Aces Four
Encyclopedia
Aces Four, foaled on March 30, 1999 in Ireland
, is an Irish Thoroughbred
racehorse
, born to sire, Fourstars Allstar and dam, Special Trix. He is owned by the DPRP Aces Partnership, trained by Ferdy Murphy, and his primary jockey
was Graham Lee
.
Aces Four started racing as a four year old in January 2004. In his early years, he was trained by Billy McKeown. In 2005, Ferdy Murphy took over duties and trained Aces Four to six wins in their first 10 races together. He won his first race, the Lugg Maiden Hurdle in February 2006 at Ludlow Racecourse
located near Ludlow
, Shropshire
, England
by 7 lengths. He went on to win a number of other novice races, including the Cleanevent Novices' Chase, EBF Future Champions "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and the Now Live At WBX
Novices' Chase.
The final win in Aces Four’s career was arguably his most significant. At the 2007 Grand National
meeting, Aces Four won the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices' Chase
at Aintree Racecourse
in Aintree
, Merseyside
, England. Entering the race as a 5-2 favourite, he beat Fassel by a remarkable 8 lengths despite a mistake made by Graham Lee’s mount at the onset of the race. After the win at Aintree, Aces Four was on his way to a win in the Punchestown Champion Novice Chase
in Punchestown, Ireland
, but crashed at the last hurdle, ending hopes for his first Grade 1 race win. While Aces Four was slightly concussed, jockey Graham Lee suffered a broken elbow from the fall. Afterward, Aces Four was never the same, missing a number of races and disappointing in those he did compete. Although a star novice horse, he failed to reach the lofty expectations placed on him after his win in at Aintree. Murphy once said of his prized horse: "He is a horse that I thought could go right to the top."
Aces Four was officially retired in December 2009 as a result of lingering injuries. Speaking on the retirement of his horse, Murphy said: "He was a grand horse and the day he won at Aintree he looked very good. I spoke to the owners earlier this month and we agreed it was better to send him to a quiet retirement than possibly break him down trying to bring him back."
His career record finished with 6 wins, 4 places and 3 show. His wins were split with three each coming in hurdling and flat races. In total, he accumulated £89,190 in lifetime earnings.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, is an Irish Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, born to sire, Fourstars Allstar and dam, Special Trix. He is owned by the DPRP Aces Partnership, trained by Ferdy Murphy, and his primary jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
was Graham Lee
Graham Lee (jockey)
Graham Lee is a successful Irish National Hunt jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to May 2006, he was the main stable jockey for Howard Johnson, but was replaced by Paddy Brennan, allegedly after a disagreement over his return from an injury. Lee became the main stable jockey and deputy...
.
Aces Four started racing as a four year old in January 2004. In his early years, he was trained by Billy McKeown. In 2005, Ferdy Murphy took over duties and trained Aces Four to six wins in their first 10 races together. He won his first race, the Lugg Maiden Hurdle in February 2006 at Ludlow Racecourse
Ludlow Racecourse
Ludlow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near Ludlow, Shropshire, England.The B4365 crosses the racecourse at three points of the tracks and traffic is stopped when the course is in use....
located near Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by 7 lengths. He went on to win a number of other novice races, including the Cleanevent Novices' Chase, EBF Future Champions "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and the Now Live At WBX
WBX
World Bet Exchange is a person-to-person betting exchange based in Notting Hill Gate, London in the United Kingdom, and licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. WBX.com was founded in 2002 by Malcolm Gray but did not officially launch until November, 25th, 2006...
Novices' Chase.
The final win in Aces Four’s career was arguably his most significant. At the 2007 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
meeting, Aces Four won the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices' Chase
Mildmay Novices' Chase
The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Mildmay course at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
in Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, England. Entering the race as a 5-2 favourite, he beat Fassel by a remarkable 8 lengths despite a mistake made by Graham Lee’s mount at the onset of the race. After the win at Aintree, Aces Four was on his way to a win in the Punchestown Champion Novice Chase
Punchestown Champion Novice Chase
The Growise Champion Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
in Punchestown, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but crashed at the last hurdle, ending hopes for his first Grade 1 race win. While Aces Four was slightly concussed, jockey Graham Lee suffered a broken elbow from the fall. Afterward, Aces Four was never the same, missing a number of races and disappointing in those he did compete. Although a star novice horse, he failed to reach the lofty expectations placed on him after his win in at Aintree. Murphy once said of his prized horse: "He is a horse that I thought could go right to the top."
Aces Four was officially retired in December 2009 as a result of lingering injuries. Speaking on the retirement of his horse, Murphy said: "He was a grand horse and the day he won at Aintree he looked very good. I spoke to the owners earlier this month and we agreed it was better to send him to a quiet retirement than possibly break him down trying to bring him back."
His career record finished with 6 wins, 4 places and 3 show. His wins were split with three each coming in hurdling and flat races. In total, he accumulated £89,190 in lifetime earnings.