- The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is one of the youngest races at The Festival. Known as the Stayers’ Hurdle up to and including 2004, it was only introduced with its current race conditions in 1972. Before that, it was known as the Spa Hurdle.
- The Ladbrokes World Hurdle has been run on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the meeting. It moved to its current Thursday slot in 1993.
- Its first year of sponsorship was 1972, under the title of the Lloyds Bank Hurdle. There have been four sponsors of the race, Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990 and Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. 2005 was the first year of Ladbrokes’ sponsorship and prize money currently stands at £260,000.
- The Ladbrokes World Hurdle used to be a favourite with the Irish, who have won it nine times, most recently in 1995 with Dorans Pride. Baracouda provided a first success for France in 2002 and followed up again in 2003. In 2004 and 2005, he was runner-up behind Iris’s Gift and Inglis Drever respectively, while in 2006 he ran fifth behind My Way De Solzen. Baracouda’s trainer Francois Doumen also saddled Kasbah Bliss to finish second in 2008 and fourth last year when starting the hot 10/11 favourite.
- In 2008, Inglis Drever created history by becoming the first horse to win the contest three times. He was successful in 2005, missed the 2006 race due to injury before returning to land both the 2007 and 2008 renewals. There have been three dual winners - Crimson Embers (1982 & 1986), Galmoy (1987 & 1988) and Baracouda (2002 & 2003).
- Howard Johnson (trainer of Inglis Drever) and the late Fulke Walwyn - with three wins apiece - are the only trainers to have won the contest more than twice. The race was dominated in the mid-1980s by Crimson Embers, trained by Walwyn, and the winner in 1982 and 1986. Indeed, Crimson Embers would have been awarded the race in the stewards’ room in 1985 had his rider not declined to give evidence to the enquiry afterwards, but the trainer won the race anyway with Rose Ravine. The owner, Sally Smart, was ambivalent about the result - she owned both horses!
- Gaye Chance, the winner in 1984, was a full-brother to the 1983 Champion Hurdle winner Gaye Brief. Both horses were trained by Mercy Rimell.
- No horse has managed to win both the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
- A total of 11 favourites have been successful.
- The smallest field to go to post was eight in 1973 while the largest was 22 in both 1985 and 1990. 14 ran last year and current safety limit is 24.
- Tommy Carberry, Stuart Shilston, Tommy Carmody, Mark Perrett, Charlie Swan, Jamie Osborne and Thierry Doumen are the most successful jockeys, each recording two victories. No current jockey has won the race more than once. The three-time winner Inglis Drever was partnered by different jockeys for each of his victories – Graham Lee (2005), Paddy Brennan (2007) and Denis O’Regan (2008).
Ladbrokes World Hurdle - Roll
(Ladbrokes World Hurdle from 2005, bonusprint.com Stayers' Hurdle 2004, Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle 1991-2003, Waterford Crystal Stayers' Hurdle 1978-90, Lloyds Bank Hurdle 1972-77)
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Big Buck's | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 6/1 |
| 2008 | Inglis Drever | Denis O'Regan | Howard Johnson | 11/8F |
| 2007 | Inglis Drever | Paddy Brennan | Howard Johnson | 5/1 |
| 2006 | My Way De Solzen | Robert Thornton | Alan King | 8/1 |
| 2005 | Inglis Drever | Graham Lee | Howard Johnson | 5/1 |
| 2004 | Iris's Gift | Barry Geraghty | Jonjo O'Neill | 9/2 |
| 2003 | Baracouda | Thierry Doumen | Francois Doumen FR | 9/4JF |
| 2002 | Baracouda | Thierry Doumen | Francois Doumen FR | 13/8F |
| 2001 | ||||
| 2000 | Bacchanal | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson | 11/2 |
| 1999 | Anzum | Richard Johnson | David Nicholson | 40/1 |
| 1998 | Princeful | Rodney Farrant | Jenny Pitman | 16/1 |
| 1997 | Karshi | Jamie Osborne | Henrietta Knight | 20/1 |
| 1996 | Cyborgo | David Bridgwater | Martin Pipe | 8/1 |
| 1995 | Dorans Pride | Shane Broderick | Michael Hourigan IRE | 11/4F |
| 1994 | Balasani | Mark Perrett | Martin Pipe | 9/2JF |
| 1993 | Shuil Ar Aghaidh | Charlie Swan | Paddy Kiely IRE | 20/1 |
| 1992 | Nomadic Way | Jamie Osborne | Barry Hills | 15/2 |
| 1991 | King's Curate | Mark Perrett | Stan Mellor | 5/2F |
| 1990 | Trapper John | Charlie Swan | Mouse Morris IRE | 15/2 |
| 1989 | Rustle | Michael Bowlby | Nicky Henderson | 4/1 |
| 1988 | Galmoy | Tommy Carmody | John Mulhern IRE | 2/1F |
| 1987 | Galmoy | Tommy Carmody | John Mulhern IRE | 9/2 |
| 1986 | Crimson Embers | Stuart Shilston | Fulke Walwyn | 12/1 |
| 1985 | Rose Ravine | Ricky Pusey | Fulke Walwyn | 5/1F |
| 1984 | Gaye Chance | Sam Morshead | Mercy Rimell | 5/1 |
| 1983 | A Kinsman | Geordie Dun | John Brockbank | 50/1 |
| 1982 | Crimson Embers | Stuart Shilston | Fulke Walwyn | 2/1F |
| 1981 | Derring Rose | John Francome | Fred Winter | 3/1 |
| 1980 | Mountrivers | Tommy Ryan | Edward O'Grady IRE | 7/1 |
| 1979 | Lighter | Philip Blacker | John Edwards | 14/1 |
| 1978 | Flame Gun | Mr Niall Madden | Edward O'Grady IRE | 14/1 |
| 1977 | Town Ship | Tommy Carberry | Peter Easterby | 5/2 |
| 1976 | Bit Of A Jig | Dessie Hughes | Mick O'Toole IRE | 2/1F |
| 1975 | Brown Lad | Tommy Carberry | Jim Dreaper IRE | 7/4F |
| 1974 | Highland Abbe | Richard Smith | Les Kennard | 15/2 |
| 1973 | Moyne Royal | David Mould | Arthur Pitt | 10/1 |
| 1972 | Parlour Moor | Macer Gifford | Tom Jones | 13/2 |
