Iris's Gift
Encyclopedia
Iris's Gift was a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Jonjo O'Neill
.
He made his racecourse debut in August 2001, where won a National Hunt flat race
at Worcester Racecourse
. He followed that up with another success at the same track the following month, before winning a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race
at Newbury Racecourse
in February. Iris's Girft lost his unbeaten record on his next start, where he finished a respectable fifth in the Champion Bumper
at the Cheltenham Festival
. He had one more race that season, where finished an excellent second in Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race
at Aintree Racecourse
in April.
He was immediately send novice hurdling the following season, and started off with a winning debut over the obstacles in October at Bangor. He followed that up with another win at Cheltenham Racecourse
the following month, before winning the Grade Bristol Novices' Hurdle
in December 2002. After winning his next two starts, including the Prestige Novices' Hurdle
, Iris's Gift was stepped up to Grade 1 level in the Cheltenham Festival
. But rather than contest one of the top novice hurdles, he contested the World Hurdle
as a novice, where he finished a 3/4 length second to Baracouda
. In his final appearance of the season, he won the Sefton Novices' Hurdle
by an emphatic 8 lengths as the 10/11 favourite.
The 2003/04 season didn't see Iris's Gift re-appear until February, where he finished second in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Haydock Park Racecourse
. He then went to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he reversed last years result when beating Baracouda
in the World Hurdle
. That was followed by victory in the Liverpool Hurdle
at Aintree Racecourse
in April, before he went to Punchestown, where he finished second to Rhinestone Cowboy
in the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
.
The 2004/05 season saw Iris's Gift make just the one appearance. He was sent novice chasing that season and was thrown straight in at the deep end for his chasing debut in the Ascot Chase
, where he ended finishing fifth behind It Takes Time.
The 2005/06 season saw Iris's Gift continue over fences. Under the jockeyship of Tony McCoy
, he competed a hat trick over fences between September and October. He was then stepped up in class, where he finished a 13 length second in the Worcester Novices' Chase
at odds on. On his next start, in February 2006, he fell in a novice chase at Warwick Racecourse
. In his final appearance of the season, Iris's Gift went to the Cheltenham Festival
in an attempt to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in his novice season, but he ended up being pulled up in the race.
The following season (2006/07) proved to be his final season racing. He made his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase
, where he finished an 30 length fifth behind Our Vic, before finishing a distant fifth to Kauto Star
in the Betfair Chase
. That race proved to be the final race of his career and Iris's Gift was retired.
Jonjo O'Neill
Jonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...
.
He made his racecourse debut in August 2001, where won a National Hunt flat race
National Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
at Worcester Racecourse
Worcester Racecourse
Worcester Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in the city of Worcester, Worcestershire, England.The course is laid out as an oval circuit of about 13 furlongs in length and situated by the south side of the River Severn....
. He followed that up with another success at the same track the following month, before winning a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race
National Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
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...
in February. Iris's Girft lost his unbeaten record on his next start, where he finished a respectable fifth in the Champion Bumper
Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in...
at the 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...
. He had one more race that season, where finished an excellent second in Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race
Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race
The Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early...
at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
in April.
He was immediately send novice hurdling the following season, and started off with a winning debut over the obstacles in October at Bangor. He followed that up with another win at Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
the following month, before winning the Grade Bristol Novices' Hurdle
Bristol Novices' Hurdle
The Bristol Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
in December 2002. After winning his next two starts, including the Prestige Novices' Hurdle
Prestige Novices' Hurdle
The Prestige Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
, Iris's Gift was stepped up to Grade 1 level in the 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...
. But rather than contest one of the top novice hurdles, he contested the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
as a novice, where he finished a 3/4 length second to Baracouda
Baracouda
Baracouda was a top staying hurdler for racehorse trainer François Doumen in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century. Amongst his major successes, he won the Stayers Championship, the World Hurdle twice, as well as winning 10 consecutive races between November 2000 and November...
. In his final appearance of the season, he won the Sefton Novices' Hurdle
Sefton Novices' Hurdle
The Sefton Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
by an emphatic 8 lengths as the 10/11 favourite.
The 2003/04 season didn't see Iris's Gift re-appear until February, where he finished second in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Haydock, Merseyside, England. The track is a mostly flat left-handed oval of around 1 mile 5 furlongs with a very slight rise on the run-in. There are courses for flat racing and National Hunt racing...
. He then went to the 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...
, where he reversed last years result when beating Baracouda
Baracouda
Baracouda was a top staying hurdler for racehorse trainer François Doumen in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century. Amongst his major successes, he won the Stayers Championship, the World Hurdle twice, as well as winning 10 consecutive races between November 2000 and November...
in the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
. That was followed by victory in the Liverpool Hurdle
Liverpool Hurdle
The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
in April, before he went to Punchestown, where he finished second to Rhinestone Cowboy
Rhinestone Cowboy (horse)
Rhinestone Cowboy was an Irish bred racehorse. He was trained in England by Jonjo O'Neill.-Debut:He made his racecourse debut in February 2003, winning a National Hunt Flat race at Ascot. His trainer them immediately stepped him up to the top level, where he contested the Champion Bumper at the...
in the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
Punchestown Stayers Hurdle
The World Series Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are fourteen hurdles to be jumped...
.
The 2004/05 season saw Iris's Gift make just the one appearance. He was sent novice chasing that season and was thrown straight in at the deep end for his chasing debut in the Ascot Chase
Ascot Chase
The Ascot Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, where he ended finishing fifth behind It Takes Time.
The 2005/06 season saw Iris's Gift continue over fences. Under the jockeyship of Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
, he competed a hat trick over fences between September and October. He was then stepped up in class, where he finished a 13 length second in the Worcester Novices' Chase
Worcester Novices' Chase
The Worcester Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
at odds on. On his next start, in February 2006, he fell in a novice chase at Warwick Racecourse
Warwick Racecourse
Warwick Racecourse is a horse racing course in Warwick, England. It is a leading flat racing and steeple chasing course, and has a programme of 25 meetings throughout the year, many of which are televised. The first stand was built in 1808, it has recently undergone a major refurbishment of its...
. In his final appearance of the season, Iris's Gift went to the 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 an attempt to win the 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...
in his novice season, but he ended up being pulled up in the race.
The following season (2006/07) proved to be his final season racing. He made his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase
Charlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
, where he finished an 30 length fifth behind Our Vic, before finishing a distant fifth to Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
in the Betfair Chase
Betfair Chase
The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt Steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. That race proved to be the final race of his career and Iris's Gift was retired.