Birdlip Handicap Hurdle

The Birdlip Selling Hurdle first took place as a 2-mile selling hurdle at the 1952 Festival and continued to be run over that distance for the next 6 years, but in 1958 it was extended to 3 miles. Prior to 1952 the Birdlip Selling Hurdle and Birdlip Selling Steeplechase had, from time to time, been a part of the April meeting. The Birdlip Selling Chase was run annually up to 1939, but after the war the Birdlip Selling Hurdle was occasionally run at that April meeting, although in 1950 it was earmarked to make its debut on the Wednesday of the Festival meeting unless a race had to be divided. A race was divided, and two more years elapsed before it took its place on the Festival card. On the third anniversary of the race it was won by Mull Sack, a rare hurdle victory for Lester Piggott, and when it was run for the final time in 1962 it was won by St Stephen ridden by Fred Winter, who later celebrated so many victories as a trainer. In 1963 the Birdlip Hurdle was replaced by the George Duller Hurdle which, in due course, was replaced by the Pertemps Hurdle.

Early history:- The inaugural running of the Birdlip Selling Hurdle took place on Wednesday 5th March 1952 when won by Dankali (7/2) trained by W Pearson and ridden by Mr J K Oliver, beating Michael Collins (20/1) and Rouge Et Noir (100/9) by 4 lengths and a neck.
Birdlip Handicap Hurdle 1959 Handicap 3 miles (2 miles)
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 SWORD FLASH A Freeman H T Smith Mr H Smith 100/8
2 PROFIT D Colleti H Whiteman Mr A Milner 100/8
3 COOL RECEPTION G Milburn Bewicke Lady Cadogan 10/1
4 STOP LIST Shone John Bowness Mr A Watson 20/1
5 MISTY VISION Tim Brookshaw Fred Rimell Mr T Richardson 10/1
6 TIPPECANOE Fred Winter H Ryan Price Mr W Harwood 5/2 fav
7 ISLE OF SKYE M Bachelor Wight Major Ivan Straker 6/1
8 ROBERT'S FIRST Johnny Lehane W Marshall Mr M Sack 10/1
9 DUNNOCK Page C Magnier Ire Mr T Good 10/1
10 POUNDING Pickford Fulke Walwyn Mrs H Cubitt 100/9
11 LINTLAW Hyams W Stephenson Mr A Hyams 100/8
12 BELGRANO Derek Ancil Toby Balding Mr Jock Whitney 100/7
13 WELCOME TIDINGS Redmond Godden Mr C Godden 20/1
14 BALLYDAR G Scott Neville Crump Mrs D Thompson 20/1
15 TERRINGTON M Brown Foley Mr E Somers 20/1
16 SOBEIT L Major S Palmer Mr R Burnett 20/1
17 COEUR DE MAIN Bickerton J Bickerton Mr J Bickerton 20/1
18 DEIRIPHORE Garner R Garner Mrs J Garner 20/1
19 TIDY SHOES G Francis E N Hughes Mr E Hughes 20/1
20 COSTA BRAVA Spano Spano Mr G Spano 20/1
21 BLEWBURY Charlton P Charlton Mr P Charlton 20/1
22 LOOK Cowley Doherty Mr Dick Turpin 20/1
23 GRAPPA Bagby D Moore Ire Lady H Svejdar 20/1
24 PERSIAN HIGHLIGHT Jimmy Fitzgerald Bacon Mrs P Barnett 20/1
        Over round 183%
This race was staged on Tuesday 3rd March 1959 when Sword Flash beat Profit and Cool Reception by a short head and a head