The Great National Hurdles held at Riccarton Park Racecourse is one of New Zealand's major steeplechase jumping races.

History

The Grand National Hurdles has been held on 134 occasions to date. It was first run in July 1890 over two miles (3200m), later being extended to two and a half miles in 1916.

Since 1973 it has been run over a distance of 4200m and in winter when the grass tracks are soft or heavy. The race which requires 15 sets of hurdles to be jumped is therefore a test of stamina and fitness for both horse and rider.

Bert Ellis rode five winners (1925, 1927, 1938, 1939 and 1941).

Women jockey winners are Leanne Elliot (1992), Tina Egan (1994), Megan Prendergast (1999), Rochelle Lockett (2002 and 2003), Michelle Hopkins (2004), Hayley Curran (2012), Kayla Veenendaal (2013) and Portia Matthews (2023 and 2024).

Race results

Year Winner Sire Dam Dam-Sire Jockey Trainer(s) Time Second Third2026Little Thief 65DundeelStolen GemSnitzelLemmy DouglasKevin Myers, Whanganui5:02.69 (heavy) Quid 65.5Happy Star 702025Suliman 66Redwood (GB)Red Mariete (Aus)Red Ransom (USA) Hamish McNeillPaul Nelson & Corrina McDougall, Hastings5:20.26 (heavy) Quid 66Happy Star 67 2024 Berry The Cash 73 Jakkalberry (Ire) Likely Story (NZ) High Yield (USA) Portia Matthews Mark Oulaghan, Awapuni 5:16.40 (heavy) Run Jakko Run 66 Metallo 66 2023Berry The Cash 66 Jakkalberry (Ire) Likely Story (NZ) High Yield (USA) Portia Matthews Mark Oulaghan, Awapuni 4:58.89 (heavy) Happy Star 70Obrigado 66 2022Happy Star 67 Fabulous Carlton Queen ZedShaun PhelanKevin Myers, Wanganui 5:14.63 (heavy) He's Ric 67 Phelyn Foxy 65 2021 The Cossack 70.5 Mastercraftsman (Ire) Stellardelmar (Aus) Galileo (Ire) Shaun Phelan Paul Nelson & Corrina McDougal, Hastings 4:51.91 (soft) Dr Hank 65 Aigne 66.5 2019 Bad Boy Brown 65.5 St Reims Pay 'N' Display Centaine (Aus) Isaac Lupton Harvey Wilson 5:27.73 (heavy) Laekeeper 68.5 No Tip 672018 Jackfrost 65 Gallant Guru (Aus) Vital Note Yamanin VitalStuart HigginsBrian & Shane Anderton 4:57.58 (heavy) Laekeeper 66 Second Innings 652017 Ready Eddie 65 Yamanin Vital Tawnce Personal Escort (USA) Hamish McNeill Laura Knight 5:22.78 (heavy) Go Go Gonzo 65 Delacroix 65.5 2016 Ngario 65Captain Rio (GB) Dame Ngaio Deputy Governor (USA)Shaun Fannin Kevin Myers, Wanganui 4:58.90 (heavy) Gagarin 67.5Ready Eddie 652015 Tallyho Twinkletoe 65 St Reims Albacora Lord Ballina (Aus) Mathew Gillies Kevin Myers, Wanganui 4:43.11 (soft) Kings Deep 68.5 Wee Biskit 69

There was no race in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Prior years

Past winners of the Grand National Hurdles include the following.Costello, John and Finnegan, Pat (1988). Tapestry of Turf. Moa Publications.The DB Racing Annual 1974. Bradford, David, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland.

1890 Ixion (T Stewart) - 5yo 1891 Couranto (Redmond) 1892 Kulnine (W C Clarke) - 5yo 1893 Liberator (Powell) 1894 Liberator (Free Holmes) 1895 Donald McKinnon (Ashdown) 1896 Dummy (P Johnson) 1897 Umslopagaas (R Kingan) 1898 Social Pest (W C Clarke) 1899 Defiance (P Williams) 1900 Record Reign (W C Clarke) 1901 Haydn (W Fahey), also won the 1902 Grand National and 1903 Great Northern Steeplechase 1902 Tresham (A Julian) - 5yo 1903 Waiwera (A Hall) 1904 Medallius (A McConnon) 1905 Creusot (F Lind) 1906 Cuiragno (W Wilson) 1907 Shrapnel (Bill Young, 1st win) 1908 Stormont (W Jarvis) 1909 Compass (J Delaney) 1910 Paisano (Bill Young, 2nd win) 1911 Continuance (Bill Young, 3rd win) 1912 Waterworks (W Adams) 1913 Morning (A Julian) - 5yo 1914 Royal Arms (H McSweeney) 1915 Hurakia (J O'Connell) 1916 Art (D McKay) 1917 Sleight Of Hand (A McDonald) 1918 Kauri King (F W Ellis) 1919 Sir Solo (L Hagerty) - 12yo 1920 Hylans (J T Humphries) 1921 Gladful (A H Burt), also winner of the 1918 Great Northern Hurdles 1922 Gladful (L G Morris) - 12yo 1923 General Advance (S Walls) 1924 Lochson (J R Kaan) 1925 Penury Rose (A E "Bert" Ellis, 1st win) 1926 Comical (A H Burt) 1927 Whamcliffe (A E "Bert" Ellis, 2nd win) 1928 Nukumai (W J Bowden) 1929 Mangani (H Dulieu) 1930 Carinthia (F Thompson) 1931 Callamart (A Jenkins) 1932 Membo (G Salt) 1933 Hounslow (W J Pascoe) 1934 Huntique (R Drinkwater) 1935 Jolly Beggar (H Turner, 1st win) 1936 Jolly Beggar (R Beale) 1937 Cottingham (H Turner, 2nd win) 1938 Padishah (A E "Bert" Ellis, 3rd win) 1939 Padishah (A E "Bert" Ellis, 4th win), also won the 1939 Grand National Steeplechase 1940 Limbohm (W Jenkins) 1941 The Dozer (A E "Bert" Ellis, 5th win) 1942 Renascor (T Tito) 1943 Town Survey (L C Brown), also won the 1943 Great Northern Hurdles 1944 Flying Spy (L C Brown) - 1st mare to win the race 1945 Arabian Night (R Heasley) 1946 Bramble Song (W O Ensor), also won the 1946 Great Northern Hurdles 1947 Boolamskee (T J Boyle) 1948 Tremello (F C Cleaver) 1949 Hunting Mac (K J Thomson), also won the 1947 Great Northern Hurdles 1950 Gay Fellow (M B Andrews) 1951 All Pockets (A J Murray) 1952 Peter Ora (W E Carter) 1953 Coppice (Johnny Carter), also won the 1953 Great Northern Hurdles 1954 Cogitation (A G Waddell), also won the 1957 Grand National Steeplechase 1955 Solar Mist (Johnny Carter), also won the 1954 & 1955 Great Northern Hurdles 1956 Brue (V H Simpson) 1957 Judge (G Jenkins) 1958 Meresun (D M Keenan), also won the 1957 Great Northern Hurdles 1959 Armed (Brian "Baggy" Hillis, 1st win) 1960 Golden Defaulter (A K Lawrence), also won the 1962 Grand National Steeplechase 1961 Blue Rock (C I "Clem" Goss), also won the 1963 Great Northern Steeplechase 1962 Vamoose (A Cowan) 1963 Cretan (H N Rauhihi) 1964 Smoke Ring (Brian "Baggy" Hillis, 2nd win), also won the 1964 & 1965 Great Northern Hurdles 1965 Bagush (P R Wilson) 1966 Eiffel Tower (W J Hillis) 1967 Eiffel Tower (W J Hillis), also won the 1967 Great Northern Steeplechase 1968 Lordtuckey (Brian "Baggy" Hillis, 3rd win), also won the 1968 Great Northern Hurdles 1969 King Minos (G R Bell) 1970 Sabaean Summer (R A Jenkins) 1971 Frederik (R S Brown) 1972 Never Give In (N Treweek) 1973 Yenisei (H Green) 1974 Frederik (B I Waerea), also won the 1974 Wellington Steeplechase 1975 Detroit (B P Kennedy) 1976 Royal Mail (G S McIntosh) 1977 Sheikle (S J Allen) - 5yo 1978 Rapid Flight (J C Collett) 1979 Jack Dugan (A Mavor) 1980 Bymai (N J Harnett), also won the 1984 Grand National Steeplechase 1981 Dark Purple (Ken Browne) 1982 Sebastiano (Stephen Jenkins, 1st win) 1983 Jean Rapier (Stephen Jenkins, 2nd win), also won the 1983 Great Northern Hurdles 1984 Crown Star (H F Pateman), also won the 1985 & 1986 Grand National Steeplechase 1985 Gun For Fun (Stephen Jenkins, 3rd win) 1986 Lord Venture (N F Ridley) 1987 Stormy Knight (J G McGifford) 1988 Ocean Guard (W D Harnett) 1989 Ampac (Chris Johnson, 1st win) 1990 Mister Divinsky (C E Clifton) 1991 Sir Barton (D Dennett) 1992 Charlie Boy (Leanne Elliot) - 1st female jockey to win the race 1993 Woodbine Blue Chip (Chris Johnson, 2nd win) 1994 Raggamuffin Rose (Tina Egan) - 2nd mare & 2nd female jockey to win the race 1995 Bart’s Best (Alex "Snooky" Cowan, 1st win) 1996 Bart’s Best (Alex "Snooky" Cowan, 2nd win) 1997 Mill Road (R Donnelly) 1998 Eric The Bee (Alex "Snooky" Cowan, 3rd win) 1999 Arch Rival (Megan Prendergast) 2000 Rand (E D Lamb) 2001 Narousa (S C Anderton) 2002 Lucky Tip (Rochelle Lockett, 1st win) 2003 Cool Water (Rochelle Lockett, 2nd win) 2004 Just A Swagger (Michelle Hopkins) 2005 Just A Swagger (Jonathan Riddell) 2006 Yourtheman (Tom Hazlett) 2007 Counter Punch (Tom Hazlett) 2008 Just Not Cricket (Jonathan Riddell) 2009 High Season (Brett Scott) 2010 Joint Effort (Mathew Cropp) 2011 Kid Columbus (Chris Johnson, 3rd win) 2012 Wotabuzz (Hayley Curran) 2013 Mahanadi (Kayla Veenendaal) 2014 Gargamel (Alan Browne)

See also Great Northern Hurdles Grand National Steeplechase (New Zealand) Great Northern Steeplechase New Zealand Cup Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

References