Bula (1965–1977) was a British National Hunt horse who won the Champion Hurdle twice and many other top races over hurdles and later over fences. One of the greatest hurdlers ever, he ran during what is considered a golden period for two-mile hurdlers in the 1970s. Bula was "a remarkably consistent, versatile and durable jumper" and was known for his come-from-behind style. At one stage Bula had an unbeaten run of 13 races.

Bula was a brown gelding sired by Raincheck, who had run unplaced in the 1951 Derby and was a son of Prix du Jockey Club winner Tourbillion. Bula’s dam Pongo’s Fancy was a winner over hurdles and the great granddaughter of Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. Bula was bought by Captain Bill Edwards-Heathcote in Dublin in 1968 for 1,350 guineas, and subsequently put into training with Fred Winter in the summer of 1969.

Upon arrival at Winter’s yard, Bula "looked more like a warhorse than a racehorse". He was also known for being a bit of a tearaway on the training gallops and was described as "a lunatic" by his stable lad Vincent Brooks.

Bula made his racing debut in the Chaldon Novices’ Hurdle (Div II) at Lingfield in November. Although he jumped the first three flights poorly, he easily overtook the leaders to win by six lengths under jockey Stan Mellor. He followed up in similar style a week later at Worcester, before completing a three timer in novice hurdles at Wincanton.

Bula next ran in the second division of the Gloucestershire Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Sent off the 7/2 favourite, he rounded off his novice campaign in winning by six lengths from Odeum, bringing his winning streak to six.

Bula continued his winning ways the following season. He began his campaign in the Osborne Hurdle at Windsor, winning by half a length from Corrieghoil under 12 st 7 lbs. Nine days later, he fought to beat Dondieu by a head in the Jane Drewery Memorial Hurdle but showed his turn of foot in the Benson & Hedges Hurdle at Sandown, where he passed six horses after the final flight to beat Moyne Royal by a short head. Far back in the field was future Schweppes Gold Trophy winner Cala Mesquida, who received 21 lbs from Bula.

Bula reappeared in February in the Mill House Hurdle at Towcester, which he won by fifteen lengths from El Mighty. His next race involved meeting three-time Champion Hurdle winner Persian War in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Bula emerged triumphantly from the match, beating Flower Picker by one and a half lengths with Persian War, who had suffered from a temperature, ten lengths back in third.

Bula’s next target was the Champion Hurdle itself back at the Cheltenham Festival. Among field of nine, the smallest since 1953, were Persian War, that horse’s old rival Major Rose, Moyne Royal and Dondieu, and Bula was rated the 15/8 favourite. Persian War and Major Rose dueled from the second last hurdle, but Bula went with them and accelerated after the last to win by four lengths. The former champion was second.