The WBX Hurdling Triple Crown ties together the three Grade 1 two mile British hurdle races in the racing calendar.
Offering a £1 million bonus for any horse that can secure victories in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle, and the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the same season – the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown bonus will to be shared with winning owners, the trainer, stable
lad and stable staff connected with any successful horse.
The WBX Hurdling Triple Crown will actively encourage the leading two mile hurdlers to compete in Britain’s most prestigious hurdle races. It will also attempt to widen the appeal of National Hunt racing and create increased media interest in the sport’s biggest stars and those connected with them.
This year Go Native stands to win connections the £1 million bonus offered by WBX, if he can secure victory in the 2010 Champion Hurdle.
2009 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle Review
Go Native winning the first leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown
Having attracted an all-star cast of seven the 2009 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle was the most anticipated renewal of the Grade 1 feature in living memory and it did not disappoint. With Binocular and Solwhit clashing, ante post favourite and second favourite respectively for the 2010 Champion Hurdle, it was widely expected to turn into a match between the pair.
It was to prove otherwise however as a sedate early pace, saw any number in with chances jumping two out. Binocular, sent off the 4/5 favourite, was, in fact, one of the first in trouble as Tony McCoy’s mount failed to pick up when asked for his effort and it was left to the Irish-trained duo of Sublimity, the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner, and Go Native to fight out the finish with the latter seemingly full of running approaching the final flight.
Sublimity raced towards the centre of the track after the last under Philip Carberry but Davy Condon had every move covered aboard Go Native and Noel Meade’s six-year-old was not to be denied. He scored impressively by 2 ½ lengths with Solwhit a well-beaten third.
2009 williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle Review
Despite Go Native’s success in the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle just four weeks previously it was Binocular, a distant fifth at Newcastle, who was sent off favourite for the second leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Perceived to have been suited by the steady early pace at Newcastle, jockey Davy Condon once again had Go Native, a 5/2 chance, anchored towards the rear of the seven runner field in the early stages of the race.
Lead into the home straight by Cape Tribulation at the Sunbury track, it become apparent that Go Native, Binocular and Starluck had the race between them but Condon exuded confidence aboard Noel Meade’s charge and cruised to the front approaching the last. However Go Native suddenly saw his two length lead diminishing rapidly in the shadows of the post as Starluck rallied on his inner with Binocular outpaced in third.
Fortunately for Meade, and all those connected with the horse, Go Native prevailed by the minimum margin in thrilling style by winning the second leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown.
Will He Complete The WBX Hurdling Triple Crown at the Cheltenham Festival?