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 7 furlongs (1 mile 7 furlongs and 50 yards, or 3,063 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early November.

Elite Hurdle
Grade 2 race
LocationWincanton,
Wincanton, England
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorUnibet
WebsiteWincanton
Race information
Distance1m 7f 50y (3,063 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 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
Elite Hurdle
2024
Purple, pink stars, purple cap, pink star White, light blue stars, dark blue sleeves, light blue stars, dark blue cap Pink and white (halved), black sleeves, black cap, pink star
Rubaud Brentford Hope Aspire Tower
Previous years
2023
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Red, white chevron, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, white cap Dark blue, red disc, diabolo on sleeves, quartered cap
Rubaud Hansard Glorious Zoff
2022
Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Red, yellow hoop, black sleeves, yellow armlets, yellow cap
Knappers Hill Sceau Royal Knight Salute
2021
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Purple, pink stars, mauve sleeves, pink stars, purple cap, pink star White, royal blue star, sleeves and star on cap
Sceau Royal Teqany Belfast Banter
2020-2011
2020
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Purple, pink stars, mauve sleeves, pink stars, purple cap, pink star Royal blue, pink hoops and armlets
Sceau Royal Teqany Diego Du Charmil
2019
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Red, emerald green cross of lorraine and sleeves Maroon, white chevrons, halved sleeves, maroon cap
Fusil Raffles Grand Sancy Beat The Judge
2018
Light blue, white cross belts, red cap Dark blue and yellow (quartered), striped sleeves Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Verdana Blue If The Cap Fits We Have A Dream
2017
Dark blue, pink triple diamond, dark blue sleeves, pink stars, dark blue cap, pink star Black, pink epaulets, hooped sleeves and cap Emerald green, white star and armlets
London Prize Lough Derg Spirit Flying Tiger
2016
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, halved sleeves White, royal blue cross of lorraine, chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
Sceau Royal Rayvin Black Aristo Du Plessis
2015
Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Dark blue, light blue inverted triangle and armlets, check cap Red, emerald green star
Irving Melodic Rendezvous Zarib
2014
Black, black and maroon striped cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Dark green, white cross belts, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap
Purple Bay Bertimont Rock on Ruby
2013
Dark blue, light blue inverted triangle and armlets, check cap Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds, white cap, dark blue diamonds Gold, aquamarine cross of lorraine and sleeves
Melodic Rendezvous Far West Ahyaknowyerself
2012
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Red, emerald green disc, emerald green sleeves, red stars
Zarkandar Prospect Wells Balder Succes
2011
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Scarlet, pale blue sleeves, grey cap Light blue, brown cross of lorraine, striped sleeves and star on cap
Celestial Halo Aine's Delight Act of Kalanisi
2010-2001
2010
Red, royal blue stars, white sleeves and cap Beige, beige and dark green check sleeves, dark green cap Light blue, white chevrons, white sleeves, light blue armlets, light blue and white striped cap
Nearby Tito Bustillo Dee Ee Williams
2009
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Dark blue, yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap Black and white stripes, yellow sleeves, black and yellow striped cap
Celestial Halo Mamlook Whiteoak
2008
Grey, white epaulets Pink, large purple spots and armlets Pink, emerald green cross belts, pink and emerald green striped sleeves, pink cap, emerald green star
Chomba Womba Takeroc Katchit
2007
White and purple diamonds, purple and white diabolo on sleeves Dark blue, pink and dark blue hooped sleeves, pink cap Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap
Kings Quay Chivalry Poquelin
2006
White and purple diamonds, purple and white diabolo on sleeves White, purple hooped sleeves and cap White, Red stars, Red and White hooped sleeves
Crow Wood Desert Quest Royal Shakespeare
2005
White, Red stars, Red and White hooped sleeves Light Green, Dark Blue striped sleeves, White cap Dark green, white hoop, checked sleeves, quartered cap
Royal Shakespeare Intersky Falcon Darrias
2004
White, black stars, black and red halved sleeves, black and white quartered cap Emerald Green and Royal Blue diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Yellow, black star, hooped sleeves, red cap
Perouse Chief Yeoman Howle Hill
2003
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Orange, Dark Blue chevron, Dark Blue sleeves, Orange armlets, Orange cap, Dark Blue star Dark blue, light blue cross of lorraine, red cap, light blue star
Well Chief Quazar Castleshane
2002
White, crimson hoops, black cap Dark blue, light blue cross of lorraine, red cap, light blue star Orange, dark blue chevron, dark blue sleeves, orange armlets, orange cap, dark blue star
Santenay Castleshane Quazar
2001
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Red, black sash, red and yellow hooped sleeves, yellow cap Yellow, red diamond, blue sleeves, yellow cap, red diamond
Azertyuiop Milligan Ulundi
2000-1992
2000
Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star White, blue star on cap Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap
Mister Morose Seebald Solo Mio
1999
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots White, blue star, red sleeves, red cap, white hoop White, mauve stripe, striped cap
Wahiba Sands Chai-Yo Krabloonik
1998
Light Blue and Orange diamonds, Light Blue sleeves, Light Blue cap, Orange star Black, yellow checked cap Red, Pink diamond, Pink cap, White spots
Grey Shot Bellator Dreams End
1997
Yellow, black inverted triangle, black sleeves, green diamonds, black cap Beige, Black hollow box and armlets, quartered cap Black, white hoops and armlets, white cap, black spots
Pridwell Mr Percy Sport Of Fools
1996
Red, Pink diamond, Pink cap, White spots Grey, maroon triple diamond and seams on sleeves, grey cap, maroon diamonds Yellow, blue triple diamond and diamonds on sleeves, yellow cap, blue diamond
Dreams End Space Trucker Ground Nut
1995
Yellow, blue stripe and sleeves Pink, black stars Dark blue, yellow star and sleeves, yellow star on cap
Atours Clifton Beat Absalom's Lady
1994
Royal blue, red stars, sleeves and star on cap Red, blue chevron and sleeves, red armlets Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Valfinet Jazilah Oh So Risky
1992
Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue, white seams, armlets and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
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

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Most successful horse (3 wins):

  • Sceau Royal - 2016, 2020, 2021

Leading jockey (5 wins):

  • Daryl JacobCelestial Halo (2011), Zarkandar (2012), Sceau Royal (2016, 2020,2021), Fusil Raffles (2019)

Leading trainer (9 wins):

  • Paul NichollsAzertyuiop (2001), Santenay (2002), Perouse (2004), Celestial Halo (2009, 2011), Zarkandar (2012), Irving (2015), Knappers Hill (2022), Rubaud (2023)

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Weight
Jockey
Trainer
1992 Morley Street 8 11-08 Richard Dunwoody Toby Balding
1993 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
2022 Knappers Hill 6 11–02 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2023 Rubaud 5 11–08 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2024 Rubaud 6 11-08 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mares the focus as BHA Jump Pattern Committee announces changes for 2018/19 season". British Horseracing Authority. 3 October 2018.

  NODES
Note 1