Iris's Gift

Last updated
Iris's Gift
Sire Gunner B
DamShirley's Gift
DamsireScallywag
Sex Gelding
Foaled1997
CountryGreat Britain
Colour Grey
BreederMrs R Crank
OwnerRobert lester
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill
Record25: 14-5-0
Earnings£339,503 [1]
Major wins
Winter Bumper (2002)
Bristol Novices' Hurdle (2002)
Prestige Novices' Hurdle (2003)
Sefton Novices' Hurdle (2003)
Liverpool Hurdle (2004)
World Hurdle (2004)

Iris's Gift was a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Jonjo O'Neill.

Contents

Racing career

National Hunt Flat races

He made his racecourse debut in August 2001, where he won a National Hunt flat race at Worcester Racecourse. He followed that up with another success at the same track the following month, before winning a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race at Newbury Racecourse in February. [2] Iris's Gift lost his unbeaten record on his next start, where he finished fifth in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He had one more race that season, where he finished second in Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race at Aintree Racecourse in April.

Novice Hurdles

Iris's Gift was immediately sent novice hurdling the following season and started with a winning debut over the obstacles in October at Bangor. He followed that up with another win at Cheltenham Racecourse the following month before winning the Grade Bristol Novices' Hurdle in December 2002. After winning his next two starts, including the Prestige Novices' Hurdle, he was stepped up to Grade 1 level in the Cheltenham Festival. Rather than contest one of the top novice hurdles, he contested the World Hurdle as a novice, where he finished a 3/4 length second to Baracouda. In his final appearance of the season, he won the Sefton Novices' Hurdle by 8 lengths as the 10/11 favourite. [3]

Senior Hurdles

The 2003/04 season didn't see Iris's Gift re-appear until February, where he finished second in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Haydock Park Racecourse. He then went to the Cheltenham Festival, where he reversed last year's result when beating Baracouda in the World Hurdle. [4] That was followed by victory in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse in April before he went to Punchestown, where he finished second to Rhinestone Cowboy in the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle.

Steeplechasing

The 2004/05 season saw Iris's Gift make just the one appearance. He was sent novice chasing that season in the Ascot Chase, finishing fifth behind It Takes Time.

The 2005/06 season saw Iris's Gift continue over fences. Under the jockeyship of Tony McCoy, he competed a hat trick over fences between September and October. He was then stepped up in class, where he finished a 13 length second in the Worcester Novices' Chase at odds on. On his next start, in February 2006, he fell in a novice chase at Warwick Racecourse. In his final appearance of the season, Iris's Gift went to the Cheltenham Festival in an attempt to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in his novice season, but he was pulled up in the race.

The following season (2006/07) proved to be his final season of racing. He made his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase, where he finished a 30-length fifth behind Our Vic, before finishing a distant fifth to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase. That race was the final one of his career, and Iris's Gift was retired.

Related Research Articles

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

Hardy Eustace is a retired thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the Champion Hurdle in 2004 and 2005. He was trained in Ireland by Dessie Hughes and owned by Laurence Byrne.

Native Upmanship is a former National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Buck's</span> French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Big Buck's is a retired National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls. He is owned by businessman Andy Stewart and specialised in racing over hurdles. At the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, Big Buck's made history by winning his fourth consecutive World Hurdles, confirming his status as one of the greatest staying hurdlers in history. He was retired on 13 March 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock On Ruby</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Rock On Ruby, is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist hurdler he is best known for his performances in the 2011–2012 National Hunt season, when he won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in November before winning Britain's most prestigious hurdle race, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on 13 March. After failing to make a mark as a steeplechaser he returned to hurdling and won the Relkeel Hurdle in 2014 and the Ascot Hurdle in 2015.

<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.

Albertas Run was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. He won two National Hunt Flat races and became a successful hurdler, winning the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final and the John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle in 2007. He became more successful as a Steeplechaser, winning four Grade I races: the Royal and SunAlliance Chase, the Melling Chase and two runnings of the Ryanair Chase. His other wins included the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, the Amlin 1965 Chase and the Old Roan Chase.

Rule Supreme is a retired, Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. During a racing career which lasted from May 2001 until December 2009 he won eleven of his forty-six races and was placed on nineteen occasions. He showed some promise in his early career but emerged as a top-class performer in 2004 when he won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse in England and the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil at Auteuil Hippodrome in France. In the following year he won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland. After his career in National Hunt races was ended by injury he had some success on the amateur Point-to-point circuit.

Back In Front is a retired, Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. The gelding showed early promise in National Hunt Flat races, winning twice and finishing third in an exceptionally strong renewal of the Champion Bumper. He was one of the leading novice hurdlers in the 2003–04 season, winning four races including the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in England and the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in Ireland. In the following season he won the Morgiana Hurdle and was regarded as a Champion Hurdle contender before being sidelined by injury. Back In Front won the Bula Hurdle in 2004 but ran poorly when joint-favourite for the Champion Hurdle in 2005. He had little success when switched to steeplechasing and was retired in 2007, having won eleven of his twenty-five races.

Jezki is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. After showing promise in National Hunt Flat races he won five times as a novice hurdler in the 2012/2013 season, with his victories including the Fishery Lane Hurdle, Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Future Champions Novice Hurdle and Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle. In the following season he won the WKD Hurdle and the Hatton's Grace Hurdle before taking the 2014 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse and following up with a win in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle. In the following season he was beaten in his first three races by Hurricane Fly and finished fourth to Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle before winning the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles and defeating Hurricane Fly in the World Series Hurdle.

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

Champagne Fever is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is noted for his front-running style and has won seven of his thirteen races. After beginning his racing career on the amateur point-to-point circuit he became the dominant National Hunt Flat performer in Britain and Ireland in 2012, winning the Champion Bumper and the Champion INH Flat Race. In the following season he was campaigned in novice hurdle races and won two more Grade I races, the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in Ireland and Supreme Novices' Hurdle in England. In his first season over steeplechase fences he won one minor race and finished second in the Arkle Challenge Trophy and in the following year he added win in the Clonmel Oil Chase and Red Mills Chase.

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

Lord Windermere is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is a successful steeplechaser, winning the RSA Chase in 2013 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2014.

Oscar Whisky was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. In his early career he showed promise, winning two National Hunt Flat races and two novice hurdles. In the 2010/2011 National Hunt season he emerged as one of the leading hurdlers in the British Isles, winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle as well as finishing third behind Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. In the following season he won the Relkeel Hurdle and a second Aintree Hurdle. He won the Ascot Hurdle and a second Relkeel Hurdle in 2012/2013 before being moved up to compete in steeplechases in the following season when he won the Dipper Novices' Chase and the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. Oscar Whisky was fatally injured in a fall at Sandown Park Racecourse on 6 December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vautour (horse)</span> French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Vautour was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing and won three times at the Cheltenham Festival. After beginning his racing career in France he moved to Ireland and made an immediate impact over hurdles in the spring of 2014 winning the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, Deloitte Novice Hurdle, Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Tattersalls Champion Novice Hurdle.

Bacchanal was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. He was lightly-raced, winning ten of his twenty races between January 1999 and January 2003. As a novice hurdler he won two of his four races and in the following season he won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle before recording his biggest win in the Stayers' Hurdle. He later developed into a top class steeplechaser, winning the Feltham Novices' Chase, Reynoldstown Novices' Chase and Aon Chase and twice finishing third in the King George VI Chase. He returned to hurdles to win the Long Distance Hurdle in 2002, but was killed in a fall at Cheltenham in January 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cole Harden</span> Irish racehorse

Cole Harden is an Irish-bred, British-trained racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. After winning both of his National Hunt Flat races in 2013 he went on to win novice hurdle races at Fontwell and Newbury in the 2013/2014 National Hunt season. In the following season he emerged as a leading staying hurdler, winning the West Yorkshire Hurdle before achieving his biggest success in the World Hurdle.

<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.

Buveur d'Air is a retired French-bred British-trained AQPS racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. After winning twice in his native France he moved to England and won the Top Novices' Hurdle in 2016. In the following season he won two steeplechases before reverting to hurdle races to win the Contenders Hurdle and then recording his biggest success in the Champion Hurdle. In the 2017–18 season he was unbeaten, winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle and a second Champion Hurdle, so becoming the second horse, after Kribensis, to win the Triple Crown of Hurdling. The 2018-19 season saw him win both the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Contenders Hurdle for the second time. In November 2019 he sustained a freak injury in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and did not race for the rest of the season.

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

Sizing John is a British-bred, Irish trained thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is trained by Jessica Harrington and owned by Ann and Alan Potts, and is best known for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2017. He has been ridden in most of his races by Jonathon Burke, but has more recently been ridden Robbie Power, including all four of his Grade 1 wins over fences. He also won a Grade 1 over Hurdles, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2014, and spent much of his early chasing career finishing second or third in races won by Douvan, widely regarded as one of the best chasers of recent times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiger Roll</span> Thoroughbred racehorse

Tiger Roll is a retired Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing and won the Grand National in 2018 and 2019. He has also won five times at the Cheltenham Festival: the Triumph Hurdle in 2014, the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in 2017 and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Vyta Du Roc was a grey AQPS racehorse. He was bred in France and trained in Great Britain and Ireland. His most noted success came when winning the 2016 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.

References

  1. "Iris's Gift". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  2. "Results from the 4.40 race at NEWBURY - 9 February 2002". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  3. "Sefton Novices' Hurdle". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  4. "World Hurdle". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-12-14.