Legends Of The Long Distance Hurdle

Newbury Racecourse takes a look at five Long Distance Hurdle champions who become legends of the Long Distance Hurdle.

Inglis Drever

One of the finest staying hurdlers of his generation, Inglis Drever dominated the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury with three successive victories for trainer Howard Johnson and owners Andrea and Graham Wylie.
Inglis Drever claimed his first victory in the Long Distance Hurdle in 2005 when ridden by Graham Lee. Starting as the 8/13 favourite, he beat Baracouda into second, the winner of 18 of 27 career starts and the winner of the race the two previous years.
Having fallen on his next start in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow, Inglis Drever returned to Newbury after a break of 333 days. Sent off 15/8 favourite under Tony Dobbin, he just held off the Peter Bowen trained Irish Wolf.
Following further Grade 1 success in the World Hurdle, his third Long Distance Hurdle came in 2007 after a break of 233 days. Once again sent off short priced favourite, on this occasion ridden by Denis O’Regan, he went clear by four lengths to record a commanding victory.
Upon his return to Newbury in 2008 to seek a fourth successive victory in the race, he was pulled up four from home having gone lame. This was to be his last start and he retired with an official rating of 172 having amassed total prize money of £796,952.

Big Buck’s 

Trained by Paul Nicholls, Big Buck’s became one of his generation’s leading staying hurdlers for owners The Stewart Family.
He was a regular in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, claiming multiple victories throughout his illustrious career which saw him win 23 of his 40 career starts with total prize money of £1,309,055. His run of eighteen consecutive victories included four straight Long Distance Hurdles.
His first win in 2009 saw him go off as the 2/5 favourite  finishing seven lengths clear of his nearest rival when still in a canter.
In 2010, Big Bucks was sent off as the 2/7 favourite under jockey Sir Anthony McCoy on his seasonal reappearance after a break of 233 days. Once again he recorded a comfortable victory, finishing three lengths clear of Duc De Regniere in second.
In 2011, Big Bucks returned to Newbury as the 1/8 favourite and delivered a flawless performance. Five lengths clear of his nearest rival, he was eased to a walk in the last strides to cross the line under Ruby Walsh.
He would return in 2012, again as the heavy favourite at 1/12, and produce another commanding victory. Big Buck’s dominated the Long Distance Hurdle and enjoyed an unparalleled career in staying hurdles.
His incredible consistency and dominance over the division secured his place as one of the sport’s greats.

Paisley Park

Trained by Emma Lavelle, Paisley Park became one of the most popular staying hurdlers of recent times.
Starting as the 8/15 favourite, Paisley Park lived up to expectations with an impressive performance to win the 2019 renewal of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, finishing one length ahead of Thistlecrack when partnered by Aidan Coleman.
His win at Newbury was the sixth of seven consecutive victories in a memorable season which included two Grade 1’s in the Long Walk Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle. Paisley Park ran in the following four renewals of the Long Distance Hurdle, not finishing outside the top three on any occasion.
Following an epic battle in 2022, he went down by a neck to Champ. Returning the following year, Paisley Park rallied in the late stages to be beaten a head by Dashel Drasher.
The fan favourite was retired after finishing down the field in the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Champ

Champ, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr., triumphed in the 2022 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury as the 11/8 favourite. His run at Newbury was his first after a break of 230 days having ended the previous season with a third place finish in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Having finished second to Paisley Park in the 2022 Cleeve Hurdle, Champ reversed the form after an almighty battle with Paisley Park to hold by just a neck. It was a thrilling finish as the two ten-year-olds battled all the way to the line with the width of the track separating them.

Dashel Drasher

Trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Rex Dingle, Dashel Drasher claimed victory in the 2023 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, going off at 2/1 with Marie’s Rock sent off 6/5 favourite. He just held on by a neck to deny the rallying Paisley Park a second victory in the race. The previous season Dashel Drasher finished runner up on four consecutive occasions in three Grade 2 races and the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Following a break of 203 days, he made his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle, finishing third behind Botox Has. Having already achieved success at the highest level in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase back in 2021, Dashel Drasher’s success in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury secured his first graded victory over hurdles. His victory provided jockey Rex Dingle with his first Grade 2 victory.