Al Eile

Al Eile

Al Eile and jockey Timmy Murphy at the 2009 WBX Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Sire Alzao
Grandsire Lyphard
Dam Kilcsem Eile
Damsire Commanche Run
Sex Gelding
Foaled 1999
Country Ireland
Colour Bay
Breeder Michael Ryan
Owner Michael Ryan
Trainer John Queally
Record 12-4-6
Earnings £598,075
Major wins

Aintree Hurdle (2005)
Aintree Hurdle (2007)
December Festival Hurdle (2007)

Aintree Hurdle (2008)

Al Eile (foaled on June 1, 2000 in Ireland) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I Aintree Hurdle three times.

Background

He was sired by, Alzao out of the mare Kilcsem Eile.[1] He is owned by Michael Ryan and is trained by John Queally. Throughout his time as a racehorse, he has been ridden by several jockeys, including Timmy Murphy and Francis Martin Berry.[2] As of May 2010, Al Eile has amassed a career record of 12 wins, 4 places and 6 shows while accumulating £598,075 in lifetime earnings.[2]

Racing career

Al Eile and Tony Dobbin

Flat Racing

Al Eile started racing as a two-year-old in October 2002 when he was entered into the European Breeders Fund Maiden where he finished in 14th place out of 17 entries.

2003/4: Novice Hurdles

He won his first race, the Devon Inn 3-Y-O Hurdle, in September 2003 at Listowel Racecourse in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. In that race, he beat a field of seven horses in what was his first entry into a jump competition.[3] After the victory, Al Eile went on to win five of his next eight races. Of those wins, the first notable victory was in April 2004 when, as a 25-1 outsider, Al Eile defeated 17 other horses to win the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 2 National Hunt race.[4]

2005-2009: Senior Hurdle Races

In total, Al Eile has won a total of four Grade 1 races, three of which have come in the Aintree Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, England. In April 2005, Al Eile beat out Inglis Drever by a neck to win his first Aintree Hurdle.[5] In 2007, he defeated Gaspara by 1.5 lengths en route to his second Grade 1 victory.[6] Al Eile followed his win in the 2007 Aintree Hurdle with another in 2008 when he Osana by 10 lengths.[7] The win made Al Eile the first horse to achieve back to back wins in the Aintree Hurdle since Danoli in 1993 and 1994. Al Eile has won one other Grade 1 race in his career, the 2007 December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse in Leopardstown, County Dublin, in which he bested a field of six horses, defeating Hardy Eustace by a single length.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Al Eile Pedigree, pedigreequery.com, accessed 8 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Al Eile History, racingpost.com, accessed 8 May 2010
  3. ↑ Review of day one of the Listowel Festival, rte.ie, 15 September 2003, accessed 8 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Al Eile pleasant surprise for Queally, rte.ie, 1 April 2004, accessed 8 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Another Irish victory as Al Eile romps home, rte.ie, 9 April 2005, accessed 8 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Al Eile comes good with second victory, icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk, 16 April 2007, accessed 8 May 2010.
  7. ↑ Al Eile lands Aintree Hurdle hat trick, rte.ie, 5 April 2008, accessed 8 May 2010.
  8. ↑ Al Eile gives Murphy big Irish payday, dailymail.co.uk, 29 December 2007, accessed 8 May 2010.