January 2018

This Grade 1 race named in memory of David Nicholson (1939-2006) who was a distinguished jockey and a trainer involved with National Hunt racing, with many victories recorded at the Cheltenham Festival – 17 as a trainer and 5 as a jockey. The race takes place on the Old Course, over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, with nine hurdles and is open to Mares over four years of age.

 

This race has been sponsored by OLBG since 2012 and dominated during previous years with Quevega winning six times in succession, with Apple’s Jade taking the trophy in 2017 with a win for Gordon Elliot. This year, the Mares’ Hurdle will take place on Tuesday 13^th March at 16.10 GMT, with a prize fund of £120,000.

 

Rivalry in 2018 is between Vroum Vroum Mag (Willie Mullins) and Apple’s Jade (Gordon Elliot), with a further 27 entrants hoping to be up to the challenge that the nine hurdles provide.

 

The very first Mares’ Hurdle race took place in 2008, with the contest gaining strength in recent years for mares and fillies over 4 years of age.

 

 

This 4^th race to take place on Tuesday 18^th March 2018, at 15.30 GMT, the Champion Hurdle, is always popular with racegoers and punters. For Horses aged four years and over, this Grade 1 National Hunt race over hurdles, covers over 2 miles and half a furlong, on the Old Course. With a prize fund of £370,000, this national hunt hurdle race is one of the most prestigious in the Cheltenham Festival programme.

 

The 2017 Winner was Buveur D’Air trained by Nicky Henderson at 5/1, with My Tent or Yours (Stablemate at 16/1 in second place, and Petit Mouchoir at 6/1 coming in third.

 

The race is a fantastic feat of jumping, despite the hurdles being smaller, the competition is based on the speed that the horses run. Favourite to win this year’s Champion Hurdle race again, is Buveur D’Air, who proved in 2017 that he has the ability to win the race again, especially with his speed and the skills to navigate the hill with drive and stamina. Second favourite is Melon, who, although he is still a young horse, has the capabilities to do very well this year.

 

The Champion Hurdle race is often the highlight of the Festival for many race-goers, as many fantastic horses battle it out to prove which one is the best.