Horses for Sale

   Tuxedo Junction (GB) 


Exciting dual purpose prospect,
click here for details!

 

    Fighter Allen (FR)  


Exciting new horse with proven form, 
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                    An Accordion

An Accordion was a Cheltenham Festival winner for David, owned and bred by Brian Kilpatrick and he ran in his well know green and red colours.  He was a 2001 born bay gelding by Accordion and his dam was called Jennies First.  He was half-brother to smart chaser Horus and his half-sister Henrietta won three races as well.

Like so many of Mr Kilpatrick’s young horses he began his career in the English point to point field.  He was unbeaten in three starts in this sphere when trained by Ollie Jackson.  Ollie was head girl for David when he was training point to pointers and continued to train from the Purchase yard when David took over the reins at Pond House.  An Accordion won his maiden at Wadebridge in February 2006 and went on to win his restricted and intermediate races at Great Trethew that spring.

After a summer holiday that year he moved down to Pond House and made his debut in a bumper at Cheltenham’s November meeting.  Although not really a ‘bumper type’ of horse he ran a cracker and finished a four length second behind winner Cork All Star where he kept on all the way to the line. 

His attentions were immediately switched to fences after this run and he made a winning debut over the larger obstacles at Leicester in November 2006 with A P McCoy on board.  Although running green he won as an odds on chance should.  He followed up at Fontwell just after the turn of the year in impressive fashion and it was then on to Cheltenham at the end of January 2007.  He finished third in a novice handicap chase where he was unfortunately let down by his jumping this day. 

He did not run again that season and was given a nice long break, returning to action next at Ascot in November of that year.  He had an off day on this occasion and was not himself for whatever reason and pulled up.  Thankfully he bounced back to form when next back out on the track in January 2008.  Although he actually only finished sixth at Cheltenham he was travelling really strongly before he made a bad mistake four out and was not able to recover.  Tom Scudamore looked after him this day and his actions paid off as he got back to winning ways on his next outing. 

In first time blinkers he won the Skybet chase at Doncaster with Johnny Farrelly riding.  He travelled strongly throughout and although headed at the second last he rallied gamely to beat Ungaro by ½ length.  Tom Scu was back on board when he lined up in the William Hill handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.  Off a mark of 143 he was always handy and battled on well once challenged from the last to beat New Alco by 2¼ lengths.

Unfortunately for all of us connected to An Accordion things did not go to plan after this run.  The horse had immense talent and he was the perfect horse to dream of Grand National glory with but these dreams were shattered when wind issues severely affected his ability to perform.  It was a sudden onset one day and he was never the same horse after.  A tongue strap and wind surgery were not enough to save his racing career.  He ran three more times after his Cheltenham triumph but he pulled up twice and finished well behind on his final ever start at Taunton in February 2010.

He retired with Mr Kilptarick’s friends Mrs Robarts alongside all of his other horses.  Rated 152 at best he won eight races from 14 career starts if you include his point to points starts and he was placed twice as well.  He won just over £112,000 in prize money.  Sadly I think we did not ever get to see the very best of this very good horse.