Looking Back 67) Harry

 
                  Carryonharry

Carryonharry was a 1994 born grey gelding by Roselier and his dam was Bluebell Avenue.  He may not have been one of the best horses to have been through Pond House but he was certainly very good in his grade.  He gave Gerry Supple the biggest win of his riding career when they won a valuable handicap chase at Kempton and I know there is a very nice big picture of him hanging above Gerry’s mantle piece!

He started his career in bumpers at Newton Abbot in November 1999.  Gerry Supple was on board for his debut and he finished sixth of 14 and he filled exactly the same position on his second start at the track with A P McCoy this time.  He was then sent hurdling and finished third on his jumping debut at Fontwell albeit a fair way behind.  He got his first win on his second start over hurdles at Plumpton in January 2000 and followed up by winning on his next start at Warwick as well.  Stepped up in class after this he finished third in the EBF novices hurdle final at Sandown on Imperial Cup day in March before he went on his summer holiday.

He returned to action the following autumn with two wins over hurdles.  The first of these came in November at Kempton and he followed up at Chepstow later that month as well.  He finished third in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham’s December meeting behind Go Ballistic before his final run of that season came at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting where he also finished third.

After his summer holiday of 2001 he returned to training to embark on a novice chase campaign.  He won his first three starts in novice chases.  The first of these victories was at Fontwell and then he won at Exeter twice after this.  He ran in the three mile handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2002 and finished ninth before tackling the Grand National at Aintree in April.  Unfortunately he got no further than the first fence on this occasion with jockey Rupert Wakley on board.

The following autumn he pulled up in his return to action at Wincanton after stumbling badly but he bounced right back to form to win at Kempton over Christmas.  Held up in rear he gradually worked his way through the field around the inside and was driven out from the last.  Carryonharry found things tougher after this in some of the top staying handicap chases but he finished fourth back at Kempton in the Racing Post chase in February.  He did seem to love it around Kempton.  He ran well at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival in the Kim Muir amateur handicap chase with Gordon Elliott in the saddle.  Although not placed he was not that far behind winner, stablemate Royal Predica. 

He failed to trouble the judge the following season, again in some top races but he did run okay in the majority of those races.  He did get a deserved win on his first run of the 2004/5 season however.  Andrew Glassonbury claiming seven pounds was on board for what proved to be his final win for Pond House at Ludlow in November 2004. He finished second on his next start and got a few more places that season before he was retired from racing under rules.

He returned home to his owners and was a super school master for their daughter in the point to point field.  In fact he went on to be unbeaten in his first eight races before having a crack at the 2007 Cheltenham Foxhunters where he finished a respectable 11^th of 24 runners.  Returned to the pointing field after this he went on many more races before he retired with his final ever race being at Stratford in May 2008. 

Carryonharry won eleven races from 41 career starts under rules and he was placed eight times as well.  He also won 20 point to points from 30 starts in a terrific career which spanned over 9 years. Rated 135 at best he won over £91,000 in prize money.

Watch his win at Kempton here: https://youtu.be/7mK84poTHlQ