alderbrook was a top-class flat racer, who won the group three select stakes and finished second in the group one prix ganay. the champion hurdle was his third race under national hunt rules after an unplaced run in a novice hurdle in 1992 and a win in the kingwell hurdle nineteen days before the championship. starting at odds of 11/2 he won the champion hurdle by five lengths and two lengths from the joint-favourites large action and danoli. the only previous winner of the race to take part was granville again who finished last. twelve of the fourteen runners completed the course.