Horses

Anyone with even a passing interest in National Hunt racing must surely be aware of the exploits of the superstar hurdler Constitution Hill, who is, unquestionably, the most exciting name in the sport. Owned by Michael Buckley and trained by Nicky Henderson, the six-year-old Blue Bresil gelding has, so far, won all seven starts under Rules, including the last six at Grade 1 level, by an aggregate of 89 lengths, without ever being seriously challenged.

Indeed, an impressive, 9-length victory over State Man – who has otherwise yet to be beaten in seven completed starts for Willie Mullins – in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023 introduced the tantalising possibility of Constitution Hill attempting to become just the second horse in history, afer Dawn Run, to win both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nevertheless, according to Henderson, Constitution Hill will remain over hurdles for the time being and will make his seasonal debut in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in early December.

It is worth noting that Constitution Hill is already the co-sixth highest-rated hurdler since the mid-sixties, according to Timeform, just 5lb behind Night Nurse, who won back-to-back renewals of the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977. In 2023, the so-called ‘Triple Crown of Hurdling’ – that is, the aforementioned Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, on Boxing Day, and the Champion Hurdle – proved little more than a formality and Constitution Hill also added the Aintree Hurdle, over two and a half miles, to make it 4-4 for the season. His combined odds for winning all four races were a shade under 5/4.

Henderson has stated that the same four races plus, possibly, the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham in late January, are on the agenda for 2023/24. At the time of writing, Constitution Hill can be backed at around the even money mark to remain unbeaten in 2023/24, subject to a minimum of three starts.

Readers of a certain age will surely remember the prolific two-year-old Provideo who, in 1984, won 16 of his 23 starts and, in so doing, equalled the British juvenile record set by The Bard, against retricted, modest opposition, in 1885. A January foal by Godswalk, the winner of the King’s Stand Stakes in 1977, Provideo opened his account, at the first attempt, in the Brocklesby Stakes – traditionally the first two-year-old race of the season – over five furlongs at Doncaster in March, 1984. He won comfortably, by four lengths, on that occasion and again, by seven lengths, at Catterick the following week.

However, at Catterick he had reportedly looked ‘a little less than straightfoward’ and, following two subsequent defeats, at Lingfield and Thirsk, he was fitted with blinkers, which proved to be the making of him. Eight months or so, and another 13 wins – which included the Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy in August – later, on November 1, 1984, Provideo was sent off 1/8 favourite to beat five modest rivals in the Dinsdale Spa Stakes at Redcar. He duly obliged, winning as easily as his odds suggested he might, by seven lengths, to equal the record.

A habitual front-runner, Provideo evidently impressed the learned scribes at Timeform, who named him ‘Horse of the Year’ despite his annual rating being only a ‘smart’ 112, compared with ‘top class’ 136 achieved El Gran Senor, whose only defeat of the season came when controversially beaten, by a short head, in the Derby. Anyway, to answer the question, Provideo was bred and owned by Ahmed Foustok, a wealthy British-based Saudi Arabian, in whose red-and-green checked colours he ran, trained by William ‘Bill’ O’Gorman, at Seven Springs, on the Hamilton Road in Newmarket, and ridden in all bar one of his races by stable jockey Tony Ives. Ives, who eventually rode 1,064 winners, described him as ‘the toughest horse I ever rode’.

I once messaged a horse breeder called Nellie Cox who said: ‘There’s a story behind every horse.’

This lead from a story about an ex-racehorse called Western Art.

Many years ago, my brother, a plasterer at the time, did some work for a family who looked after an ex-racehorse called Western Art. The horses was owned by a lovely lady who had re-homed Artie for his new life.

Touched by the story, I wrote a post on one of my websites. Some months later, the lady contacted me saying: ‘That’s my horse!’

Listening to the story of Artie in his new life filled my heart with joy. After being a very successful two-year-old race colt he had suffered injuries, which saw his form declined, and by the age of four he had been retired from training. This was all the more distressing because as a two-year-old he had won a Listed race as Sandown Park collecting a prize of £12,207. The lady knew little to nothing about his past. So I decided to investigate and research Artie’s story to fill in the gaps.

As with so many horses it was a remarkable story.

He was born at Rose Retreat Farm, Goochland, Virginia, USA, by a breeder named Nellie Mae Cox and sold at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales for $40,000.

He was later sold as two-year-old for £62,000.

Artie’s owner was able to contact Nellie Cox who remembered him as a foal and his pet name. It was thrilling to hear his story before the racing years.

Western Art, as he was named by his owner, Matthew Green & Ben Sangster was purchased by bloodstock agent Peter Doyle and trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam at St Gatien, All Saints Road, Newmarket.

I sent a message to Mr. Doyle asking if he had any details about this horse. I didn’t think too much more about it, half considering he wouldn’t have the time or interest in giving me the background story.

In fact, I forgot all about a reply until my mother said someone was on the phone and wanted to speak to me.

It was Peter Doyle. A softly spoken Irish man asked how he could help and looked back at the information he kept for each and every horse. It was a wonderful conversation and he asked as many questions about myself, Artie and his owner as I did of him. Later in the chat, he said he was getting ready for Royal Ascot and in July would be heading to Newmarket. He invited us to go to the races and have a chat with him.

I regret not taking up his offer because it would have added to the story which now encompassed not only Western Art ‘Artie’ but his breeder, bloodstock agent, owners and trainers.

Researching a horse was a journey which touched my heart because Artie was loved by many people in his life.

But his greatest love was a lady named Alex Smith.

As Nellie Cox said: ‘There’s a story behind every horse.’

There was never a truer word said.

God bless, Artie.

In memory of Nellie Cox who passed away on the 24^th February 2015.

The British Triple Crown has rarely been attempted during the five-and-a-bit decades since Nijinsky became the last horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St. Leger, all under Lester Piggott, in 1970. However, it is worth remembering that the even Nijinsky, once described by his legendary jockey as ‘probably the most brilliant horse I’ve ever ridden’, was the first winner of the Triple Crown since Bahram, who was retired unbeaten after nine races, in 1935. In other words, notwithstanding the emphasis on speed, rather than stamina, in the modern bloodstock industry, not to mention the temptation of richer pickings in, say, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – which is run over two and a half furlongs shorter than the St. Leger, but at the same time of year – winning the Triple Crown is, and always has been, an inordinately difficult feat.

That said, it may be no coincidence that the only one of the three horses since Nijinsky to complete the 2,000 Guineas – Derby double and attempt the Triple Crown, Camelot, was trained by Aidan O’Brien. The latest potential Ballydoyle contender for the most coveted accolade in British racing, City Of Troy, is an impeccably bred son of unbeaten US Triple Crown winner Justify, out of Together Forever, by Galileo. He made a winning debut in a maiden race, over 7 furlongs, at the Curragh on July 1, 2023, but left that form miles behind when hacking up, by 6½ lengths, in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes, also over 7 furlongs, on the July Course at Newmarket.

As a result of that performance, he was installed as ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby in 2024 and, while much can happen between now and next spring, few would argue that he sets the clear standard for juveniles in 2023, at least so far. O’Brien said of him, ‘He could be a Triple Crown type of horse because he could have enough pace for a mile as a three-year-old, he could get a mile and a half and could get even further.’