The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 179 yards, or 3,382 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

History The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title between 1995 and 2016 was the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in honour of Vincent O'Brien, an Irish racehorse trainer who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham festival.

For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.

In 2024, the race changed sponsor from McCoy Contractors to BetMGM

Records Most successful horse since 1946: no horse has won this race more than once since 1946

Leading jockey since 1946 (5 wins): Paul Townend - Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), Kargese (2025)

Leading trainer since 1946 (8 wins): Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), Kargese (2025)

List of renewals Weights given in stones and pounds. Date Winner SP Age Weight (st-lb) Jockey Trainer Owner Runners 11-03-1920 1920, 11 March TrespasserF 4 11-09 George Duller J. M. Bell P. Heybourn 8 3-03-1921 1921, 3 March Water Bottle — 11–13 F. Croney A. Scott A. Scott 12 9-03-1922 1922, 9 March Lukeston — 12-02 F. Rees Harrison E. Tattersall 7 7-03-1923 1923, 7 March Assaroe — 11–10 F. Brown Newey Stanley Howard 7 12-03-1924 1924, 12 March ArgoF — 11-08 George Duller Coulthwaite Lord Londesborough 13 11-03-1925 1925, 11 March Rosecome 5 10-06 J. East W. McKie A. Sanders 15 9-03-19261926, 9 March Checktaker F 5 11–11 George Duller H. Harrison Harrison 13 8-03-19271927, 8 March Rolie 6 11-06 H. Cheshire T. Rimell T. Rimell 11 14-03-19281928, 14 March Truthful James — 11-03 Parvin Powell Milne 15 13-03-19291929, 13 March Castlederg 7 11-02 F. Rees Whitelaw Whitelaw 14 12-03-19301930, 12 March Gonedry 8 10–11 P. Dennis H. Dyke Dennis Pellerin 15 01-01-1931 no race 1931 3-03-19321932, 3 March Fouquet 5 10-00 W. Stott F. Wootton S. Wootton 10 9-03-19331933, 9 March Hightide IV. 7 11-03 Wilson Bullock T. Richardson 13 8-03-19341934, 8 March Jack Grange 5 10-00 W. Hollick Barthropp Sir A. McAlpine 17 14-03-19351935, 14 March Polly StephensF 8 11-00 Ingham Cundell Rieb 15 12-03-19361936, 12 March Back Isle 8 11-03 Fulke Walwyn Roberts C. Jones 21 01-01-1937 no race 1937 10-03-19381938, 10 March Prince Rouge 8 10–12 J. Prendergast W. Stubbs Mrs D. Thomas 17 9-03-19391939, 9 March Abbot's Own 8 12-01 H. Nicholson O'Sullivan Mrs E. Scott 17 20-03-19401940, 20 March Sam Brown 6 11-01 T. Rimell trained privately M. C. Willes 10 20-03-19411941, 20 March Celibate II 9 11-04 Hollick D. Dick Mrs D. P. Dick 19 21-03-19421942, 21 March Red April 5 11–13 E. Foley Stalbridge M. Jones 21 01-01-1943 no race 1943–45 14-03-19461946, 14 March Vidi 5 11–10 Don Butchers Reg Hobbs A. E. Saunders 27 01-01-1947 no race 1947 4-03-19481948, 4 March Cape LightF 5 11-01 Joe Maguire Ivor Anthony— 21 01-01-1949 no race 1949 9-03-19501950, 9 March Blue Raleigh 7 10-00 Jimmy Power Bobby Renton Mrs L. Brotherton 19 25-04-19511951, 25 April Southwick 7 10-03 George Spann J. Whiting— 21 6-03-19521952, 6 March Ballymacan 5 10–12 Bryan Marshall Neville Crump H. D. Waddington 20 5-03-19531953, 5 March Teapot II 8 12-07 Pat Taaffe Clem Magnier— 16 1954 Bold Baby 8 12-00 Paddy Powell Michael Dawson 01-01-1955 no race 1955 1956 Pommel 9 10–11 Steve Boddy John Waugh 1957 Flaming East 8 10-05 Peter Pickford Ricky Vallance 1958 Friendly Boy 6 10-05 Liam Brennan Joe Osborne 1959 Approval 13 11-02 Derek Leslie Syd Mercer 1960 Albergo 6 12-05 Doug Page Clem Magnier 1961 Most Unusual 6 10-07 Josh Gifford Bill Ransom 1962 Sky Pink 5 10–11 Fred Winter Ryan Price 1963 Bahrain 6 10-06 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore 1964 Icy Wonder 5 10-02 Jeff King Vernon Cross 1965 Mayfair Bill 6 10-04 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell 1966 Roaring Twenties 6 11-02 George Milburn Ken Oliver 1967 Cool Alibi 5 10-09 Roddy Reid Rodney Bower 1968 Jolly Signal 6 10–11 Jimmy Uttley Earl Jones 1969 Gay Knight 5 10-03 Aly Branford Les Kennard 1970 Khan 6 09-11 Lord Petersham Delmer Harty 1971 Carry Off 7 10-01 David Goulding Nigel Angus 1972 Cold Day 6 10-08 Ron Hyett Katie Gaze 1973 Current Romance 7 10-07 David Nicholson Frenchie Nicholson 1974 True Song 5 11-02 Gary Old Donald Underwood 01-01-1975 no race 1975 1976 Java Fox 6 10-01 George Jones Roy Cambidge 1977 Kilcoleman 5 10-07 Tommy Kinane Billy Boyers 01-01-1978 no race 1978 1979 Monte Ceco 6 10–12 Colin Tinkler Fred Rimell 1980 Prince of Bermuda 5 10-00 Steve Knight Bob Turnell 1981 Staplestown 6 10-07 Tommy Ryan Edward O'Grady 1982 Path of Peace 6 10-06 Jonjo O'Neill Chris Thornton 1983 Robin Wonder 5 10-03 Jeff Davies David Elsworth 1984 Hill's Guard 5 10–11 Andrew Stringer Andrew Scott 1985 Floyd 5 10-05 Colin Brown David Elsworth 1986 Jobroke 6 10-03 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby 1987 Neblin 8 11-00 Richard Guest Toby Balding 17-03-19881988, 17 March Cashew King 5 10-04 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon Mrs J A Wall 24 16-03-19891989, 16 March Willsford 6 10-08 Michael Bowlby Jenny Pitman A M Kaplan 21 15-03-19901990, 15 March Moody Man 5 11-02 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs James Burley 20 14-03-19911991, 14 March Winnie the Witch 7 09-08 David Bridgwater Ken Bridgwater Paddocks Thoroughbred Racing Ltd 26 12-03-19921992, 12 March Dusty Miller 6 10-06 Jamie Osborne Simon Sherwood Watership Down Racing 27 18-03-19931993, 18 March Thumbs Up 7 10-02 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Michael Buckley 21 17-03-19941994, 17 March Dizzy 6 10-00 Tony Dobbin Peter Monteith Lt-Col W L Monteith 24 16-03-19951995, 16 March Home Counties 6 10–12 James Moffatt Dudley Moffatt Roxy Cinemas (dalton) 23 14-03-19961996, 14 March Star Rage 6 10-00 Dean Gallagher Jimmy Harris J David Abell 28 13-03-19971997, 13 March Barna Boy 9 10–12 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Lynn Wilson 20 19-03-19981998, 19 March Blowing Wind F 5 11-08 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe P A Deal 27 18-03-19991999, 18 March Sir Talbot 5 10-00 Timmy Murphy Jim Old W E Sturt 28 16-03-20002000, 16 March Master Tern F 5 10-03 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill John P McManus 21 01-01-2001 no race 2001 14-03-20022002, 14 March Rooster Booster 8 11-01 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Terry Warner 21 13-03-20032003, 13 March Spirit Leader 7 11-07 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington D Thompson 28 18-03-20042004, 18 March Sporazene J 5 10–13 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Ged Mason & David Jackson 23 18-03-20052005, 18 March Fontanesi 5 10–10 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe The Johnson Family 30 17-03-20062006, 17 March Desert Quest J 6 10–10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Mrs M Findlay 29 16-03-20072007, 16 March Pedrobob 9 10-00 Philip Carberry Tony Mullins Barry Connell 28 14-03-20082008, 14 March Silver Jaro 5 10–13 Noel Fehily Tom Hogan Miss M A Masterson 22 13-03-20092009, 13 March American Trilogy 5 11-00 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Fulton, Donlon, Kilduff & Scott-MacDonald 27 19-03-20102010, 19 March Thousand Stars 6 10-05 Katie Walsh Willie Mullins Hammer & Trowel Syndicate 28 18-03-20112011, 18 March Final Approach 5 10–12 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Douglas Taylor 26 16-03-20122012, 16 March Alderwood 8 11-01 Tony McCoy Thomas Mullins John P McManus 26 15-03-20132013, 15 March Ted Veale 6 10-06 Bryan Cooper Tony Martin John Breslin 28 14-03-20142014, 14 March Lac Fontana 5 10–11 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls Potensis Limited 28 13-03-20152015, 13 March Wicklow Brave 6 11-04 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Wicklow Bloodstock Limited 24 18-03-20162016, 18 March Superb Story 5 10–12 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Holt, Robinson, Taylor & Miller 26 17-03-20172017, 17 March Arctic Fire 8 11–12 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Wicklow Bloodstock Limited 26 16-03-20182018, 16 March Mohaayed 6 10–08 Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Mrs June Watts 24 15-03-20192019, 15 March Ch'tibello 8 11-05 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Can't Say No Partnership 24 13-03-20202020, 13 March Saint Roi 5 10-13 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins John P McManus 23 19-03-20212021, 19 March Belfast Banter 6 10-00 Kevin Sexton Peter Fahey Direct Bloodstock Ltd 23 18-03-20222022, 18 March State Man F 5 11-01 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Mrs J Donnelly 26 17-03-20232023, 17 March Faivoir 8 10-07 Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton Mrs S Lawrence 24 15-03-20242024, 15 March Absurde 6 10-10 Paul Townend Willie Mullins H O S Syndicate 17 14-03-20252025, 14 March Kargese F 5 11-03 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Kenny Alexander 16 13-03-20262026, 13 March Wilful 7 11-02 Jonjo O'Neill Jr Jonjo O'Neill Mrs Fitri Hay 23

See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

External links Race Recordings (1985, 1986, 1990-2005) youtube.com

References

pedigreequery.com – Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle – Cheltenham. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (21 February 2008).