Events / Malcolm Pannett / 07 December 2009 /

Started as the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle in 1963 the race, now known as the Boylesports.com International Hurdle, is firmly established as one of the foremost Champion Hurdle Trials. Malcolm Pannett looks at the past winners

The inaugural running of the race that is still widely referred to as the Bula took place in 1963 with 6/4 shot Scottish Memories beating six rivals to take home the spoils.

The race was called the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle and it did exactly what it said on the tin showcasing the talents of some of the main protagonists for the hurdling crown. Indeed the second and third winners, Magic Court (1964) and Salmon Spray (1965), both went on to win the same season's Champion Hurdle.

Notable winners in the first few years included; Sempervivum (1966) second to Salmon Spray in the Champion Hurdle where Flyingbolt was third; Pendil (1970 ) Arkle-winner who won two King George VI Chases and was sent off favourite twice in the Cheltenham Gold Cup; and Canasta Lad (1971) who subsequently won the 1974 Arkle.

In 1972 the dual-Champion Hurdler Bula won the race, beating the previous season's winner Canasta Lad, and five years later the Cheltenham executive changed the name of the race to honour Fred Winter's charge but not before the victories of the first dual-winner Comedy Of Errors (1973 and 1974) and Sea Pigeon (1975) who won two Champion Hurdles each.

Bird's Nest won the first running as the Bula and went on to become the first of only two horses to win the race three times, the other being Relkeel who, due to injury, was very lightly raced during his pomp.

After beating Flakey Dove in the Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial in January 1995 Relkeel only had one run before winning the 1997 Bula at the expense of Pridwell. The son of Relkino then had a busy period by his standards fitting in three outings before notching up Bula number two with this time Grey Shot taking the runner's-up position in the race where favourite Dato Star capsized. Relkeel made it three in 1999 having been off the course for the whole year (see below) and now has a race at the meeting named after him.

Other notable Bula winners include; Ekbalco (1981) Christmas Hurdle winner; Floyd (1986) victorious in the Long Walk Hurdle; Royal Derbi (1991) runner-up to Granville Again in the Champion Hurdle where Halkapous (1992) was third; Large Action (1994 and 1996) triple Grade 1-winner and third to Flakey Dove in the Champion Hurdle; and Rooster Booster (2002) who won that season's Champion Hurdle.

The recently-retired Harchibald (2005) goes down in the records as the last official Bula winner as the race became the Boylesports.com International Hurdle in 2006 when Triumph Hurdle and Cesarewitch-winner Detroit City obliged to be followed by Osana (2007) and Binocular (2008) (see below).

25 Year Ago - Browne's Gazette beat former Champion Gaye Brief making nearly all the running, under Ronnie Beggan, to win by eight lengths with Bajan Sunshine back in third. Monica Dickinson's charge showed his versatility next time up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, with Dermot Browne back in the saddle, coming from behind to easily beat Desert Orchid and See You Then. And it was that performance that ensured he was sent off odds-on favourite in the controversial Champion Hurdle three months later.

10 years ago - Relkeel defied a year's absence to become the second three time-winner. As usual he was held up in the early stages but made stealthy progress to join Far Cry after the last and then in typical gutsy fashion put his head in front close home winning by a neck with 11 back to Shooting Light. Favourite Katarino disappointed after making the initial pace finishing a distant fifth after losing a shoe.

Five years ago - A smart performance by the Irish-trained Back In Front who came from off the pace to win by four lengths holding off the challenges of Inglis Drever and Westender with Rooster Booster back in fourth. Eddie O'Grady's charge, who had beaten Kicking King in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle the year before, showed plenty off determination to hold off the redoubtable Inglis Drever who went on to win the first of three stayers' crowns the following March.

Last Year - The JP McManus-owned Binocular easily pegged back Celestial Halo to win in style at Ascot - the race having been rescheduled after Cheltenham was abandoned. Celestial Halo set out to make all and was ten lengths clear at one stage but started to tire three hurdles from home. This suited Binocular perfectly who used his speed to come from last place to hit the front at the penultimate flight and then draw away for a four-and-a-half length success with Chomba Womba third and reigning-champion Katchit in fourth. Celestial Halo just gained revenge in the Champion Hurdle but both had to settle for places behind Punjabi in a tight finish where the distances were a neck and a head.

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