The Champion Four Year Old Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May. The race is currently sponsored by the Ballymore Group
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, and the last to win both events was Lossiemouth in 2023.
Records Leading jockey since 1980 (5 wins): Ruby Walsh - Holy Orders (2001), Sporazene (2003), Diakali (2013), Abbyssial (2014), Bapaume (2017)
Leading trainer since 1980 (11 wins): Willie Mullins - Holy Order (2001), Quatre Heures (2006), Diakali (2013), Abbyssial (2014), Petite Parisienne (2015), Apple's Jade (2016), Bapaume (2017), Saldier (2018), Vauban (2022), Lossiemouth (2023), Kargese (2024)
Winners since 1980 Year Winner Jockey Trainer 1980 Pearlstone Sean Treacy Paddy Mullins 1981 Tie Anchor Tom Morgan Paddy Prendergast, Jr. 1982 Bustineto Niall Madden Mick O'Toole 1983 Grateful Heir Dermot Browne Liam Browne 1984 Clarinbridge Brian Nolan Jim Bolger 1985 Atherstone Pat Leech Noel Meade 1986 Derrymore Boy Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1987 Grabel Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1988 Allen's Mistake Brendan Sheridan Dermot Weld 1989 Royal Derbi Graham McCourt Neville Callaghan 1990 Orbis Tommy Carmody Jim Bolger 1991 Mounamara Tommy Carmody Paddy Mullins 1992 Staunch Friend Steve Smith Eccles Mark Tompkins 1993 Shawiya Charlie Swan Michael O'Brien 1994 Glenstal Flagship Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1995 Shaihar Kevin O'Brien Michael O'Brien 1996 Shaunies Lady Tony McCoy Aidan O'Brien 1997 Grimes Conor O'Dwyer Christy Roche 1998 Zafarabad Richard Johnson David Nicholson 1999 Katarino Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2000 Topacio Charlie Swan Pat Hughes 2001 Holy Orders Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2002 Quazar Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill 2003 Sporazene Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2004 Cherub Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill 2005 United Leighton Aspell Lucy Wadham 2006 Quatre Heures Mick Fitzgerald Willie Mullins 2007 Punjabi Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson 2008 Won in the Dark Davy Russell Sabrina Harty 2009 Jumbo Rio Andrew McNamara Edward O'Grady 2010 Barizan Jason Maguire Evan Williams 2011 Grandouet Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Hisaabaat Andrew Lynch Dermot Weld 2013 Diakali Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 Abbyssial Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2015 Petite Parisienne Bryan Cooper Willie Mullins 2016 Apple's Jade Bryan Cooper Willie Mullins 2017 Bapaume Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2018 Saldier Robbie Power Willie Mullins 2019 Fusil Raffles Daryl Jacob Nicky Henderson no race 2020 2021 Jeff Kidder Sean Flanagan Noel Meade 2022 Vauban Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 Lossiemouth Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Kargese Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2025 Lulamba James Bowen Nicky Henderson 2026 Saratoga Mark Walsh Padraig Roche
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Punchestown Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – Punchestown. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).