Native Upmanship
Encyclopedia
Native Upmanship was an ultra consistent National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland
by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier
.
in February 1998 at Gowran Park, where he finished third behind subsequent Champion Bumper
winner Alexander Banquet. He had one more run that season in April, where stepped up on his debut, to win a National Hunt flat race
at the Punchestown Festival.
, but Native Upmanship could only finish seventh of eight runners, behind Alexander Banquet. His next outing saw him dropped down considerably in a maiden hurdle and he obliged with victory. He then went on to finish second in his next three runs, two of which were at Grade 2 level. In his final run of the season, Native Upmanship went to the Punchestown Festival, where he was sent off a 8/1 chance for the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle
, but won by 5 lengths.
, before another victory in the Dr P J Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase. He then went to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he was sent of the 7/2 favourite for the RSA Chase, but could only finish fourth. He made up for that defeat however in his final appearance of the season, where he comfortably won the Powers Gold Cup
.
and the John Durkan Memorial Chase
. Following this, he was sent off the favourite for the Lexus Chase
, but finished a distant fourth behind Rince Ri
. He was bitterly disappointing on his final two starts of the season as well, when pulled up in the Irish Hennessy Chase and fourth in the Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. These runs seemed to confirm the opinion that he didn't get the 3 mile trip.
, John Durkan Memorial Chase
and the Lexus Chase
. He then won the Kinloch Brae Chase
in January 2002, before going to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he ran a brilliant race at an inadequate trip to finish second to Flagship Uberalles
in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
. In his next start, which was over a more adequate trip of 2 miles and 4 furlongs, he won the Melling Chase
. In his final start of the season, his trainer again stepped him up to 3 miles plus, for the Punchestown Gold Cup
, where he finished a creditable second to Florida Pearl
.
again, before going to Kempton
for the first time to contest the King George VI Chase
, where he could only finish fifth to Best Mate
. He then went on to win his second successive Kinloch Brae Chase
, before returning to the Cheltenham Festival
, where he again finished second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
, this time behind Moscow Flyer
. He then returned to Aintree, where he won his second successive Melling Chase
. He then once again finished the season contesting the Punchestown Gold Cup
, where he finished third behind First Gold, seemingly failing to see out the trip again.
, where Native Upmanship finished fifth behind Beef Or Salmon
. After winning the Kinloch Brae Chase
again, he went on to finish third in both the Newlands Chase and the Melling Chase
. He finished the season with another disappointing effort, finishing fourth behind Moscow Flyer
in the Punchestown Champion Chase
.
and England
, including the 2006 Grand National
, but he only managed one victory, which was in a Grade 3 race at Navan in April 2005. After finishing last of 6 runners in the 2006 Punchestown Gold Cup
, Native Upmanship was retired, bringing down the curtain on a hugely successful career.
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...
by Arthur Moore and owned by John Magnier
John Magnier
John Magnier is Ireland's leading thoroughbred stud owner and has extensive business interests outside of the horse breeding industry....
.
Early career
He made his racecourse debut in in a National Hunt flat raceNational 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....
in February 1998 at Gowran Park, where he finished third behind subsequent 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...
winner Alexander Banquet. He had one more run that season in April, where stepped up on his debut, to win 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 the Punchestown Festival.
1998/99 Season
He reappeared in the 1998/99 season, where he made his seasonal debut in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Navan in October, finishing fourth. His trainer then immediately stepped him up to the top level a month later for the Royal Bond Novice HurdleRoyal Bond Novice Hurdle
The Royal Bond Novice 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 Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
, but Native Upmanship could only finish seventh of eight runners, behind Alexander Banquet. His next outing saw him dropped down considerably in a maiden hurdle and he obliged with victory. He then went on to finish second in his next three runs, two of which were at Grade 2 level. In his final run of the season, Native Upmanship went to the Punchestown Festival, where he was sent off a 8/1 chance for the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle
Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle
The Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice 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 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
, but won by 5 lengths.
1999/00 Season
The 1999/00 season saw Native Upmanship go down the novice chase route. After winning a beginners chase at Navan in November, he then went on to win the Durkan New Homes Novice ChaseDurkan New Homes Novice Chase
The Racing Post Grade 1 Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland. The race is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong....
, before another victory in the Dr P J Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase. 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 was sent of the 7/2 favourite for the RSA Chase, but could only finish fourth. He made up for that defeat however in his final appearance of the season, where he comfortably won the Powers Gold Cup
Powers Gold Cup
The Powers Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
.
2000/01 Season
Native Upmanship began the 2000/01 with two victories in the Fortria ChaseFortria Chase
The Fortria Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Navan over a distance of about 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
and the John Durkan Memorial Chase
John Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
. Following this, he was sent off the favourite for the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, but finished a distant fourth behind Rince Ri
Rince Ri
Rince Ri was a National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Ted Walsh and owned by Frank Moriarty.-Early career:He made his racecourse debut in December 1997, where he won a maiden hurdle at Navan and followed this up with two further wins in January and February, including a Grade 2 race...
. He was bitterly disappointing on his final two starts of the season as well, when pulled up in the Irish Hennessy Chase and fourth in the Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. These runs seemed to confirm the opinion that he didn't get the 3 mile trip.
2001/02 Season
The 2001/02 season saw Native Upmanship finish second in his first three runs of the season, in the Fortria ChaseFortria Chase
The Fortria Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Navan over a distance of about 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in November....
, John Durkan Memorial Chase
John Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
and the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
. He then won the Kinloch Brae Chase
Kinloch Brae Chase
The Kinloch Brae Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Thurles Racecourse in late January or early February, over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs.The race was first run in 1997.-Records:...
in January 2002, before going 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 ran a brilliant race at an inadequate trip to finish second to Flagship Uberalles
Flagship Uberalles
Flagship Uberalles was a racehorse, a half brother to the 1994 and 1995 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Viking Flagship, who raced between 1997 and 2005. He started his racing career as a Flat horse in Ireland and was trained by Dermot Weld and made his race course debut in April 1997...
in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
. In his next start, which was over a more adequate trip of 2 miles and 4 furlongs, he won the Melling Chase
Melling Chase
The Melling 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 Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
. In his final start of the season, his trainer again stepped him up to 3 miles plus, for the Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, where he finished a creditable second to Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...
.
2002/03 Season
The 2002/03 season saw Native Upmanship follow a near identical path to the previous one. After finishing second in his seasonal debut as Naas, he went on to win the John Durkan Memorial ChaseJohn Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
again, before going to Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
for the first time to contest the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, where he could only finish fifth to Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
. He then went on to win his second successive Kinloch Brae Chase
Kinloch Brae Chase
The Kinloch Brae Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Thurles Racecourse in late January or early February, over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs.The race was first run in 1997.-Records:...
, before returning 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 again finished second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
, this time behind Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer was a top-class National Hunt horse over distances between 2 miles and 2½ miles . He won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005, the Tingle Creek Chase in 2003 and 2004 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2002...
. He then returned to Aintree, where he won his second successive Melling Chase
Melling Chase
The Melling 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 Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
. He then once again finished the season contesting the Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, where he finished third behind First Gold, seemingly failing to see out the trip again.
2003/04 Season
The 2003/04 season saw him make his seasonal debut in the John Durkan Memorial ChaseJohn Durkan Memorial Chase
The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973...
, where Native Upmanship finished fifth behind Beef Or Salmon
Beef or Salmon
Beef or Salmon was a multiple Grade 1 winning National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan and owned by B J Craig. He was most famous for never winning a race outside of Ireland and for defeating three Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in Best Mate, Kicking King and War of...
. After winning the Kinloch Brae Chase
Kinloch Brae Chase
The Kinloch Brae Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Thurles Racecourse in late January or early February, over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs.The race was first run in 1997.-Records:...
again, he went on to finish third in both the Newlands Chase and the Melling Chase
Melling Chase
The Melling 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 Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
. He finished the season with another disappointing effort, finishing fourth behind Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer
Moscow Flyer was a top-class National Hunt horse over distances between 2 miles and 2½ miles . He won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005, the Tingle Creek Chase in 2003 and 2004 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2002...
in the Punchestown Champion Chase
Punchestown Champion Chase
The Punchestown Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped...
.
Final Two Seasons
Over the next two seasons, Native Upmanship continued to run in the top races in both IrelandIreland
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...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, including the 2006 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...
, but he only managed one victory, which was in a Grade 3 race at Navan in April 2005. After finishing last of 6 runners in the 2006 Punchestown Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
, Native Upmanship was retired, bringing down the curtain on a hugely successful career.