Hedgehunter
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| Hedgehunter | ||
 Upload / Commons Upload Hedgehunter wins the National |
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| Sire: | Montelimar | |
| Grandsire: | Alleged | |
| Dam: | Aberedw | |
| Damsire: | Caerwent | |
| Sex: | Gelding | |
| Foaled: | 25th January 1996 | |
| Country: | Ireland | |
| Colour: | Bay | |
| Breeder: | J. Anthony Keough | |
| Owner: | Trevor Hemmings | |
| Trainer: | Willie Mullins | |
| Record: | 35: 5-12-9 | |
| Earnings: | £ 776,909 | |
| Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards | ||
| Major Racing Wins | ||
| Grand National 2005 | ||
Hedgehunter (born 25th January 1996) is an Irish race horse, who won the Grand National steeplechase in 2005, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. Before finishing 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 owns Blackpool Tower.
Contents |
[edit] 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 5th November for £3,200 at National Hunt Sales in Tattersalls Fairyhouse Ireland. Niall F Quaid bough 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.
[edit] Chase Career
The next season he went Novice 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 slassy Strong Flow to finish fourth in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. Next he finished third to the Grand National winner Bindaree in the Welsh National, before winning a three mile chase at Gowran Park.
[edit] 2004 Grand National
His first run in the Grand National was in 2004. He lead 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.
[edit] 2005 Grand National
The race began at a furious pace and despite making a slight mistake at the tenth fence and Ruby Walsh 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, interfering with him badly and causing his jockey Tony McCoy to pull him up. This left Hedgehunter in the lead 8 fences from the finish and he lead 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.
[edit] 2006 Grand National
Starting 5/1 joint favourite for the 2006 National, the burden of carrying top weight of 11 stone 12 combined with a hard race a few weeks earlier when he finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup was just enough to stop him. He ran a great race finishing six lengths second behind Numbersixvalverde. Few horses have been came so close in three consecutive Grand National since Red Rum.
