Looking Back 71) Predica

           Royal Predica 

Royal Predica was a 1994 French bred chestnut gelding by Tip Moss and his dam was called Girl Vamp. Once again he was not one of the best horses or most well-known horses to have been at Pond House but he was a Cheltenham Festival winner who definitely deserves a mention.  He was not a model of consistency throughout his career but he was pretty good on his day and mixed with the best company.

He began his career in France in the care of trainer B Barbier, winning a hurdle race at Dieppe in July 1997.  The following year he was chasing, all of his starts were at Auteuil and although he didn’t win he was placed on nearly every occasion.  He finished a staying on second on his final start in France in December 1998.  This was a claimer and MCP claimed him for £20,808 to run in the new ownership of Peter Deal and John Dale.

He made a winning Pond House debut in a novice chase at Plumpton in January 2000 with Glenn Tormey in the saddle before finishing third at Ascot on his second start.  It was then to the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.  Stepping up in trip to 2m4f and wearing first time blinkers he won a competitive novices handicap chase with A P McCoy on board.  He ran poorly at Ayr after this before going on a summer holiday.

He returned the following autumn and was fourth at Chepstow on his first start back before being a close second at the track on his next start in handicap chases.  He won on his third start at Warwick in January 2000 and followed up with another win at the course in February.  He then lined up in the Grand National in April but unfortunately got no further than the first fence.  His final run on the season was at Sandown in the Whitbred Gold Cup and he was still travelling well when departing at the 15^th fence. 

A summer holiday then followed before his comeback run was a good second in the Silver Trophy chase at Ascot in November.  Three disappointing runs followed and the last of these was in the John Hughes chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences in April.  He was kept in training that summer and bounced back to form to finish second at Warwick before winning a handicap chase at Newton Abbot in June 2001. He also ran a fine race to finish second to Dorans Gold in the big summer handicap chase at Market Rasen in July before having a break.

His comeback run that winter was at Cheltenham in December and stepped up in distance again to three miles, he finished second with AP on board.  He pulled up in the Peter Marsh chase at Haydock after this but ran well to finish fifth in the William Hill Handicap Chase at the 2002 Cheltenham festival behind winner Frenhman’s Creek. He completed the Grand National the following month, finishing eighth behind Bindaree and ran okay to finish mid-division in the Whitbred on the final day of the jumps season.

Due to injury Royal Predica was not seen on the course again for just under a year when he returned to action in the 2003 Kim Muir handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.  Ridden by Mr Sol McHugh he was sent off at 33/1 and was one of four runners in the race for the stable.  I think the Racing Post comment tell the story of the race better than I ever could so here it is!

What looked a wide-open handicap was won in extraordinary fashion by Royal Predica, who had been off the track the best part of 10 months but could be fancied on last season's form, which included a fifth place in the William Hill Chase. The nine-year-old's cause looked hopeless when he trailed the field, racing wide, through the first circuit, and was still well detached in rear jumping the uphill fourth-last fence. But the situation changed dramatically as they came down the hill, for he swept past the field Arazi-style to jump the next on terms and then went to the front more or less on the bridle at the next. Given one smack to go on, he was soon clear and had the race in the bag before the last.

He completed in the Grand National once again after this in 13th place behind Monty’s Pass but pulled up in the Attheraces Gold Gup at Sandown.  The following autumn he finished midfield in the Hennessy but then was a bit below par after this and he fell when trying to defend his Kim Muir crown at the 2004 Cheltenham festival.  He got his final win for Pond House when winning at Warwick in June 2003 with Jamie Moore on board and he ran out an easy winner.  He was fourth back at Market Rasen but after a few lack lustre efforts after this he was retired from racing under rules.  He did have a few starts in point to points after leaving us but did not manage to add to his winning tally.  He then has a brilliant active retirement and excelled in the show ring.

Royal Predica won eight races from 43 career starts and he was placed 15 times as well.  Rated 143 at best he won just over £125,000 

Watch his win in the 2003 Kim Muir here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnwET1m2zDs