Barton Bank

Last updated
Barton Bank
SireKambalda
DamLucifer's Daughter
DamsireLucifer
Sex Gelding
Foaled1986
Country Great Britain
Colour Bay
BreederMiss P Hutton
OwnerMrs J Mould
Trainer David Nicholson
Record38: 11-8-2
Earnings£332,055
Major wins
Sefton Novices' Hurdle (1992)
Worcester Novices' Chase (1992)
Charlie Hall Chase (1993, 1995)
Martell Cup Chase (1997)
King George VI Chase (1993)
Last updated on December 5, 2008

Barton Bank (1986-2007 [1] ) was one of the top National Hunt chasers of the mid 1990s. He won the 1993 King George VI Chase as well as two Charlie Hall Chases at Wetherby (1993 and 1995).

Contents

Background

He was trained by David Nicholson and in his major successes was ridden by Adrian Maguire or David Walsh. He was owned by Jenny Mould, whose green colours with white stars have been worn by horses such as Bindaree and Tipping Tim. She also part-owned Charter Party, who ran under different colours.

Racing career

Barton Bank entered the 1993 Sun Alliance Chase as the favourite after betting support on the day. However, he broke a blood vessel and was pulled up. The winner was ante-post favourite Young Hustler.

The next season, Barton Bank won a battle with Bradbury Star for the King George crown. [2] Back in third was The Fellow, who had won the last two renewals of the race. Fourth and fifth were Young Hustler and Zeta's Lad. All five horses jumped the second last together. Barton Bank was one of the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup of 1994 but suffered an injury in the build-up and missed the race.

He went to the 1994 King George VI Chase well supported and approached the last fence 15 lengths clear. However, he met the fence wrong and gave Adrian Maguire no chance of staying on him (photo of Maguire falling off him) [3] Outsider Algan took the prize. Barton Bank's trainer David Nicholson got into trouble for hitting a photographer who was taking his picture after this had happened. Barton Bank went to run in the Pillar Chase, where he was well beaten by Master Oats. He then ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was still running strongly when he hardly rose at a fence late in the course and crashed to the ground. The race was won by Master Oats. This was Barton Bank's third fall in four races. Peter Scudamore said about his King George fall, 'He just does not shorten'. [4] He then went on to the Martell Cup Chase where he was last of six runners.

The following season, Barton Bank ran in the King George VI Chase (run that year at Sandown), where he was pulled up. He went on to another attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. John McCririck stated on Channel 4's Morning Line programme that at 16/1 he was good value. Fellow pundit Ted Walsh jokingly asked whether they were omitting the open ditches on the course as these were the sort of fences the horse had problems with. In the end, Barton Bank was fourth but never looked like winning. He then came second in the Martell Cup Chase.

Barton Bank ran in the 1996 King George VI Chase. He was placed, but due to the rare fast ground at that time of year (which some considered to be dangerously frosty) only five horses turned up. One Man retained his crown. Barton Bank then came close to defeating One Man in the Pillar Chase where the latter's stamina worries came to the fore. He wasn't really considered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although the Racing Post newspaper felt his early morning price of 66/1 was some value. This was his best effort in the race as he stayed on well to finish second behind Mr Mulligan. He then won the Martell Cup Chase at Aintree. His season ended in the Whitbread Gold Cup, where he unseated his jockey at the water jump.

In the autumn of 1997, in the Hennessy Gold Cup he was second to Suny Bay (Peter O'Sullevan's last commentary). He returned for another crack at the King George VI Chase, Pillar Chase, and Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, he was well beaten in all three and was retired from racing.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkle</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred champion racehorse

Arkle was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, he was the grandson of the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred by Mary Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin, Ireland, and was born at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath. He was owned by Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, who named him after the mountain Arkle in Sutherland, Scotland, that bordered her Sutherland estate. Trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan, in County Dublin, he was ridden during his steeplechasing career by Pat Taaffe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Orchid</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1979–2006)

Desert Orchid, known as Dessie, was an English racehorse. The grey achieved a revered and esteemed status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running attacking style, iron will and extreme versatility. He was rated the fifth-best National Hunt horse of all time by Timeform. During his racing career he was partnered by five different jump jockeys: Colin Brown, Richard Linley, Simon Sherwood, Graham Bradley and Richard Dunwoody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fellow</span> French racehorse

The Fellow (1985–2008) was an AQPS top-class National Hunt racehorse in the early 1990s. He won the 1994 Cheltenham Gold Cup and narrowly lost the 1991 and 1992 renewals. He also won the 1991 and 1992 King George VI Chase and the 1991 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Along with Mandarin, he is one of only two horses to win both the latter race and the Gold Cup. A full brother to French Horse of the Century Al Capone II, The Fellow was trained in France by François Doumen, ridden by the Polish jockey Adam Kondrat, and owned by the Marquise Soledad de Moratalla.

See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kauto Star</span> French-bred Thoroughbred Natiknal Hunt racehorse (2000–2015)

Kauto Star was a French-bred National Hunt champion thoroughbred racehorse trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset and owned by Clive Smith. He was known for his versatility and longevity, being the only horse ever to be top rated over 2 miles, 2.5 miles and 3 miles in the same season. He is also the first horse ever to win a Grade 1 race in six consecutive seasons, which he extended to seven. His Racing Post rating of 192 is the highest ever awarded to a National Hunt horse since those ratings began in 1987. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice, in 2007 and 2009, becoming the first horse to regain the cup. In 2009, he beat Denman by thirteen lengths, after losing to the same horse by seven lengths the previous year. Kauto Star tried for three more years to win the race again, but the best placing he could achieve was third in 2011. He also won the King George VI Chase a record five times. Kauto Star was one of the most successful steeplechasers of any era: he finished his career with a National Hunt record of £3,775,883 in earnings, £2,375,883 of which was winner's prize money, a £1,000,000 bonus for the completion of the 2006/2007 Stayers Chase Triple Crown and a £400,000 reward for heading the BHA Table of Merit in the 2006/2007 season.

Florida Pearl (1992-2012) was an Irish-bred race horse who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins. His major race successes included the Champion Bumper, Royal & SunAlliance Chase, King George VI Chase, and a record four Irish Hennessy's, among other races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Grand National</span>

The 1994 Grand National was the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Man (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

One Man was an Irish-bred National Hunt steeplechase racehorse sired by Remainder Man out of the mare Steal On. The popular grey won 20 of 35 races, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998. He was trained by the late Gordon W. Richards and owned by John Hales. Renowned for his jumping ability and high cruising speed, he was nicknamed his "little bouncing ball" by Richards and was adopted by many as the new Desert Orchid. One Man received a Timeform rating of 179, an outstanding figure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr Mulligan (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Mr Mulligan was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a specialist steeplechaser who ran twelve times and won seven races under National Hunt rules. After mixed success in Point-to-point, Mr Mulligan rose to prominence by winning five successive races of increasing importance in the 1995/1996 National Hunt season. He became known for his front-running style and occasionally erratic jumping. In the following year he appeared to have lost his form before recording an upset win over a strong field in the 1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was retired after being injured in training in 1998. Eighteen months later he died after being injured in a paddock accident.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master Oats</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Master Oats was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist steeplechaser, he ran twenty-one time and won ten races. He campaigned mainly at distances in excess of three miles and was particularly effective on soft or heavy ground. Over a period of sixteen months between November 1993 and March 1995 Master Oats won nine of his eleven races and improved from racing in minor handicaps to becoming the highest-rated staying chaser in Britain. His winning run culminated in a win in the 1995 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He also ran in three editions of the Grand National, twice carrying top weight. His later career was disrupted by injury and he failed to win again after his Gold Cup success. Master Oats was retired from racing in 1998 and died in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silviniaco Conti</span> French racehorse

Silviniaco Conti was a French-bred, British-trained Selle Français racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. After winning several important races over hurdles he emerged as a leading long-distance steeplechaser in 2012. After winning both his races in his native country, the horse won his first three races in England, culminating with a success in the two and a half mile Ascot Hurdle. After running poorly over shorter distances he was ruled out of a bid for the Champion Hurdle and was switched to steeplechasing. In his first season as a chaser he won the Mildmay Novices' Chase and finished second in a strong renewal of the Feltham Chase. In the 2012/2013 season he won the Charlie Hall Chase, Betfair Chase and Denman Chase and in the following season he was rated the best jumper in Britain and Ireland after wins in the King George VI Chase and Betfred Bowl. In the 2014/2015 season he recorded repeat victories in the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and Betfred Bowl but failed when favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the following season he was beaten in his first three races but returned to form in February to win the Grade One Ascot Chase by 20 lengths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cue Card (horse)</span> BritishThoroughbred racehorse (2006–2022)

Cue Card was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist steeplechaser, he won fifteen of his thirty-three races, including nine at Grade I level.

Teeton Mill was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who competed under National Hunt rules. He originally competed in hunter chases, which are confined to horses who have taken part in fox hunting, and won five of his first six races. When moved into open competition he won four consecutive races including the Badger Beer Chase, Hennessy Gold Cup, King George VI Chase and the Ascot Chase before sustaining a career-ending injury in the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Algan was a French Selle Français racehorse who competed under National Hunt rules. As a six-year-old in the autumn of 1994 he won the Grand Prix d'Automne, one of the most important hurdle races in France and was then sent to England where he recorded an upset victory over a strong field in the King George VI Chase. He continued to race for several years without replicating his early success. After his retirement from professional racing he competed in Point-to-point races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norton's Coin</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Norton's Coin was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for his 100/1 win in the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was an obscurely-bred gelding owned and trained in Wales by Sirrell Griffiths, a dairy farmer who had only two other horses in his stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charter Party (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Charter Party was an Irish-bred British-trained thoroughbred racehorse, best known for his win in the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He overcame persistent injury problems to win twelve races under National Hunt rules. He showed promise as a hurdler and as a Novice steeplechaser before recording his first major win in the 1986 National Hunt Handicap Chase. As a ten-year-old in 1988 he defeated Desert Orchid in the Gainsborough Chase, before taking the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March. He never won again, but produced a fine effort to finish third on heavy ground in the 1989 Gold Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thistlecrack</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Thistlecrack is a British Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races. Unraced until he was five years old, he recorded his first win in a National Hunt Flat race in 2014. In the 2014/15 National Hunt season he won two minor hurdle races before improving when tried over long distances and winning the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle. In the following season he established himself as the best staying hurdler in Britain with wins in the Long Distance Hurdle, Long Walk Hurdle, Cleeve Hurdle, World Hurdle and Liverpool Hurdle. When switched to steeplechasing in the following season he made an immediate impact, taking the Worcester Novices' Chase before beating more experienced horses in the King George VI Chase. His later career was beset by injury problems and he never won again, being retired from racing in March 2021 at the age of thirteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Buck</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Silver Buck (1972–1984) was an Irish-bred racehorse who became a champion steeplechaser when trained in England by the Dickinson family. He was the winner of the 1982 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the 1979 and 1980 runnings of the King George VI Chase. He was voted National Hunt Horse of the Year in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forgive 'n Forget</span> British racehorse

Forgive 'n Forget (1977–1988) was an Irish-bred racehorse who developed into a top-class steeplechaser. He was held up and invariably travelled comfortably in his races but sometimes lacked fluency at his obstacles. His biggest success came when winning the 1985 running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He would later lose his life in the 1988 running of the same event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minella Indo</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Minella Indo is an Irish racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He was one of the leading Novices' Hurdlers 2018/19 season when he recorded Grade 1 victories in the Spa Novices' Hurdle and Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle. He made little impact in his first season over fences but emerged as a top class steeplechaser in the 2020/21 season as he won the M W Hickey Memorial Chase and the BetVictor Make Your Best Bet Chase before taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

References

  1. "Scotland on Sunday". Archived from the original on 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  2. Maguire factor decisive for Barton Bank in King George - Telegraph [ dead link ]
  3. BBC SPORT | OTHER SPORTS | Two courses for King George horses
  4. The Sporting Life National Hunt Review 1994/95