December Festival Hurdle
Ryanair Hurdle
| 2015 |
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 |
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| Nichols Canyon |
Identity Thief |
Plinth |
| Previous years |
|---|
| 2014 |
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|
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| Hurricane Fly |
Jezki |
Arctic Fire |
| 2013 |
| |
|
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| Hurricane Fly |
Jezki |
Our Conor |
| 2012 |
| |
 |
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| Hurricane Fly |
Unaccompanied |
Thousand Stars |
| 2011 |
| |
|
 |
| Unaccompanied |
Thousand Stars |
Oscars Well |
| 2010 |
| |
 |
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| Hurricane Fly |
Solwhit |
Luska Lad |
| 2009 |
| |
 |
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| Solwhit |
Sublimity |
Jumbo Rio |
| 2008 |
| |
 |
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| Sublimity |
Won In The Dark |
Brave Inca |
| 2007 |
 |
 |
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| Al Eile |
Hardy Eustace |
Jazz Messenger |
| 2006 |
| |
 |
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| Brave Inca |
Iktitaf |
Silent Oscar |
| 2005 |
| |
 |
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| Brave Inca |
Harchibald |
Newmill |
| 2004 |
 |
|
|
| Macs Joy |
Brave Inca |
Hardy Eustace |
| 2003 |
 |
 |
 |
| Golden Cross |
Spirit Leader |
Flame Creek |
| |
The December Festival Hurdle, currently known by its sponsored title of the Ryanair Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Christmas Festival meeting in late December.
Prior to 2013 the race was named the Istabraq Festival Hurdle in honour of Istabraq, who won it four times. The race took its current title in 2013 when Ryanair began sponsoring the race.[1] Former titles of the event included the paddypower.com iPhone App Hurdle, Sean P. Graham Memorial Hurdle and the Bookmakers Hurdle. The race was first run in 1986, and it has held Grade 1 status since 2002. It is often used as a trial for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Three horses have won both races in the same season – Istabraq three times, Hurricane Fly twice and Brave Inca once.
Records
- Most successful horse – Istabraq, 4 wins (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001); Hurricane Fly, 4 wins (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Most successful jockey – Charlie Swan, 6 wins (1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
- Most successful trainer – Paddy Mullins, 6 wins (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994)
Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
See also
References
- Racing Post:
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015