Five Famous Betfair Hurdle Winners
William Hill have taken over sponsorship of Newbury’s valuable and ferociously competitive handicap hurdle, which takes place at the weekend.
It has had many names over the years and in recent times it has been known as the Tote Gold Trophy and the Betfair Hurdle.
It’s a hard race to win, as everyone wants to get their hands on the trophy, which makes it one of the most prestigious handicaps outside of the major festivals.
Here we take a look at five famous winners of the big race, including Martin Pipe’s Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand, who won this race back in 1997.
Betfair Hurdle Winner: Deep Sensation
We go back to 1990 to look at our first famous winner, the Josh Gifford-trained Deep Sensation. He went off at 7/1 in a field of 17 and conditions were certainly on the heavy side.
Taking up the running after the third flight of hurdles, he was never passed after that and managed to hold off the sustained challenge of the runner-up to score by a head.
Perhaps more well known for his future exploits, the gelding won the Queen Mother Champion Chase three years later, before going on to win the Melling Chase at Aintree the following month.
Betfair Hurdle Winner: Make A Stand
The Martin Pipe-trained Make A Stand was a very impressive winner back in 1997, despite carrying a fairly big weight. He was in a league of his own that day and his future exploits proved that he was a grade 1 horse in a handicap, running out a nine-length winner.
Make A Stand’s finest hour was still to come, however, as he went on to take the Champion Hurdle at odds of 7/1.
His frightening speed was too much for the opposition at Cheltenham, as he adopted his customary front-running tactics and pulled clear to score by five lengths and the jockey of the runner-up was particularly impressed by Martin Pipe’s gelding.
Betfair Hurdle Winner: Landing Light
Nicky Henderson’s Landing Light beat Champion Hurdle winner Rooster Booster in 2001 and he managed to put three lengths between himself and the popular grey. He was held up by Mick Fitzgerald in the early stages of the race before taking the lead at the second-last.
Grade 1 successes soon beckoned for him and he won the Championship Hurdle (a replacement for the Champion Hurdle at Sandown) after Cheltenham was cancelled due to the foot and mouth outbreak, as well as the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle later that year.
Betfair Hurdle Winner: My Tent Or Yours
My Tent Or Yours won very comfortably as a novice back in 2013 and that five-length success led to him going off as favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham the following month, where he finished second.
Always the bridesmaid but never the bride, Nicky Henderson’s hurdler went on to finish second in three Champion Hurdles. He did win the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle in 2013, however, so it’s hard to knock his consistency.
Betfair Hurdle Winner: Pic D’Orhy
One for 14-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Pic D’Orhy had some fair Grade 1 form in his native France, but took a few starts to get going for current connections.
It all came together in the 2020 renewal of this race as Harry Cobden got him up in the final furlong to win narrowly.
The son of Turgeon has since gone on to become a more than useful two-and-a-half miler over fences, winning two Grade 1s and six Grade 2s over the larger obstacles.
By Adrian Mills
Please note that the information provided in this article about Betfair Hurdle winners is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
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