Retrained racehorse Annacotty proves the flexibility of thoroughbreds

Widespread racehorse and Cheltenham Paddy Energy Gold Cup hero Annacotty is really excelling in his 2nd profession after racing.

The 16-year-old gelding and Hannah Bishop are having the time in their lives, taking part in looking, aspect saddle, RoR appearing categories, seaside rides and quite a few hacking, proving the real versatility of retrained racehorses. However it’s in showjumping that this “naturally cautious” thoroughbred excels and he was the primary Cheltenham winning-racehorse to head directly to win a showjumping magnificence at Hickstead.

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

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

Annacotty: “The most efficient racehorse they ever owned”

Hannah has been racing supervisor for Nationwide Hunt proprietor Liz Prowting for the previous two decades and she or he picked out the four-year-old point-to-point winner Annacotty (Advisable x Ardross) on the gross sales for Mrs Prowting to shop for. The teen used to be nicknamed Gerry after bloodstock agent Gerry Hogan, who helped with the acquisition.

“We purchased the primary horse that I noticed – which you’re no longer meant to do! However he got here in below price range and he’s been the most efficient racehorse that they’ve ever owned,” says Hannah.

Annacotty used to be skilled via Martin Keighley in his early years, profitable the Kauto Megastar Newbies’ Chase below jockey Ian Popham sooner than happening to triumph within the Paddy Energy Gold Cup at Cheltenham – a primary Grade One luck for his proprietor – on his first run for teacher Alan King in 2015. His love for Cheltenham used to be cemented when he went directly to develop into a twin winner of the Grade 3 freebets.com Trophy Chase on the similar monitor.

“He enjoyed racing there they usually handiest in point of fact ran him at Cheltenham after all,” says Hannah.

The massively in style racehorse Annacotty and jockey Ian Popham lead all of the option to win at Kempton. Photograph via Invoice Selwyn.

“He retired sound and on the most sensible of his sport”

Annacotty used to be retired from racing after working within the 2017 Cheltenham Pageant and Hannah says “I unquestionably wasn’t letting any person else get their palms on him when he completed racing!” So she set about retraining her cherished and quirky Gerry for a existence past the monitor.

“He retired sound from racing and that’s almost certainly probably the most most powerful issues – we took him out of racing when he used to be on the very most sensible of his sport,” she explains. “Numerous other people would have stored racing him, however we didn’t wish to stay pushing him.

“He’s very a lot a sulky personality – he needs to be sorted and he’s moderately prime upkeep relating to the quantity of consideration and TLC he wishes, and relating to the one that’s taking a look after him. So he must be at house and calls for cuddles, time, consideration and energy, nevertheless it’s completely value it.”

Whilst he used to be racing, Annacotty used to experience some looking “to stay him candy” even if Hannah says, “I will be able to’t grasp one aspect of him looking now!”

Annacotty taking part in an afternoon’s looking in 2017.

They’ve taken phase in the whole thing from RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) racecourse parades to a few aspect saddle, however discovering his distinctiveness in showjumping has come as one thing of a marvel.

“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 will be able to say with whole self assurance that he’d have long past to Badminton – he can have been anything else or performed anything else,” says Hannah. “We have been in point of fact torn on the time – did we wish an international magnificence pageant horse or did we wish to see how a long way he’d pass racing? However he used to be purchased and bred to be a racehorse – you’ll be able to have pipe goals alongside the way in which, even though!

“So we idea he’d be a lot happier going cross-country after he retired, nevertheless it’s no longer ceaselessly he has a pole down showjumping – he will get disenchanted 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 at the fences.

“However I attempt to trip respectfully fairly 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 excellent showjumping wins lately, additionally competing within the RoR ultimate on the British Showjumping Nationwide Championships, however Hannah’s stand-out luck used to be profitable at Hickstead’s All England Leaping Championships in 2021.

“He’s the one racehorse who has gained at Cheltenham and long past directly to win a showjumping magnificence at Hickstead – he’s exceptional,” says Hannah. “He’s like using a pony.

“However we don’t pass out and bounce six categories throughout two days, we simply bounce one magnificence and are available house. He’s smartly sorted and stored candy and controlled properly. We don’t pass to the smartly too ceaselessly.

Hannah Bishop and retrained racehorse Annacotty taking part in the showjumping at Hickstead.

“He may just do much more, however the wonderful thing about the truth is he’s nonetheless have compatibility, 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 hardly ever comes house with no need paid for the day trip. He’s very constant.

“He’s the similar in his racing mannerisms when he is going to displays, however he’s higher at some venues than others – he has puts which can be in his convenience zone and he’s a whole poppet, then there are different puts that if he doesn’t specifically just like the venue or the ambience he’s moderately difficult. However at the complete, he’s in point of fact excellent. He’s all the time been supremely gifted however moderately quirky!”

“I would like other people to peer that racehorses can take care of a technical route”

In a complete circle second, the pair will subsequent month (25 October) be competing within the Sportjumping Ultimate at Bury Farm, an annual showjumping pageant that mixes a racing-style handicap structure with the risk to have a flutter at the runners and riders. A subject of 15 will line up for each and every of the 3 peak categories and that is the primary time that former racehorses shall be collaborating.

In addition to Hannah Bishop with Annacotty, Rachel Vicary shall be in motion at the former Gary Moore-trained Shantou Grasp, and Clair Lewis using Grasp Wickham shall be bidding for glory all the way through the gala night.

“I simply need other people to peer that racehorses will also be fantastically smartly skilled and take care of a technical route,” says Hannah.

“I don’t in point of fact know what to anticipate at the night, however I’m taking a look ahead to it. I do know it is going to be a unique form of showjumping monitor to what we’re used to, however I feel he’s at that time in his existence that he must be capable to take care of being requested a unique query.

“I will be able to’t in point of fact manage to pay for to take into consideration other people having a bet on us even though! I’ve performed sufficient charity races over time and that’s a part of going racing. I’m extra anxious about how he’s going to deal with the night setting – he can get somewhat lit up via rowdy crowds, however optimistically he’ll simply experience it.”

Hannah Bishop and cherished retrained racehorse Annacotty on the seaside.

Making a song the praises of the flexibility of retrained racehorses, Hannah describes Annacotty as “a extremely smart horse to trip”.

“There’s not anything 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 large Nationwide Hunt proprietor, she’s 85 now and we now have by no means offered on a horse – each unmarried racehorse remains with us for existence – so there are so much available in the market with people competing, doing Pony Membership actions, looking, eventing and nonetheless actively in paintings. They arrive house once they’re field-retired or they pass all the way down to Devon the place buddies stay them for us.

“In order that they’re everywhere – however you’ve to check out to compare them with the appropriate other people, and we don’t all the time get it proper, however you check out your very best.

“Numerous other people would possibly have taken Gerry so much upper, however similarly you need to remember the fact that he’s performed his activity and it’s now about taking part in his existence which is why we stay it a laugh and simple,” she says of her true circle of relatives horse.

“He’s the sort of gem, a gentleman, he’s simply in point of fact, in point of fact pretty.”

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from displays and interviewing riders, connections and the ones concerned at the back of the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Game in 2005, she has written on each topic around the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to solid control — and has interviewed gold medallists, international champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand enjoy of operating within the equestrian trade as a using trainer and backyard supervisor.