Hedgehunter
Encyclopedia
Hedgehunter is an Irish
race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National
steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh
and trained by Willie Mullins
. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde
. He also finished second in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup
to War of Attrition
.
The horse is owned by Lancashire
millionaire Trevor Hemmings
who also owned Blackpool Tower
.
In his first season he ran in and finished second in four National Hunt Flat Races. It wasn't until the end of the following season he managed to win a sixteen runner Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.
chasing winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown Gowran Park and ran at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival
in the National Hunt Chase. He moved to dispute the lead before making a mistake at the second last fence and almost losing his jockey. He made one more racecourse appearance that season finishing second to the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase winner Rule Supreme at the Punchestown Festival.
He began the 2004-2005 season chasing home the classy Strong Flow to finish fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse
. Next he finished third to the Grand National
winner Bindaree
in the Welsh National
, before winning the prestigious Thyestes chase at Gowran Park
.
was in 2004. He led the field as they turned for home before tiring and falling at the last when in third, unlucky not to finish close behind the winner Amberleigh House
.
almost losing his irons Hedgehunter was chasing the well fancied Clan Royal. As the field approached Becher's Brook
a loose horse swerved in front of the leader, and stopping him from jumping the fence. This left Hedgehunter in the lead 8 fences from the finish and he led the field over the last fence. He was travelling very well up the run in when Walsh asked him to quicken and he put a dozen lengths between himself and the second horse.
was just enough to stop him. He ran a great race finishing six lengths second behind Numbersixvalverde
. Few horses have been so close in three consecutive Grand National since Red Rum
.
Starting with odds of 14-1 and again carrying top weight, finished in 9th place.
of 15 finishers, again with top-weight.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National
2005 Grand National
The 2005 Grand National was the 158th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 2005 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £700,000 including £406,000 to...
steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
and trained by Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde
Numbersixvalverde
Numbersixvalverde is an Irish race horse who won both the 2005 Irish Grand National and 2006 Aintree Grand National steeplechase, beating Hedgehunter by six lengths with Niall 'Slippers' Madden in the saddle....
. He also finished second in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
to War of Attrition
War Of Attrition (horse)
War Of Attrition is a National Hunt racehorse and winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006....
.
The horse is owned by Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
millionaire Trevor Hemmings
Trevor Hemmings
Trevor James Hemmings CVO is a British businessman, he was born in London, and grew up in Leyland, Lancashire He currently resides in the Isle of Man, but has homes in Jersey and Ireland....
who also owned Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
.
Early days
Hedgehunter was born in January 1996 on the Tully Hill Stud in Dublin. He was bred by Mary Lang and her uncle, Tony Keogh. He was sold ten months later on 5 November for £3,200 at National Hunt Sales in Tattersalls Fairyhouse Ireland. Niall F Quaid bought him and put him into training with Willie Mullins.In his first season he ran in and finished second in four National Hunt Flat Races. It wasn't until the end of the following season he managed to win a sixteen runner Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.
Chase career
The next season he went NoviceNovice (racehorse)
A novice in National Hunt horse racing is a horse which has not won in a particular type of race prior to the start of the current season. A novice hurdler has not won a hurdle race before the start of the current season, while a novice chaser has not won a steeplechase before the start of the...
chasing winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown Gowran Park and ran at the 2003 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
in the National Hunt Chase. He moved to dispute the lead before making a mistake at the second last fence and almost losing his jockey. He made one more racecourse appearance that season finishing second to the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase winner Rule Supreme at the Punchestown Festival.
He began the 2004-2005 season chasing home the classy Strong Flow to finish fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
. Next he finished third to the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
winner Bindaree
Bindaree
Bindaree is a racehorse who was the winner of the 2002 Grand National when ridden by Jim Culloty and the 2003 Welsh Grand National when partnered by Carl Llewellyn....
in the Welsh National
Welsh National
The Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
, before winning the prestigious Thyestes chase at Gowran Park
Gowran Park
Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annerly Estate near the village of Gowran.The first meeting was held in 1914...
.
2004 Grand National
His first run in the Grand NationalGrand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
was in 2004. He led the field as they turned for home before tiring and falling at the last when in third, unlucky not to finish close behind the winner Amberleigh House
Amberleigh House
Amberleigh House was the horse that won the 2004 Grand National. He is now retired and living at the National Stud in Newmarket.-Staff:Amberleigh House was trained by legend Ginger McCain, and was usually ridden by jockey Graham Lee, amongst others...
.
2005 Grand National
The race began at a furious pace and despite making a slight mistake at the tenth fence and Ruby WalshRuby Walsh
Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
almost losing his irons Hedgehunter was chasing the well fancied Clan Royal. As the field approached Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year...
a loose horse swerved in front of the leader, and stopping him from jumping the fence. This left Hedgehunter in the lead 8 fences from the finish and he led the field over the last fence. He was travelling very well up the run in when Walsh asked him to quicken and he put a dozen lengths between himself and the second horse.
2006 Grand National
Starting 5/1 joint favourite for the 2006 National, the burden of carrying top weight of 11 stone 12 (166 lb, 75 kg) combined with a hard race a few weeks earlier when he finished second in the Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
was just enough to stop him. He ran a great race finishing six lengths second behind Numbersixvalverde
Numbersixvalverde
Numbersixvalverde is an Irish race horse who won both the 2005 Irish Grand National and 2006 Aintree Grand National steeplechase, beating Hedgehunter by six lengths with Niall 'Slippers' Madden in the saddle....
. Few horses have been so close in three consecutive Grand National since Red Rum
Red Rum
Red Rum was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years...
.
2007 Grand National
jockey Keith EnrightStarting with odds of 14-1 and again carrying top weight, finished in 9th place.
2008 Grand National
Starting with odds of 20-1 finished 13th2008 Grand National
The 2008 Grand National was the 161st official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 5 April 2008 and attracted the maximum allowed field of 40 competitors, for total prize money of £450,640.Joint-favourite...
of 15 finishers, again with top-weight.