Well Chief
Encyclopedia
Well Chief is a race horse currently trained in Britain
by David Pipe
and owned by David Johnson
.
trained by Ralf Suerland and made his debut in a Listed race at Dortmund, which he won. He went on to have 3 more starts for the trainers, 2 of those in Group 3 class and the other in Group 2 class, where he finished 6th, 9th and 7th respectively.
, and sent to England to be trained by Martin Pipe
. He made his British debut in a maiden hurdle at Taunton in February 2003, where he won by an encouraging 5 lengths. He was immediately stepped up in class later that month and he took the step up in his stride as went on to win the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton. In his next start, which was still only his third over hurdles, Well Chief contested the Triumph Hurdle
at the Cheltenham Festival
, where he was denied by only a head when finishing 2nd to Spectroscope. In his final race of the season, he was sent off a warm 2/1 favourite for the Grade 1 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April, but could only finish a 2½ length 3rd to 33/1 winner, Le Duc.
in November, where Well Chief won by just under 2 lengths, and in the process shaved 0.2 seconds of the course record which had stood for nearly 9 years. After winning the Gerry Feilden hurdle later that month, Well Chief embarked on a novice chasing campaign in February 2004. After winning a Novices Chase at Taunton, he was stepped straight up to Grade 1 class at the Cheltenham Festival
, where he was sent off a 9/1 shot for the Arkle Challenge Trophy, which he won by a length from Kicking King
. He followed that up with another victory in the Maghull Novices' Chase
, which was his final appearance of that season.
He reappeared in 2004/05 season in a Handicap Chase at Chleltenham in November, where he finished a head 2nd to Armaturk. He then went on to contest the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, in what turned out to be one of the greatest ever races, he finished 1½ length 3rd to the great Moscow Flyer
, with Azertyuiop finishing 2nd. After that run, he was sent off a warm odds on favourite for the Castleford Chase at Wetherby, in which he was travelling supremely well and poised to make his move when he fell at the fourth last fence. He resumed winning ways in his next race with a victory in the Victor Chandler Chase
. He ran very well in his next 2 runs, firstly finishing 2nd to Azertyuiop in the Game Spirit Chase
and then filling the same spot behind Moscow Flyer
in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
. he then deservedly got his head in front in the Celebration Chase
at Sandown in April, where he beat old rival Azertyuiop.
, where he was sent off the 5/2 2nd favourite behind Ashley Brook. After nearly 2 years of the track he put in a superb performance to beat the favourite by 11 lengths, and was sent off the Evens favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase
on his next start, but fell early on in the race, which was eventually won by Voy Por Ustedes
. He then had one more run, where he returned to Aintree, where he was sent off an odds on favourite for the Melling Chase
, but could only finish 3rd behind Monet's Garden
.
Well Chief returned to action in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival
finishing second behind Master Minded
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by David Pipe
David Pipe (racehorse trainer)
The son of the prolific horseracing trainer Martin Pipe David Pipe is the trainer of the David Johnson owned Comply or Die, who ridden by Timmy Murphy won the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree racecourse....
and owned by David Johnson
David Johnson (racehorse owner)
David Johnson, a former £9 a week bank clerk who rose to become a multi-millionaire in the finance industry, is a hugely successful British thoroughbred racehorse owner whose Comply or Die ridden by Timmy Murphy and trained by David Pipe was the winner of the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at...
.
Early life
He started his racing career as a Flat horse in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
trained by Ralf Suerland and made his debut in a Listed race at Dortmund, which he won. He went on to have 3 more starts for the trainers, 2 of those in Group 3 class and the other in Group 2 class, where he finished 6th, 9th and 7th respectively.
Owner Change
Well Chief was then bought by David JohnsonDavid Johnson (racehorse owner)
David Johnson, a former £9 a week bank clerk who rose to become a multi-millionaire in the finance industry, is a hugely successful British thoroughbred racehorse owner whose Comply or Die ridden by Timmy Murphy and trained by David Pipe was the winner of the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at...
, and sent to England to be trained by Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
. He made his British debut in a maiden hurdle at Taunton in February 2003, where he won by an encouraging 5 lengths. He was immediately stepped up in class later that month and he took the step up in his stride as went on to win the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton. In his next start, which was still only his third over hurdles, Well Chief contested the Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
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...
, where he was denied by only a head when finishing 2nd to Spectroscope. In his final race of the season, he was sent off a warm 2/1 favourite for the Grade 1 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April, but could only finish a 2½ length 3rd to 33/1 winner, Le Duc.
History
He made his seasonal reappearance the following season (2003/04) in the Elite HurdleElite Hurdle
The Elite 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 Wincanton over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
in November, where Well Chief won by just under 2 lengths, and in the process shaved 0.2 seconds of the course record which had stood for nearly 9 years. After winning the Gerry Feilden hurdle later that month, Well Chief embarked on a novice chasing campaign in February 2004. After winning a Novices Chase at Taunton, he was stepped straight up to Grade 1 class 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...
, where he was sent off a 9/1 shot for the Arkle Challenge Trophy, which he won by a length from Kicking King
Kicking King
Kicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...
. He followed that up with another victory in the Maghull Novices' Chase
Maghull Novices' Chase
The Maghull Novices' 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 during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
, which was his final appearance of that season.
He reappeared in 2004/05 season in a Handicap Chase at Chleltenham in November, where he finished a head 2nd to Armaturk. He then went on to contest the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, in what turned out to be one of the greatest ever races, he finished 1½ length 3rd to the great 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...
, with Azertyuiop finishing 2nd. After that run, he was sent off a warm odds on favourite for the Castleford Chase at Wetherby, in which he was travelling supremely well and poised to make his move when he fell at the fourth last fence. He resumed winning ways in his next race with a victory in the Victor Chandler Chase
Victor Chandler Chase
The Victor Chandler 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 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
. He ran very well in his next 2 runs, firstly finishing 2nd to Azertyuiop in the Game Spirit Chase
Game Spirit Chase
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
and then filling the same spot 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 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...
. he then deservedly got his head in front in the Celebration Chase
Celebration Chase
The Celebration Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
at Sandown in April, where he beat old rival Azertyuiop.
Injury
Well Chief then suffered a severe leg injury, which kept him out for nearly 2 years. But he came back from the injury in the 2007 Game Spirit ChaseGame Spirit Chase
The Game Spirit Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
, where he was sent off the 5/2 2nd favourite behind Ashley Brook. After nearly 2 years of the track he put in a superb performance to beat the favourite by 11 lengths, and was sent off the Evens favourite for 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...
on his next start, but fell early on in the race, which was eventually won by Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes
Voy Por Ustedes is a French-bred chaser owned by Sir Robert Ogden and trained by Nicky Henderson. He was originally trained by Guillaume Macaire in France and was subsequently sold to the Million in Mind Partnership in December 2004...
. He then had one more run, where he returned to Aintree, where he was sent off an odds on favourite for 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...
, but could only finish 3rd behind Monet's Garden
Monet's Garden
Monet's Garden is a retired racehorse. Born in April 1998, he was a winner in 17 of his 32 starts, being placed second four times and third on two other occasions, earning £683,265 total prize money...
.
Well Chief returned to action in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2009 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...
finishing second behind Master Minded
Master Minded
Master Minded is a French bred National Hunt racehorse presently trained in Great Britain by Paul Nicholls.- Early Days in France :...
.