Christmas Hurdle
History
During the 1960s Kempton staged a 2-mile handicap race on Boxing Day called the Kempton Park Handicap Hurdle. Its winners included Salmon Spray and Saucy Kit – both subsequent winners of the Champion Hurdle. The race was abandoned in 1967 and 1968, and it returned in the guise of the Christmas Hurdle in 1969.Six winners of the race in its present format have gone on to victory in the Champion Hurdle. The first was Lanzarote, the winner of the latter event in 1974, and the others are Dawn Run, Kribensis, Faugheen, Epatante and Constitution Hill.
Records
Most successful horse since 1969 :
- Constitution Hill – 2022, 2023, 2024
- Nico [de Boinville] - Verdana Blue, Epatante, Constitution Hill, Sir Gino
- Nicky Henderson – Geos, Landing Light, Binocular, Darlan, My Tent Or Yours, Buveur d'Air, Verdana Blue, Epatante, Constitution Hill, Sir Gino