The Rendlesham Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ a furlong (3 miles and 58 yards, or ), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The race was first run in 1980 and was initially held at Kempton Park. It was a limited handicap from 1995 to 2001.
The race was transferred to Haydock in 2006, and its distance here was initially 2 miles and 7½ furlongs. It was extended to 3 miles in 2008, and then to 3 miles and 1 furlong for 2009 and 2010 before reverting to 3 miles in 2011 and being cut to 2 miles and 7 furlongs in 2012. It has been run at its present distance since 2019. The race is currently sponsored by William Hill and was run under various sponsored titles between 2010 and 2016.
The Rendlesham Hurdle serves as an important trial for the Stayers' Hurdle in March. The last horse to win both races in the same year was Baracouda in 2002.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1980Derring Rose5Andy TurnellAlan Jarvis1981Derring Rose6John FrancomeFred Winter1982Hill of Slane6Andy TurnellAlan Jarvis1983Mellie8Sam MorsheadR Blakeney1984Gaye Chance9Sam MorsheadMercy Rimell1985Abandoned because of frost1986Abandoned because of frost1987Aonoch8Jimmy DugganSally Oliver 1988 King's College Boy 10 Graham Bradley Monica Dickinson 1989 Cliffalda 6 Tom Morgan John Edwards 1990 Old Dundalk 6 Michael Bowlby David Murray Smith 1991 Floyd 11 Graham Bradley David Elsworth 1992 Forest Sun 7 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1993 Baydon Star 6 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 1994 Balasani 8 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe 1995 Cyborgo 5 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe 1996 See Enough 8 Anthony Tory Bob Buckler 1997 Pharanear 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1998 Buckhouse Boy 8 Andrew Thornton David Nicholson 1999 Pharanear 9 Robert Thornton David Nicholson 2000 Teaatral 6 Dean Gallagher Charles Egerton 2001 Merry Masquerade 10 Andrew Thornton Mary Reveley 2002 Baracouda 7 Thierry Doumen François Doumen 2003 Deano's Beeno 11 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Monkerhostin 7 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2005 Crystal d'Ainay 6 Robert Thornton Alan King 2006 Royal Emperor 10 Padge Whelan Sue Smith 2007 Labelthou 8 Barry Fenton Emma Lavelle 2008 Kasbah Bliss 6 Barry Keniry François Doumen 2009 Kasbah Bliss 7 Christophe Pieux François Doumen 2010 Souffleur 7 Tom O'Brien Peter Bowen 2011 Cross Kennon 7 Alan O'Keefe Jenny Candlish 2012 Restless Harry 8 Henry Oliver Robin Dickin 2013 Across The Bay 9 Henry Brooke Donald McCain 2014 Seeyouatmidnight 6 Ryan Mania Sandy Thomson 2015 Closing Ceremony 6 Richie McLernon Emma Lavelle 2016 Reve De Sivola 11 Richard Johnson Nick Williams 2017 Zarkandar 10 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2018 Donna's Diamond 9 Callum Bewley Chris Grant 2019 Shades Of Midnight 9 Henry Brooke Sandy Thomson 2020 Emitom 6 Gavin Sheehan Warren Greatrex 2021 Third Wind 7 Tom Cannon Hughie Morrison 2022 Wholestone 11 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2023 Wakool 7 Conor O'Farrell Nick Alexander 2024 Botox Has 8 Caoilin Quinn Gary Moore 2025 Gwennie May Boy 7 Charlie Todd Dan Skelton 2026 Lud'or 6 Gavin Sheehan Tom Symonds
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Timeform Chasers & Hurdlers Statistical Companion 1992–93
External links Race Recordings (1988-2004) youtube.com pedigreequery.com – Rendlesham Hurdle – Haydock.