Looking Back 86) Liquidator

                  The Liquidator

The Liquidator is a 2008 born bay gelding by Overbury and his dam was called Alikat.  Some of you may know, but we actually trained his mum here at Pond House!  She ran in the blue and green colours of David Johnson and she was a pretty good mare herself.  She won five races and was rated 134 at best.  The Liquidator was her first foal and although she has had a few more since, none have achieved quite such a high level as he did.  He was David’s first Grade 1 Irish winner when winning the Champion Bumper at Punchestown in 2013.

The Liquidator made his racecourse debut for John Joseph Hanlon in the valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse in April 2012 (the race Moon Racer won before we bought him).  He finished second of 19 runners, beaten ½ length by Clondaw Kaempfer at 33/1.  Owner Roger Brookhouse then purchased him from Cheltenham sales shortly afterwards.

He arrived at Pond House in the summer of 2012 and made his stable debut in the listed bumper at Cheltenham in November finishing second.  He got his first win on his next start at Exeter, winning very easily by 24 lengths in February 2013 and it was then on to the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March.  He ran a cracker to finish fourth behind winner Briar Hill, beaten under 10 lengths.  He got a little outpaced coming down the hill but then stayed on really strongly from over one furlong out. 

It was then decided to have a crack at the Irish Champion Bumper at Punchestown in April.  Jane Mangan, who now works as a broadcaster for Racing TV was on board and she gave him a great ride to win.  He was never far off the pace, quickened up well to go to the front inside the last furlong and ran on well to the line for a memorable victory.

He then went on his summer holidays and returned to embark on a novice hurdle campaign.  He made a winning debut at Carlisle at short odds and followed up with another easy success at Cheltenham in November.  He was below form in the Tolworth hurdle at Sandown after this before he lined up in the 2014 Supreme novices hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.  He ran okay and was only beaten twelve lengths but finished eleventh behind winner Vautour.    He returned to Punchestown for the Champion novices hurdle and finished fourth to Faugheen.

Unfortunately he picked up an injury this day and was not seen back on the track again until October 2015.  He was sent of favourite for the Silver Trophy handicap hurdle at Chepstow but could only finish midfield and sadly this proved to be his final ever run of a short but high class career as he was retired home with his owners after sustaining another injury.

The Liquidator won four races from 11 career starts and he was placed four times as well.  Rated 126 in Bumpers and 142 at best over hurdles he was a very good horse and who knows how could he could have been had injuries not interrupted his progress.  He won just under £90,000 in prize money.    

Watch his win the the 2013 Irish Champion Bumper here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYSaAai8Ahw