The Ascot Hurdle is a Grade 2 Hurdle over an intermediate distance of 2 miles 3 and a half furlongs. Previous winners include horses that have won both the Champion Hurdle over 2 miles (Hardy Eustace) and World Hurdle over three miles (Baracouda) at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 2011 winner Overturn went on to finish second in the Champion Hurdle and also landed the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle duringthat season.
Oscar Whisky was a comfortable winner of the 2012 Ascot Chase confirming his status as the leading two and a half mile hurdler in the UK. Post race trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty suggested a crack at the 2013 Champion Hurdle if the ground turned up soft was a possibility.
Ascot Hurdle Result 2012
| Pos | Dist | Horse | Trainer | Age | Weight | Jockey | SP |
| 1st | 2 Oscar Whisky (IRE) | N J Henderson | 7 | 11-8 | B J Geraghty | 8-15f | |
| Made all, pushed readily clear after 2 out, unchallenged after, eased flat | |||||||
| 2nd | 8 | 4 Raya Star (IRE) | A King | 6 | 11-4 | R Thornton | 4-1 |
| Held up 4th and last in touch, went 2nd 3 out, outpaced approaching next, soon no chance with easy winner | |||||||
| 3rd | 6 | 3 Brampour (IRE) | P F Nicholls | 5 | 11-4 | Harry Derham | 9-1 |
| Raced wide, disputed 2nd until 4 out, driven and outpaced in 3rd before 2 out, soon no impression with front pair, hit last | |||||||
| 4th | 54 | 1 Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) | Jonjo O’Neill | 8 | 11-8 t | A P McCoy | 7-1 |
| Tracked winner, lost place 3 out, driven and no impression before next, weakened before last, eased right down flat |
Ascot Hurdle Stats 2002-2012
- Nicky Henderson has trained 3 of the last 5 winners
- The last 5 winners have been rated 153+
- Don’t look too far down the betting – the highest price winner in the last decade was 7-2
Ascot Hurdle Winners 2002-2011
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wt | OR | Odds |
| 2011 | Overturn (IRE) | Maguire, J | McCain Jnr, D | 7 | 11-0 | 164 | 5-2 |
| 2010 | Silviniaco Conti (FR) | Fehily, N | Nicholls, P F | 4 | 11-4 | 153 | 100-30 |
| 2009 | Zaynar (FR) | Tinkler, A | Henderson, N J | 4 | 11-4 | 154 | 9-4 |
| 2008 | Chomba Womba (IRE) | Geraghty, B J | Henderson, N J | 7 | 11-11 | 156 | 2-1 |
| 2007 | Hardy Eustace (IRE) | ODwyer, C | Hughes, D T | 10 | 11-8 | 0 | 3-1 |
| 2006 | Hardy Eustace (IRE) | ODwyer, C | Hughes, D T | 9 | 11-0 | 0 | 11-8 |
| 2005 | No Refuge (IRE) | Lee, G | Johnson, H J | 5 | 11-4 | 148 | 7-4 |
| 2004 | Monets Garden (IRE) | Dobbin, T | Richards, N G | 6 | 11-0 | 0 | 11-4 |
| 2003 | Mr Cool | McCoy, A P | Pipe, M C | 9 | 11-0 | 140 | 7-2 |
| 2002 | Baracouda (FR) | Doumen, T | Doumen, F | 7 | 11-8 | 0 | 2-5 |
