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Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 event open to horses aged four and over. It is run over a distance of two miles and features eight hurdles to be negotiated by the contenders.
This race evolved from a handicap race held at Kempton Park on Boxing Day during the 1960s, the Kempton Park Handicap Hurdle. The race was suspended in '67 and '68, to be finally reintroduced in 1969 as the more aptly named Christmas Hurdle.
Since 2006 the Christmas Hurdle is the second leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown; it is preceded by the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and followed by the Champion Hurdle. The winning jumper is rewarded a prize of £1 million. The purse for the Christmas Hurdle itself is an slightly less impressive £100,000.
Recent Winners of the Christmas Hurdle:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
2009 |
Go Native |
6 |
Davy Condon |
Noel Meade |
2008 |
Harchibald |
9 |
Paul Carberry |
Noel Meade |
2007 |
Straw Bear |
6 |
Tony McCoy |
Noel Meade |
2006 |
Jazz Messenger |
6 |
Niall Madden |
Noel Meade |
2005 |
Feathard Lady |
5 |
Ruby Walsh |
Colm Murphy |
