CHAMPION HURDLE HISTORY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS

The inaugural running of the Champion Hurdle was in 1927 and it is the most prestigious UK hurdle race. It is a Grade 1 race for horses aged four years old and above. It is run over 2m ½f on Cheltenham's Old Course and is the feature race of the opening day of the March Cheltenham Festival.

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2008 KATCHIT (Jockey: Robert Thornton, Trainer: Alan King)

No five-year-old had won the Champion Hurdle since 1985, but Katchit, winner of the 2007 Triumph Hurdle, defied Cheltenham statistics to win the 2008 renewal from Osana, with Punjabi third. Katchit was the first Triumph Hurdle winner to win the Champion Hurdle at the following season's Cheltenham Festival since Persian War (1968).

2007 SUBLIMITY (Jockey: Philip Carberry, Trainer: John Carr)

John Carr had long sung the praises of Sublimity (16/1 in the Cheltenham betting, but backed from 600/1 downwards by owner Bill Hennessy), a three-length winner from reigning champion Brave Inca. It was a first Cheltenham Festival success for rider Philip Carberry.

2006 BRAVE INCA (Jockey: A.P McCoy, Trainer: Colm Murphy)

Trainer Colm Murphy billed Brave Inca as a "superstar" after the eight-year-old battled on to capture the Champion Hurdle. Macs Joy, beaten 1l by the winner, improved significantly on his 2005 fifth, while Hardy Eustace, seeking to win three Champion Hurdles, raced prominently, eventually beaten 4½l.

2005 HARDY EUSTACE (Jockey: Conor O´Dwyer, Trainer: Dessie Hughes)

Harchibald looked the winner when cruising alongside Hardy Eustace after the last, but the reigning champion refused to be denied, showing great tenacity to hold on for a second success. The Cheltenham statistics reveal that Hardy Eustace won at three consecutive Festivals. Dessie Hughes is only the fourth person to have both ridden and trained a Champion Hurdle winner, having partnered Monksfield in 1979.

2004 HARDY EUSTACE (Jockey: Conor O'Dwyer, Trainer: Dessie Hughes)

Hardy Eustace caused an upset by holding off Rooster Booster to win the Champion Hurdle at an unconsidered 33/1 in the Cheltenham betting. He led early and withstood the challenge of Rooster Booster to win by five lengths. The reigning champion moved through the field after a tardy start, joining the winner at the last, but Eustace was not to be denied. Jonjo O'Neill's Intersky Falcon finished third.

2003 ROOSTER BOOSTER (Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Phillip Hobbs)

Rooster Booster produced a storming finish to take the Champion Hurdle. Intersky Falcon led for the 1½ miles, but the 9-2 shot pulled clear after the last. Copeland, ridden by Tony McCoy, was in contention until falling three out. Westender finished second, with favourite in the Cheltenham betting, Rhinestone Cowboy, disappointing in third.

2002 HORS LA LOI III (Jockey: Dean Gallagher, Trainer: James Fanshawe)

Hors La Loi III won the Champion Hurdle by three lengths, holding off challenges from outsider Marble Arch and the French-trained Bilboa. Second-favourite in the Cheltenham betting, Valiramix, clipped the heels of Ansar and fell after two out.

2001 No race due to foot and mouth epidemic

1998-2000 ISTABRAQ (Jockey: Charlie Swan, Trainer: Aidan O'Brien)

In the 1998 season, Istabraq confirmed himself the best two mile hurdler, with an astonishing 12l victory in the Champion Hurdle. The story was similar in 1999. He arrived at the Cheltenham Festival unbeaten for the season, and made short work of the opposition, for a second Champion Hurdle.

2000 confirmed that Istabraq was one of the greatest hurdlers of modern times. He cruised round, before bursting up the hill to win by 4l from Hors La Loi III, recording a fourth straight Cheltenham Festival win.

In 2002, following the abandonment of the 2001 Cheltenham Festival, Istabraq took his chance at making history. Starting a 2/1 favourite in the Cheltenham betting, Charlie Swan was never happy with him, pulling up after jumping just one flight. Despite the huge sums of money lost, the Cheltenham Festival crowd gave him a standing ovation.