs M Findlay | 29 |
| 16-03-20072007, 16 March | Pedrobob | 1012 12/1 | 9 | 10-00 | Philip Carberry | Tony Mullins | Barry Connell | 28 |
| 14-03-20082008, 14 March | Silver Jaro | 1050 50/1 | 5 | 10–13 | Noel Fehily | Tom Hogan | Miss M A Masterson | 22 |
| 13-03-20092009, 13 March | American Trilogy | 1020 20/1 | 5 | 11-00 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | Fulton,Donlon,Kilduff & Scott-MacDonald | 27 |
| 19-03-20102010, 19 March | Thousand Stars | 1020 20/1 | 6 | 10-05 | Katie Walsh | Willie Mullins | Hammer & Trowel Syndicate | 28 |
| 18-03-20112011, 18 March | Final Approach | 1010 10/1 | 5 | 10–12 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | Douglas Taylor | 26 |
| 16-03-20122012, 16 March | Alderwood | 1020 20/1 | 8 | 11-01 | Tony McCoy | Thomas Mullins | John P McManus | 26 |
| 15-03-20132013, 15 March | Ted Veale | 1010 10/1 | 6 | 10-06 | Bryan Cooper | Tony Martin | John Breslin | 28 |
| 14-03-20142014, 14 March | Lac Fontana | 1011 11/1 | 5 | 10–11 | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls | Potensis Limited | 28 |
| 13-03-20152015, 13 March | Wicklow Brave | 1025 25/1 | 6 | 11-04 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | Wicklow Bloodstock Limited | 24 |
| 18-03-20162016, 18 March | Superb Story | 1008 8/1 | 5 | 10–12 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton | Holt, Robinson, Taylor & Miller | 26 |
| 17-03-20172017, 17 March | Arctic Fire | 1020 20/1 | 8 | 11–12 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | Wicklow Bloodstock Limited | 26 |
| 16-03-20182018, 16 March | Mohaayed | 1033 33/1 | 6 | 10–08 | Bridget Andrews | Dan Skelton | Mrs June Watts | 24 |
| 15-03-20192019, 15 March | Ch'tibello | 1012 12/1 | 8 | 11-05 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton | Can't Say No Partnership | 24 |
| 13-03-20202020, 13 March | Saint Roi | 1005.5 11/2 | 5 | 10-13 | Barry Geraghty | Willie Mullins | John P McManus | 23 |
| 19-03-20212021, 19 March | Belfast Banter | 1033 33/1 | 6 | 10-00 | Kevin Sexton | Peter Fahey | Direct Bloodstock Ltd | 23 |
| 18-03-20222022, 18 March | State Man | 1002.75 11/4F | 5 | 11-01 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | Mrs J Donnelly | 26 |
| 17-03-20232023, 17 March | Faivoir | 1033 33/1 | 8 | 10-07 | Bridget Andrews | Dan Skelton | Mrs S Lawrence | 24 |
| 15-03-20242024, 15 March | Absurde | 1012 12/1 | 6 | 10-10 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | H O S Syndicate | 17 |
| 14-03-20252025, 14 March | Kargese | Expression error: Unrecognized word "f". 3/1F | 5 | 11-03 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | Kenny Alexander | 16 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 amateur jockey
* 1 2 The race was abandoned in 1931 because of frost, and in 1937 because of flooding
* ↑ It was cancelled in 1943–45 because of World War II
* ↑ The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost
* 1 2 It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow
* 1 2 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.