Looking Back 65) Endeavour

                 Great Endeavour

Great Endeavour was a 2004 gorgeous grey gelding by Great Palm and his dam was called Strong Irish.  An interesting fact to start today’s piece with is that we train his half-brother at Pond House currently – can you name him?  Answer at the end….keep reading!

Great Endeavour won his debut Irish point to point at Dromohane in April 2008.  He was bought privately for owner David Johnson and joined the yard that summer.  He was sent straight over hurdles in the autumn and won his first three starts.  He won three 2m4f novice events at Southwell on debut in September, at Uttoxeter in October and Towcester in November with Timmy Murphy on board every time.  He ran in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2009 and off a mark of 137 he finished seventeenth of 27 runners.

His comeback run the following season was in a listed handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November.  He had a narrow lead on the run in and went down all guns blazing in a close finish to be third, just one length behind winner Lie Forrit.  He was then sent novice chasing and won on his fencing debut at Towcester at the end of November with Danny Cook riding.  He followed this with two slightly below par efforts on heavy ground at Fontwell and Lingfield where he finished fourth on both occasions and then it was to the Cheltenham Festival to run in the Byrne Group handicap chase.  From a mark of 135 he just crept into the race at the bottom of the weights and with Danny Cook claiming three pounds off 10st 1lb he had a feather weight.  He was given a fine ride, never to far from the leaders and took to the front at the business end of the race and was firmly on top at the end.  He beat Sunnyhillboy by 1¼ lengths.  

It was then time for his summer break and he returned to action in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November 2010 and he finished sixth off a mark of 142 and he was let down a bit by his jumping this day.  He returned to the track in December and finished a very close second in the feature chase, beaten 1 length by Poquelin and the pair finished well clear of the third, Sunnyhill Boy.  His next run after this was back at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2011 in the three mile handicap chase.  He was running a cracker but had been narrowly headed when falling at the second last.  Thankfully he was okay and then headed to Aintree in April where he finished sixth in a big field handicap chase over three miles.

He then went on his holidays once again and his target first run back was the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November once again.  He was the impressive winner off a mark on 147 with Timmy Murphy in the saddle.  He jumped well on this occasion and despite a blunder at the last he stayed on very strongly up the hill to beat Quantitativeeasing.  He then went on to the Hennessy later that month to try an emulate former stablemate Celestial Gold who had been the last to achieve this feat in 2004.  Great Endeavour made a gallant effort and actually finished fourth behind winner Carruthers.  He was trying the 3m2f trip for the first time and although held up and cruising into contention leaving the back straight he was in second at the last but unfortunately his stamina did not last out and he faded into fourth on the long run in. 

It was back to Cheltenham in December for their big race and he was bang in contention when getting badly hampered three from home which ended all chance he had in the race and Timmy looked after him after this.  His next run, which sadly proved to be the final run of his career, was in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2012.  He was not quite up to this level and finished eighth behind Riverside Theatre.

He went for a holiday after this but sadly died in the field while with Timmy Murphy at the age of eight.  I am sure there would have been plenty more fun days to have been had with him but he had already achieved so much and given everyone involved some cherished memories.

Great Endeavour won six races from 17 career starts and he was placed five times as well.  Rated 157 at best he won over £196,000 in prize money. 

His half- brother we have in training currently at Pond House is Daklondike!

Watch him win the 2011 Paddy Power Gold Cup here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBzzyAR2IKQ