Retrained racehorse Annacotty proves the flexibility of thoroughbreds

Standard racehorse and Cheltenham Paddy Energy Gold Cup hero Annacotty is totally excelling in his second profession after racing.

The 16-year-old gelding and Hannah Bishop are having the time of their lives, having fun with looking, aspect saddle, RoR displaying courses, seashore rides and loads of hacking, proving the true versatility of retrained racehorses. However it’s in showjumping that this “naturally cautious” thoroughbred excels and he turned the primary Cheltenham winning-racehorse to go on to win a showjumping class at Hickstead.

Buckinghamshire-based rider Hannah is rightfully pleased with all that the much-loved “Gerry” has achieved.

“I feel as a result of I haven’t overdone issues with him, he’s nonetheless going sturdy and in the most effective type of his life,” she says. “He feels even higher now than he did two years in the past. He’s extra superior in his education now, however he’s only a pleasure to experience; it’s an absolute privilege to have him.”

Annacotty: “The very best racehorse they ever owned”

Hannah has been racing supervisor for Nationwide Hunt proprietor Liz Prowting for the previous 20 years and he or she picked out the four-year-old point-to-point winner Annacotty (Useful x Ardross) on the gross sales for Mrs Prowting to purchase. The teenager was nicknamed Gerry after bloodstock agent Gerry Hogan, who helped with the acquisition.

“We purchased the primary horse that I noticed – which you’re not purported to do! However he got here in beneath price range and he’s been the most effective racehorse that they’ve ever owned,” says Hannah.

Annacotty was skilled by Martin Keighley in his early years, profitable the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase beneath jockey Ian Popham earlier than occurring to triumph within the Paddy Energy Gold Cup at Cheltenham – a primary Grade One success for his proprietor – on his first run for coach Alan King in 2015. His love for Cheltenham was cemented when he went on to turn out to be a twin winner of the Grade Three freebets.com Trophy Chase on the similar monitor.

“He liked racing there and so they solely actually ran him at Cheltenham in the long run,” says Hannah.

The massively widespread racehorse Annacotty and jockey Ian Popham lead all the way in which to win at Kempton. Picture by Invoice Selwyn.

“He retired sound and on the prime of his recreation”

Annacotty was retired from racing after operating within the 2017 Cheltenham Pageant and Hannah says “I actually wasn’t letting anybody else get their arms on him when he completed racing!” So she set about retraining her beloved and quirky Gerry for a life past the monitor.

“He retired sound from racing and that’s in all probability one of many strongest factors – we took him out of racing when he was on the very prime of his recreation,” she explains. “Lots of people would have saved racing him, however we didn’t need to preserve pushing him.

“He’s very a lot a sulky character – he needs to be sorted and he’s fairly excessive upkeep when it comes to the quantity of consideration and TLC he wants, and when it comes to the one who’s taking care of him. So he must be at residence and requires cuddles, time, consideration and energy, nevertheless it’s completely price it.”

Whereas he was racing, Annacotty used to get pleasure from some looking “to maintain him candy” though Hannah says, “I can’t maintain one aspect of him looking now!”

Annacotty having fun with a day’s looking in 2017.

They’ve taken half in all the pieces from RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) racecourse parades to some aspect saddle, however discovering his forte in showjumping has come as one thing of a shock.

“He’s all the time had that X-factor about him and if we’d taken him out of racing on the age of 5, I can say with full confidence that he’d have gone to Badminton – he might have been something or finished something,” says Hannah. “We had been actually torn on the time – did we would like a world class competitors horse or did we need to see how far he’d go racing? However he was purchased and bred to be a racehorse – you may have pipe desires alongside the way in which, although!

“So we thought he’d be a lot happier going cross-country after he retired, nevertheless it’s not typically he has a pole down showjumping – he will get upset if he does, he’s simply naturally very cautious. I don’t know what it’s, however he simply loves it – it’s like he can learn the numbers on the fences.

“However I attempt to experience respectfully reasonably than flip up horribly tight. I’m aggressive, however his welfare comes above any flip.”

Retrained racehorse Annacotty: “We don’t ask an excessive amount of of him”

Hannah and Annacotty have racked up some good showjumping wins in recent times, additionally competing within the RoR ultimate on the British Showjumping Nationwide Championships, however Hannah’s stand-out success was profitable at Hickstead’s All England Leaping Championships in 2021.

“He’s the one racehorse who has gained at Cheltenham and gone on to win a showjumping class at Hickstead – he’s phenomenal,” says Hannah. “He’s like driving a pony.

“However we don’t exit and soar six courses throughout two days, we simply soar one class and are available residence. He’s nicely sorted and saved candy and managed properly. We don’t go to the nicely too typically.

Hannah Bishop and retrained racehorse Annacotty having fun with the showjumping at Hickstead.

“He might do much more, however the great thing about the very fact is he’s nonetheless match, competing and doing issues as a result of we haven’t stretched him past his limits and don’t ask for an excessive amount of,” she continues. “He very not often comes residence with out having paid for the outing. He’s very constant.

“He’s the identical in his racing mannerisms when he goes to exhibits, however he’s higher at some venues than others – he has locations which are in his consolation zone and he’s an entire poppet, then there are different locations that if he doesn’t significantly just like the venue or the environment he’s fairly tough. However on the entire, he’s actually good. He’s all the time been supremely proficient however fairly quirky!”

“I would like folks to see that racehorses can deal with a technical course”

In a full circle second, the pair will subsequent month (25 October) be competing within the Sportjumping Ultimate at Bury Farm, an annual showjumping competitors that mixes a racing-style handicap format with the prospect to have a flutter on the runners and riders. A subject of 15 will line up for every of the three peak courses and that is the primary time that former racehorses will likely be participating.

In addition to Hannah Bishop with Annacotty, Rachel Vicary will likely be in motion on the previous Gary Moore-trained Shantou Grasp, and Clair Lewis driving Grasp Wickham will likely be bidding for glory in the course of the gala night.

“I simply need folks to see that racehorses could be superbly nicely skilled and deal with a technical course,” says Hannah.

“I don’t actually know what to anticipate on the night, however I’m trying ahead to it. I do know it will likely be a unique sort of showjumping monitor to what we’re used to, however I feel he’s at that time in his life that he ought to be capable of deal with being requested a unique query.

“I can’t actually afford to consider folks betting on us although! I’ve finished sufficient charity races through the years and that’s a part of going racing. I’m extra nervous about how he’s going to deal with the night environment – he can get a bit lit up by rowdy crowds, however hopefully he’ll simply get pleasure from it.”

Hannah Bishop and beloved retrained racehorse Annacotty on the seashore.

Singing the praises of the flexibility of retrained racehorses, Hannah describes Annacotty as “a really good horse to experience”.

“There’s nothing he doesn’t like, he doesn’t flip a hair and he’s only a pleasure to be round,” she says.

“Liz Prowting is a giant Nationwide Hunt proprietor, she’s 85 now and now we have by no means bought on a horse – each single racehorse stays with us for all times – so there are hundreds on the market with different folks competing, doing Pony Membership actions, looking, eventing and nonetheless actively in work. They arrive residence after they’re field-retired or they go right down to Devon the place mates preserve them for us.

“So that they’re in every single place – however it’s a must to attempt to match them with the fitting folks, and we don’t all the time get it proper, however you attempt your finest.

“Lots of people may need taken Gerry so much larger, however equally it’s a must to keep in mind that he’s finished his job and it’s now about having fun with his life which is why we preserve it enjoyable and simple,” she says of her true household horse.

“He’s such a gem, a gentleman, he’s simply actually, actually pretty.”

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to secure administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.