Thursday, March 11, 2004

EXCITING CHELTENHAM IN PROSPECT FOR IRISH BREEDING

The first seven horses home in last year's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup were Irish-bred and three of the first four in the race graduated from Irish point-to-points, including Best Mate.

This media information pack includes a brief resume of Best Mate's career and the record of his remarkable dam Katday, who could be represented by her first five foals at next week's Festival.

Also included are form details for some of the ex-Irish point-to-pointers who will be in action at the 2004 Festival as well as sales prices for many of the horses to have passed through the ring at Goffs or Tattersalls (Ireland), including Best Mate - who was bought by Tom Costello for just Ir2,500gns as a foal at Tattersalls (Ireland). This pack also contains details on some of the human graduates of Irish point-to-points.

If you require more detailed background on Irish racing or breeding in connection with the Cheltenham Festival or at any other time, please contact:

IRISH BREDS - SOME KEY FACTS

- At the last five Cheltenham Festivals, 53 of the 100 races (53%) were won by Irish-bred horses with 31 of the 50 Grade 1 races (62%) falling to Irish-breds in the same period.

These included such stars as Best Mate, Istabraq, Looks Like Trouble, Cool Dawn, Florida Pearl, One Man, Back In Front, Hardy Eustace, Marlborough, Like-A-Butterfly, Flagship Uberalles, Monsignor, Moscow Flyer, Pizarro, Scolardy, Lord Noelie, What's Up Boys, Bacchanal, Stormyfairweather, Flagship Uberalles, Space Trucker, French Ballerina, One Knight, Spectroscope and Alexander Banquet.

- Every winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, since its inauguration in 1992, has been Irish-bred. These have included horses who have progressed to perform at the highest level such as Pizarro, Monsignor, Florida Pearl, Alexander Banquet, Montelado and Dato Star.

- Two thirds of all the black-type winners so far during the 2003/2004 jump season in Britain and Ireland have been Irish-bred. Grade 1 winners include Beef Or Salmon, Best Mate, Brave Inca, Cornish Rebel, Florida Pearl, Glenelly Gale, Golden Cross, Kicking King, Lingo, Moscow Flyer, Nil Desperandum, Patricksnineteenth, Pizarro, Solerina and Strong Flow,

- Irish-bred horses enjoy their racing and keep on scoring at the highest level, year after year. Among those to have won top black-type races in three or more seasons are Back In Front, Best Mate, Bindaree, Flagship Uberalles, Florida Pearl, Glenelly Gale, Go Roger Go, Keen Leader, Limestone Lad Marlborough, Moscow Flyer, Native Upmanship, Pizarro, Rince Ri, Sacundai and Valley Henry.

- Irish-bred horses have won six of the last seven runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and - with 10 of the first 11 in the betting for this year's race - there is every chance that that total can be added to next week. Ladbrokes' Gold Cup betting on Wednesday, March 10, was:

*BEST MATE (IRE) 1/2
KINGSCLIFF (IRE) 9/1
*THEREALBANDIT (IRE) 12/1
*BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 12/1
*KEEN LEADER (IRE) 12/1
*TRUCKERS TAVERN (IRE) 14/1
FIRST GOLD (FR) 20/1
HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 20/1
IRISH HUSSAR (IRE) 20/1
SIR REMBRANDT (IRE) 33/1
RINCE RI (IRE) 40/1

* Former Irish point-to-pointer

BEST MATE - THE STORY SO FAR

On Thursday, March 18, Best Mate will bid to become the first horse since Arkle, an Irish-born racing legend in the 1960s, to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times. Best Mate was born and raised in Ireland and graduated from Irish point-to-points.

- Best Mate was born on January 28, 1995, near Trim in County Meath. He was the first horse bred by Jacques Van't Hart, a Dutchman who lives in Ireland.

- Best Mate is the first foal of Katday, a three-time Flat winner for Sheikh Mohammed in the French provinces who then raced over jumps for Saeed Manana with John Fowler in Ireland. Katday was bought privately by Van't Hart for Ir£1,250 from Declan Weld, who stood Best Mate's sire Un Desperado, who died in 2001, at Old Meadow Stud at Donadea in Co Kildare.

- Best Mate was sold as a foal when lot 1016 at the 1996 Tattersalls (Ireland) November Sale at Fairyhouse. He made Ir2,500gns when bought by a 'cash' buyer who turned out to be famed horse dealer Tom Costello, based at Newmarket-In-Fergus, Co Clare. Costello has sold on countless National Hunt stars including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Midnight Court, The Thinker, Cool Ground, Looks Like Trouble and Cool Dawn.

- He had his first race in the West Waterford Point-To-Point at Lismore, Co Waterford, on February 28, 1999, when spotted in the parade ring by Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe. The then four-year-old, ridden by Tom Costello's son Tony, ran well before being pulled up when tired.

- Best Mate broke his duck a week later on March 7, 1999, in a two-runner point-to-point at Tuam in Co Galway.

- On March 29, 1999, Henrietta Knight and Terry Biddlecombe travelled to Tom Costello's farm with owners Jim and Valerie Lewis, who purchased Best Mate for a sum that has never been revealed.

- Best Mate had his first start under Rules when winning a bumper at Cheltenham on November 14, 1999.

- Jacques Van't Hart decided to sell his broodmares and offered Katday at the 1996 Goffs February Sale. Philip Myerscough, then Goffs' managing director, purchased her for Ir5,500gns. Myerscough, whose wife Jane is the daughter of Vincent O'Brien, now owns Baroda Stud in Co Kildare. He was attracted by the mare's Un Desperado covering as he owned Ventana Canyon, a smart chaser by the same sire.

Katday has developed into an outstanding broodmare. She is the dam of:

1995 g BEST MATE (IRE) (Un Desperado) - winner of two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

1996 g INCA TRAIL (IRE) (Un Desperado) - trained by Henrietta Knight for Philip Myerscough and a winner at Wincanton on February 20. Will run in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

1997 g CORNISH REBEL (IRE) (Un Desperado) - bought for Ir£110,000 as a four-year-old at the 2001 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby Sale by Graham Roach and trained by Paul Nicholls to win three of his four starts to date. Second favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

1998 g INEXORABLE (IRE) (Roselier) - sold for Ir31,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls (Ireland) then bought for 185,000gns by Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary. Trained by David Wachman to win a point-to-point and three novice hurdles. Entered in Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

1999 m SIDALCEA (IRE) (Oscar) - retained by Philip and Jane Myerscough and trained by Edward O'Grady. Won bumper on her debut at Punchestown in November. Entered in Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

2001 f FLYING IRIS (IRE) (Un Desperado) - Unraced

1993 slipped foal, 1994 barren, 2000 barren, 2002 Pistolet Bleu colt died, 2003 slipped Bob Back foal, due to have a Bob Back foal shortly.

IRISH POINT-TO-POINTS - A GREAT POINTER TO THE FUTURE

Best Mate's success in Tom Costello's famous yellow and blue hooped silks in a two-runner point-to-point at Tuam in Galway in 1999 has been well chronicled but the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is just one of a string of a National Hunt stars to have graduated from this arena.

When winning the Gold Cup, Best Mate was following on from the likes of Looks Like Trouble (2000), Cool Dawn (1998) and Mr Mulligan (1997), all previous Irish point-to-point winners who progressed to land chasing's Blue Riband.

Indeed, in last year's Gold Cup, three of the first four horses home were former Irish point-to-pointers, namely Best Mate, Truckers Tavern (2nd) and Valley Henry (4th).

Among the other current top performers to have graduated from Irish point-to-points are Florida Pearl, who last month won a fourth Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, Keen Leader, Beef Or Salmon, Martell Cognac Grand National winner Monty's Pass, the National second Supreme Glory, Martin Pipe's exciting novice chasers Our Vic and Therealbandit, Charles Byrnes' stable star Cloudy Bays, Hennessy Gold Cup and Feltham Novices' Chase hero Strong Flow, the Feltham second Ballycassidy, Classified, Royal & SunAlliance Chase winners Hussard Collonges and Lord Noelie, Rosslea and Lord Atterbury, respectively favourites for the National Hunt Chase and Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, Best Mate's half-brother Inexorable, Gunther McBride, The Bushkeeper and Foxchapel King.

Monty's Pass, the 2002 Aintree hero Bindaree, Bear On Bear and Irish National winners Davids Lad, The Bunny Boiler and Timbera, are just some of this year's leading Martell Cognac Grand National contenders who had experience in Irish point-to-points

In January and February this year alone, 113 National Hunt races in Britain and Ireland were won by Irish point-to-point graduates, earning over 1.1 million in prize money.

Among over 40 different trainers to win with ex-Irish pointers in January and February were Martin Pipe, Paul Nicholls, Henrietta Knight, Philip Hobbs, Jonjo O'Neill, Venetia Williams, Alan King, Oliver Sherwood, Kim Bailey, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Willie Mullins, Jessica Harrington and Michael Hourigan.

For Irish point-to-point form since 2000 and a wealth of other information about the sport, please look at www.irish-point-to-point.com

HUMAN GRADUATES OF IRISH POINT-TO-POINTS

Irish point-to-points have not only nurtured the careers of countless equine stars, many of racing's biggest names on two legs also graduated from the sport.

Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien partnered 18 winners between the flags from 1989 to 1992 while another top Flat handler, Dermot Weld, registered four successes in 1971.

Dorset-based Robert Alner, who trained Cool Dawn to win the 1998 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, rode a winner while looking at horses in south-east Ireland in 1990.

Willie Mullins had 40 wins from 1974 to 1988, Edward O'Grady had a succession of victories in the 1960s and 1970s, Mouse Morris had 22 successes in the early 1970s, an era when his contemporaries included John Mulhern, while Arthur Moore scored on his first mount in 1967. Jimmy Mangan, who won last year's Martell Cognac Grand National with Monty's Pass, rode 83 winners between 1972 and 1988 while Ted Walsh boasts 142 victories between 1968 and 1986.

Other leading Irish trainers with riding successes between the flags include Francis Flood (30 winners from 1958-67), John Fowler (75 winners from 1964-86), Donie Hassett (47 winners from 1970-88), John Kiely (23 winners from the 1950s until 1973), John Queally (149 wins from 1974-90), Dusty Sheehy (2 wins from 1994-96) and Tom Taaffe (11 winners in 1982).

Among the riding legends of Irish point-to-points are trainers Enda Bolger (a record 413 wins from 1980-99), Tony Martin (362 wins from 1981-2002) and John Berry (306 wins from 1984-2000).

Many modern-day jockeys enjoyed a grounding in Irish point-to-points. The now-retired Adrian Maguire enjoyed a six-timer at Dromahane on May 19, 1991, and became champion that year with a record 38 successes, while another rider who recently hung up his saddle, Norman Williamson, had 18 wins in 1988 and 1989 when based with legendary trainer PP Hogan.

Of those jockeys still riding, Paul Carberry (who rode in point-to-points for just a month in 1990), Brian Crowley, Alan Dempsey, Noel Fehily, Fran Flood, J P McNamara, Timmy Murphy, who finished runner-up to Tony Martin in the 1995 championship, Davy Russell, who has ridden 133 winners, and Ruby Walsh all have experience of varying degrees in Irish point-to-points.

IRISH POINT-TO-POINT FORM OF SOME LEADING CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CONTENDERS

Ballycassidy (IRE)
Won only start in 4 & 5yo maiden at Loughbrickland in April 2000

Ballyconnell (IRE)
Won three times in autumn of 2001

Beef Or Salmon (IRE)
Won by a distance at Clonmel ridden by Davy Russell on February 18, 2001

Best Mate (IRE)
Pulled up in 4yo maiden at the West Waterford point-to-point at Lismore on February 28, 1999
Won two-horse 4yo maiden at the North Galway point-to-point at Tuam on March 7, 1999

Inexorable (IRE)
Won his only start at Nenagh on January 26, 2003

Keen Leader (IRE)
Second at Dromahane on January 1, 2001
Won 5yo geldings' maiden at Knockanard on February 18, 2001

Lord Atterbury (IRE)
Won 5 & 6yos maiden at Ballingarry on June 8, 2002, on sixth point-to-point start

Mossy Green (IRE)
Won 5yo+ mdn at Ballysteen in May 2000

Never Compromise (IRE)
Won three point-to-points, most recently Carlow Farmers' ladies' open at Ballon under Katie Walsh on January 24 this year.

Our Vic (IRE)
Won 4yo maiden at Oldcastle on March 24, 2002

Rosslea (IRE)
Won 4yo maiden at Athenry on March 17, 2002

The Bushkeeper (IRE)
Second in 4 & 5yo maiden at Tattersalls Farm, Co Meath, on April 18, 1999

Therealbandit (IRE)
Won 5 & 6yos maiden at Lismore on March 3, 2002, under Davy Russell.

Truckers Tavern (IRE)
Ran in six northern point-to-points in 2000, winning three - at Maralin, Taylorstown and finally a 'winners of 2' at Crumlin on May 6

Valley Henry (IRE)
Won 5yo geldings' maiden at Carrigtwohill on January 30, 2000

Whereareyounow (IRE)
Won at Tattersalls Farm on April 14, 2002

CHELTENHAM CONTENDERS BOUGHT IN THE IRISH SALE RING

Many of this year's Festival contenders were sold in the sale ring in Ireland, either at Goffs or Tattersalls (Ireland). They range from expensive purchases such as Best Mate's exciting half-brother Cornish Rebel, who made Ir£110,000 at the Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby Sale, through to any number of bargain buys, most notably Best Mate himself, who cost just Ir2,500gns as a foal.

Best Mate is one of four of the last five Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winners to have been sold at Irish sales. Other contenders for this year's Gold Cup that passed through an Irish sales ring include; Beef Or Salmon (Ir£6,500 & Ir5,400gns), Therealbandit (Ir£18,000), Harbour Pilot (Ir3,600gns) and Keen Leader (Ir6,500gns).

Horse Cost Age Sale
ALBUHERA Ir12,000gns foal 1998 Goffs November
Ir40,000gns yearling 1999 Goffs Orby
BACK TO BEN ALDER Ir£88,000 3yo 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
BEEF OR SALMON Ir£6,500 4yo 2000 Goffs Land Rover
Ir5,400gns 3yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) August
BEST MATE Ir2,500gns foal 1995 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
BOLD BISHOP Ir2,100gns foal 1997 Goffs December Sale
BRAVE INCA Ir1,600gns foal 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
Ir4,000gns yearling 1999 Goffs February Sale
Ir£14,000 3yo 2001 Goffs Land Rover
CENTRAL HOUSE Ir£28,000 4yo 2001 Goffs Land Rover
COLCA CANYON Ir12,000gns yearling 1998 Goffs February Sale
CORNISH REBEL Ir£110,000 4yo 2001 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
D'ARGENT Ir£26,000 3yo 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
EARTHMOVER Ir2,000gns yearling 1992 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
GOLDEN CROSS Ir£15,500 yearling 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) September
Ir10,500gns foal 1999 Goffs November
GREY REPORT Ir£10,000 4yo 2001 Goffs Land Rover
GUNTHER McBRIDE Ir9,500gns 4yo 1999 Goffs Land Rover
Ir8,000gns 3yo 1998 Goffs Land Rover
HARBOUR PILOT Ir3,600gns yearling 1997 Tattersalls Ireland March
HARDY EUSTACE Ir£21,000 4yo 2001 Goffs Land Rover
HOWLE HILL Ir£6,700 yearling 2001 Goffs Autumn Bonus Sale
IN CONTRAST Ir3,000gns foal 1996 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
INEXORABLE Ir31,000gns yearling 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
IRISH HUSSAR Ir£51,000 4yo 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
JOSS NAYLOR Ir5,600gns yearling 1996 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
KEEN LEADER Ir6,500gns 3yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
KICKING KING Ir21,000gns yearling 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
KINGSCLIFF Ir2,400gns foal 1997 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
MARTINSTOWN Ir£40,000 yearling 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
Ir15,500gns foal 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
MOSCOW FLYER Ir17,000gns 4yo 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
NATIVE EMPEROR Ir100,000gns 3yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
NATIVE UPMANSHIP Ir8,800gns 3yo 1995 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
NEVER COMPROMISE Ir15,000gns 4yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
OVERBURY AFFAIR 38,000 3yo 2002 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
Ir£8,800 yearling 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
PATRICKSNINETEENTH Ir6,800gns foal 1997 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
Ir£32,000 4yo 2001 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
PIZARRO Ir£10,000 3yo 2000 Goffs Land Rover
RHINESTONE COWBOY Ir82,000gns 3yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
Ir16,000gns yearling 1997 Tattersalls (Ireland) September
ROSS MOFF Ir14,000gns 4yo 1997 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
Ir3,600gns yearling 1994 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
SADLERS WINGS Ir32,000gns yearling 1999 Goffs Orby
SH BOOM Ir20,000gns foal 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
SIR REMBRANDT Ir£9,000 4yo 2000 Tattersalls (Ireland) October
SPIRIT LEADER Ir7,800gns 3yo 1999 Tattersalls (Ireland) August
SUPREME PRINCE Ir16,500gns yearling 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
THEREALBANDIT Ir£18,000 4yo 2001 Goffs Land Rover
THISTHATANDTOTHER Ir17,000gns foal 1996 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
TROUBLE AT BAY Ir£11,500 foal 2000 Goffs November
VERY OPTIMISTIC 64,000 4yo 2002 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
WATSON LAKE Ir£70,000 3yo 2001 Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby
Ir11,000gns foal 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
WORLD WIDE WEB Ir7,800gns yearling 1998 Tattersalls (Ireland) November
ZIMBABWE 125,000 3yo 2003 Goffs Horses In Training

The Festival Dream

Part of the magic of Cheltenham is that it's not just the major owners and trainers who dominate the event, the smaller players - particularly from Ireland - also get their chance in the limelight. There will be many contenders crossing the Irish Sea next week hoping to be part of the Festival dream and three of those are listed below.

Brave Inca (Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle/Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle)
Owner: Novices Syndicate
Trainer: Colm Murphy, Killena, Co Wexford

Trainer Colm Murphy bids for Festival glory with his very first runner and Brave Inca is a horse that any top stable would dream of housing. The six-year-old is unbeaten in three starts this season, culminating in a success in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 8.

The Co Meath-born handler has a degree in accounting and had the best possible grounding having spent six years with Aidan O'Brien including nine months at Ballydoyle. The former amateur rider, who has just 16 horses, then had a year with Charlie Swan before taking out a licence himself.

Brave Inca races for the Novices Syndicate, who bought the Good Thyne gelding for just Ir£14,000 at the 2001 Goffs Landrover Sale. The seven-strong syndicate from Goatstown is made up of Fergus O'Tierney, his neighbour Tony Crean and their sons.

Solerina (Bonusprint.com Stayer's Hurdle)
Owner: John Bowe
Trainer: James Bowe, Gathabawn, Co Tipperary

Of the many fairy stories in National Hunt racing over recent years, few have captured the imagination more than the success of the Bowe family's tiny breeding and training operation near Thurles in Co Tipperary.

The remarkable Limestone Lad, winner of 35 starts, rocketed the Bowes into the limelight in recent years and while, the stable star is off this season with an injury, stablemate Solerina has proved a more than able deputy.

The brilliant mare won seven races last season, including Leopardstown's Grade 1 Deloitte Hurdle, and has added another three victories to the tally in the latest campaign, including the Grade 1 Ballymore Properties' Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairuhouse in November, when beating stablemate Florida Coast by eight lengths. If Solerina can overcome Baracouda in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, expect an almighty cheer!

Total Enjoyment (Weatherbys Champion Bumper)
Owner: It Will Never Last Syndicate
Trainer: Tommy Cooper, Tralee, Co Kerry

It's said that there are more racecourses than trainers in Co Kerry, but that has not stopped punters backing the mare Total Enjoyment - star of Tommy Cooper's stable at the foot of the Castlemaine mountain near Tralee - into second favouritism for Wednesday's Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Despite Cooper's name, this Cheltenham tilt is no joke, and when many of Ireland's leading Festival contenders galloped after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 29, the one that impressed many hardened observers more than any was Total Enjoyment.

Cooper, who hails from a racing family, has booked Best Mate's jockey Jim Culloty to ride the mare, who scored at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown in December, at Cheltenham. Owned by the 10-member It Will Never Last Syndicate, made up mainly of businessmen from Tralee, Total Enjoyment has been well backed for Cheltenham ever since that Leopardstown workout.

SEDGEFIELD SERVES UP ITS ALTERNATIVE CHELTENHAM

The County Durham racecourse hosts the first of two March fixtures on Tuesday 16th – the same day as the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

_ Entry anywhere on to the racecourse costs just 6, that's half-price and, in return, adults will be given a voucher that entitles them to a pint of bitter or lager.

_ The Tote big screen will be at Sedgefield Racecourse showing all the races from Cheltenham.

_ And there will be a short gap in racing to make sure racegoers don't miss a moment of the Champion Hurdle and Rooster Booster's attempt to hold on to the title he won so easily last year.

Sedgefield Racecourse's General Manager Jim Allen said: "It's one of the biggest days in the horse racing year. Cheltenham is pricey, so racing fans can come to Sedgefield and experience the atmosphere of Cheltenham at ‘Sedgefield prices'. The atmosphere is great, 12 great horse races all for only 6 and we'll give you a voucher for a FREE PINT when you come in through the turnstiles!"

"It's my favourite day of the year here at Sedgefield" said Allen, "If you can't go to Chelenham, for whatever reason, this is the next best place to be to experience Jump Racing at its best!"

For further information about visiting Sedgefield on Tuesday, please contact the racecourse on 01740-621925.

*Admission to Sedgefield Racecourse on Tuesday 16 March is 6 for both Course and Grandstand Enclosures. Gates open at 12 noon, and the first race is off at 2.15pm. The last race is off at 5.30pm. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Car parking is free. More information can be found on www.sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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