The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 Hurdle Race hosted annually in March at Cheltenham Racecourse as part of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival. It runs over three miles on Cheltenham's New Course and features twelve hurdles. Considered the United Kingdom's most accomplished long-distance hurdle event, the World Hurdle has been named the featured race of Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival and attracts only the finest jump horses of the season. Entry to the event is restricted to horses over the age of four and the winners are awarded a purse of £260,000.
The event as it is run today was inaugurated in 1972, its main purpose being the replacement of the Spa Hurdle. Originally the World Hurdle was known as the Stayers' Hurdle, as it is a long distance race, and was sponsored by Lloyd's Bank. Corporate sponsorships by Waterfront Crystal and Bonusprint followed before the race found its current sponsor, Ladbrokes Bookmaking, in 2005.
In recent years the World Hurdle has been dominated by Paul Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s who has won the race for the last four years. Big Buck’s has made Ruby Walsh the leading jockey in the history of the race and Paul Nicholls the most successful trainer.
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2012 | Big Buck's |
9 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Big Buck's |
8 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
| 2010 | Big Buck's |
7 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | Big Buck's |
6 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
| 2008 | Inglis Drever |
9 | Denis O'Regan |
Howard Johnson |
| 2007 | Inglis Drever |
8 | Paddy Brennan |
Robert Alner |
| 2006 | My Way De Solzen |
6 | Robert Thornton |
Alan King |
| 2005 | Inglis Drever |
6 | Graham Lee |
Howard Johnson |
