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 1960 Handicap 3 miles (2 miles)
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 COOL RECEPTION G Milburn C Bewicke Lady Cadogan 100/7
2 UNION PACIFIC M Sisson Dixon Mr A Sowerby 100/7
3 SWORD FLASH E Kelly H T Smith Mr H Smith 9/1
4 BLACKHEATH Terry Biddlecombe F Cundell Mr A Summers 9/1
5 STOP LIST T Shone J Bowness Mr A Watson 100/6
6 WELCOME TIDINGS T Redmond Godden Mr C Godden 100/6
7 SWORDSMAN BROWN Josh Gifford P Medre Mr S Madeever 13/2
8 KING OF THE ISLE David Mould Peter Cazalet HM Queen Mother 100/7
9 LONG STORY W Rees Todd Mr J King 11/2 fav
10 SIDBURY HILL D Dillon Kilpatrick Lady Sherborne 9/1
11 SEMINOLE P Whittle E Weymes Mr W Fisher 9/1
12 ROBERT'S FIRST Johnny Lehane W Marshall Mr M Slack 10/1
13 BELGRANO V Soane Toby Balding Mr Jock Whitney 100/9
14 STRAIGHT RULE David Nicholson H Nicholson Mr J Freeman-Jones 100/8
15 LOCH SLOY M Bachelor Wight Mrs Milne-Green 100/7
16 CLAIR SOLEIL Fred Winter H Ryan Price Mr G Judd 20/1
17 VANISHED AGE G Scott Neville Crump Mrs R Macdonald-Buchanan 20/1
18 YOUNG STROLLER L Wigham Rohan Lt-Col H Beddington 20/1
19 BREAKAWAY D Leslie F Gilman Mr F Gilman 20/1
20 BALLYFINAGHY G Slack Bobby Renton Mr H Joel 20/1
21 SIRE DE L'ADOUR II R Harrison R Emery Mr F Pullen 20/1
22 WILLIE TELL M Brown Foley Mr E Harby 20/1
23 FEUD P Feran Bell Major P Walbridge 20/1
24 SCRATCHY T Dearle Vallance Mr E Hammond 20/1
25 OWEN'S GIRL Stan Mellor Holland Mrs D Perks 20/1
        Over round 188%
This race was staged on Tuesday 8th March 1960 when Cool Reception beat Union Pacific and Sword Flash by 3 lengths and 2 lengths