Full Result 3.15 Cheltenham | 14 March 2000

Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Showcase Race Class A Grade 1

(Class 1) (4yo+) (2m87yds) 2m½f Old Good 8 hurdles

1st £145,000 2nd £55,000 3rd £27,500 4th £12,500 5th £6,250 6th £3,750

Pos. (Draw)	Horse / SP Trainer / Jockey	Jockey Trainer	Age	WGT	OR	TS	RPR	MR
1	7. Istabraq (IRE) 8/15F Charlie Swan A P O'Brien	Charlie Swan A P O'Brien	8	120	–	152	171	–
b g Sadler's Wells (USA) - Betty's Secret (USA) (Secretariat)
Well in touch, closed 3 out, tracked leader after next, led on bit last, quickened clear, impressive (op 2-5 tchd 4-7 in places)

2 4	6. Hors La Loi III (FR) 11/1 D Gallagher F Doumen	D Gallagher F Doumen	5	120	–	148	166	–
b g Cyborg (FR) - Quintessence III (FR) (El Condor)
Held up towards rear, smooth progress before 3 out, close up when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, ran on from last to take 2nd near finish (op 12-1)

3 nk [4¼]	4. Blue Royal (FR) 16/1 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson	Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson	5	120	149	147	164	–
b g Dauphin Du Bourg (FR) - Before The Flag (IRE) (Lomond)
Prominent in chasing group, tracked leader after 5th, led after 3 out, soon ridden, headed last, no chance with winner after, lost 2nd near finish (op 20-1)

4 ½ [4¾]	2. Ashley Park (IRE) 25/1 Timmy Murphy Mark Pitman	Timmy Murphy Mark Pitman	6	120	–	147	163	–
b h Sadler's Wells (USA) - Maiden Concert (Condorcet)
Held up rear, steady progress on outer from 3 out, effort before last, ran on one pace (op 20-1)

5 2 [6¾]	11. Stage Affair (USA) 9/1 A P McCoy D K Weld	A P McCoy D K Weld	6	120	–	145	162	–
bb g Theatrical (IRE) - Wooing (USA) (Stage Door Johnny)
Not always fluent, held up rear, closed from 3 out, ridden and effort after 2 out, one pace (op 7-1)

6 4 [10¾]	5. Dato Star (IRE) 9/1 Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson	Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson	9	120 t	177	140	158	–
br g Accordion (IRE) - Newgate Fairy (IRE) (Flair Path)
Not jump well, tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, under pressure and beaten after 3 out, one pace (tchd 10-1)

7 shd [11]	8. Katarino (FR) 25/1 Norman Williamson Nicky Henderson	Norman Williamson Nicky Henderson	5	120	162	140	158	–
b g Pistolet Bleu (IRE) - Katevana (FR) (Cadoudal)
Led to after 1st, tracked clear leader 3rd, led after 5th, hard ridden and headed after 3 out, soon beaten, eased run-in (tchd 33-1)

8 1¾ [12¾]	10. Mr Percy (IRE) 66/1 Philip Hide J T Gifford	Philip Hide J T Gifford	9	120	154	138	155	–
ch g John French - Rathvilly Flier (Peacock I)
In touch, tracked leaders before 3 out, soon lost place and beaten

9 19 [31¾]	12. Theatreworld I (IRE) 12/1 Tommy Treacy A P O'Brien	Tommy Treacy A P O'Brien	8	120 t	–	116	136	–
b g Sadler's Wells (USA) - Chamonis (USA) (Affirmed)
Started slowly, detached from main group and never going well, mistake 3rd, well behind after (op 16-1)

10 22 [53¾]	1. Alka International 200/1 Andrew Thornton Prue Townsley	Andrew Thornton Prue Townsley	8	120 b	123	90	114	–
b g Northern State (USA) - Cachucha (Gay Fandango)
Chased clear leader after 1st to 3rd, lost place steadily from next, tailed off 2 out (tchd 250-1 in places)

11 10 [63¾]	9. Make A Stand 33/1 Richard Johnson M C Pipe	Richard Johnson M C Pipe	9	120	–	78	104	–
ch g Master Willie - Make A Signal (Royal Gunner)
Led after 1st and soon clear, weakened and headed after 5th, tailed off (op 25-1)

PU	3. Balla Sola (IRE) 50/1 Conor O'Dwyer W P Mullins	Conor O'Dwyer W P Mullins	5	120	–	–	–	–
ch g Simply Great (FR) - Dance Alone (USA) (Monteverdi)
Reluctant to race, tailed off until pulled up before 5th (op 33-1)

12 ran Off time: 3:16:00 Winning time: 3m 48.10s (fast by 0.90s) Total SP: 122%
1st owner: John P McManus (Istabraq) 1st breeder: Shadwell Estate Company Limited
2nd owner: Paul Green (Hors La Loi III)
3rd owner: Lynn Wilson (Blue Royal)
Tote win: £1.70 PL: £1.30 £2.10 £2.70 Ex: £7 CSF: £6.74 Trifecta: £86.20

Course-record time

3:15 Cheltenham 14 Mar 2000

Smurfit Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy Showcase Race Class A Grade 1