Looking Back 84) Warhorse

                Western Warhorse

Western Warhorse is a 2008 bay gelding by Westerner and his dam was called An Banog.  He only had a very short career but he was a Cheltenham Festival winner for David in 2014.  I personally remember him well as he was a handsome big horse, talented but he was not an easy ride and his temperament took some managing, a trait we have found with several horses that have been at Pond House that are by his sire. Indeed Tom Scudamore once described him as a ‘fruit loop’ after winning on him!

He began his career in the Irish point to point field and his record stands at one start and one win in that sphere.  He easily won a four year old maiden at Affane in November 2012 ridden by Barry O’Neill after which he was sent to Cheltenham sales and was bought by owner Roger Brookhouse.

He arrived at Pond House in December 2012 and made his debut for the stable at Ffos Las in February 2013.  Unfortunately he got no further than the second flight of hurdles where he fell and he was then next on the track at Chepstow in April.  He was the easy 10 length winner of a novice hurdle with Tom Scudamore on board and he went on his summer holidays after this.

His first run back after his break was at Cheltenham in November 2013.  Maurice Linehan rode him in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle, a race that Pond House have done pretty well in over the years.  He actually finished second off a mark of 126 behind stablemate winner Home Run who was not really fancied at 40/1! Western Warhorse ran a cracker from the front, defying his inexperience and was only beaten three lengths. Later that month he went on to finish sixth of 21 in a handicap hurdle at Newbury before his attentions were switched to fences in the New Year.

He made a winning chasing debut at Doncaster in January 2014 but that does not quite tell the whole story.  His intended debut over the larger obstacles was supposed to have been at Kempton over Christmas but he got rid of Tom Scu and bolted on the way to the start so was withdrawn!  He put in an impressive round of jumping at Doncaster and won what was a competitive little race.  Brilliant jumping was his strong asset and so David had not hesitation in sending him to the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival after just one start over fences – most worry and thought was given to the plan in getting horse and jockey to the start safely!

Thankfully he did make it to the start okay and well, he ran the race of his life and was a somewhat surprise winner of the 2014 Arkle chase at odds of 33/1.  He took up his customary front running position early but then was outpaced from four out before Tom Scu asked him for more and they stayed on really gamely to get up and beat Champagne Fever by a head.  He wore a first time hood and that seemed to help and while it was a shock result to many we knew he had an engine.  It was just a case of channeling all his energy in the right direction and it all came together perfectly on this day! The form of the race was played down and knocked because he won but at the end of the day he was the best horse on the day, a deserved winner and no-one can take that away from him.

He went to Aintree after this but the hood and precautions taken at Cheltenham did not work quite as effectively this time.  With a big crowd and the fact you have to come out underneath the stands to get on the track, it all led him to boil over and his race was lost before the start.  I remember despite two strong people leading him he took off and knocked down some railings.  He did actually finish third in the Grade 1 novices chase but was beaten a fair way.  The comments of the race say ‘edgy beforehand’ and he was far too keen in the race early this time to last home.

This proved to be his final ever run.  He actually picked up a tendon injury this day and despite trying to get him back to the track after some time off he never quite made it.  He was not an easy horse to be a good patient as he was always a bit hard on himself at home which did not help his chances.  I do know that he has gone on to have a brilliant retirement away from racing however and I have seen photos of him jumping massive hedges and doing all-sorts!  It is so nice to hear they can change and go on to have enjoyable active retirements despite what they might have been like in their racing days.

Western Warhorse won three of his seven career starts and was placed twice as well.  Rated 161 at best he won over £106,000 in prize money.  

Watch his win in the 2014 Arkle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvqKHoK1MZA