Barton Bank
Encyclopedia
Barton Bank was one of the top National Hunt chasers of the mid 1990s. He won the 1993 King George VI Chase
as well as two Charlie Hall Chase
s at Wetherby
(1993 and 1995). A mixture of bad luck and bad jumping at crucial times stopped him winning more major races.
and in his major successes was ridden by Adrian Maguire
or David Walsh. He was owned by Jenny Mould whose green colours with white stars have been worn by horses such as Bindaree
and Tipping Tim. She also part-owned Charter Party who ran under different colours.
The next season he won a classic battle with Bradbury Star for the King George crown. Back in third was The Fellow
who had won the last two renewals of the race. Fourth and fifth were Young Hustler and Zeta's Lad. All five horses jumped the second last together resulting in commentator Graham Goode
shouting 'Five in line - would you believe it'. Barton Bank made a mistake at the fourth last with Goode saying 'God knows how!' about him staying up and another commentator elsewhere stating 'He never looked like falling'. Barton Bank was one of the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
of 1994 but he suffered an injury in the build-up and was forced to miss the race.
Barton Bank went to the 1994 King George VI Chase
well supported. He looked to have the race sewn up when he approached the last fence 15 lengths clear. However, he met the fence all wrong and gave Adrian Maguire
no chance of staying on him (photo of Maguire falling off him) Outsider Algan took the prize. Barton Bank's trainer David Nicholson
got into trouble for hitting a photographer who was taking his picture after this had happened. Barton Bank went to run in the Pillar Chase where he was well beaten by Master Oats. He then went to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. He was still running strongly when he hardly rose at the fifth or sixth last fence and crashed to the ground. The race was won by Master Oats. This was his third fall in four races. There has been a view that his jumping problems were caused by an old injury which meant he couldn't just pop easily over a fence. Peter Scudamore said about his King George fall 'He just does not shorten'. He then went onto the Martell Cup Chase
where he was last of six runners.
The following season he ran a very poor race in the King George VI Chase
(ran that year at Sandown) where he was pulled up. He then went on to another attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. John McCririck
stated on Channel 4's Morning Line programme that at 16/1 he was good value. Fellow pundit Ted Walsh
jokingly asked whether they were omitting the open ditches on the course as these were the sort of fences the horse had problems with. In the end he was a creditable fourth but never looked like winning. He then came second in the Martell Cup Chase.
Barton Bank ran in the 1996 King George VI Chase
. He was placed but due to the rare fast ground at that time of year (which some considered to be dangerously frosty) only five horses turned up. One Man
retained his crown. He then came close to defeating One Man
in the Pillar Chase where the latter's stamina worries came to the fore. He wasn't really considered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
although the Racing Post newspaper felt his early morning price of 66/1 was some value. This was his best effort in the race as he stayed on well to finish second behind Mr Mulligan. He then convincingly won the Martell Cup Chase
at Aintree
. His season ended in the Whitbread Gold Cup
where somehow he managed to unseat his jockey at the water jump.
In the autumn of 1997 he ran another great race, this time in the Hennessy Gold Cup where he was second to Suny Bay (Peter O'Sullevan
's last commentary). He returned for another crack at the King George VI Chase
, Pillar Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup
. However, he was well beaten in all three and was retired from racing.
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
as well as two Charlie Hall Chase
Charlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
s at Wetherby
Wetherby Racecourse
Wetherby Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse situated near the market town of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England, located from Leeds city centre.-Location:...
(1993 and 1995). A mixture of bad luck and bad jumping at crucial times stopped him winning more major races.
Background
He was trained by David NicholsonDavid Nicholson (horse racing)
David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....
and in his major successes was ridden by Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire, born 29 April 1971 in Kilmessan, County Meath, Ireland, is a racehorse trainer and former jockey.Maguire began his career in Irish pony racing at the age of nine, in which he rode more than 200 winners. In 1990 he rode his first winner under rules, at Sligo, before his first victory...
or David Walsh. He was owned by Jenny Mould whose green colours with white stars have been worn by horses such as Bindaree
Bindaree
Bindaree is a racehorse who was the winner of the 2002 Grand National when ridden by Jim Culloty and the 2003 Welsh Grand National when partnered by Carl Llewellyn....
and Tipping Tim. She also part-owned Charter Party who ran under different colours.
Racing Career
Barton Bank entered the 1993 Sun Alliance Chase as the favourite after betting support on the day. However, he broke a blood vessel and he had to be pulled up. The eventual winner was ante-post favourite Young Hustler.The next season he won a classic battle with Bradbury Star for the King George crown. Back in third was The Fellow
The Fellow
The Fellow was an AQPS top-class National Hunt racehorse in the early 1990s. He won the 1994 Cheltenham Gold Cup and narrowly lost the 1991 and 1992 renewals. He also won the 1991 and 1992 King George VI Chase and the 1991 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Along with Mandarin he is one of only two...
who had won the last two renewals of the race. Fourth and fifth were Young Hustler and Zeta's Lad. All five horses jumped the second last together resulting in commentator Graham Goode
Graham Goode
Graham Goode is a British horse racing commentator best known for his long association with ITV and Channel 4.-Commentary career:...
shouting 'Five in line - would you believe it'. Barton Bank made a mistake at the fourth last with Goode saying 'God knows how!' about him staying up and another commentator elsewhere stating 'He never looked like falling'. Barton Bank was one of the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
of 1994 but he suffered an injury in the build-up and was forced to miss the race.
Barton Bank went to the 1994 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
well supported. He looked to have the race sewn up when he approached the last fence 15 lengths clear. However, he met the fence all wrong and gave Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire, born 29 April 1971 in Kilmessan, County Meath, Ireland, is a racehorse trainer and former jockey.Maguire began his career in Irish pony racing at the age of nine, in which he rode more than 200 winners. In 1990 he rode his first winner under rules, at Sligo, before his first victory...
no chance of staying on him (photo of Maguire falling off him) Outsider Algan took the prize. Barton Bank's trainer David Nicholson
David Nicholson (horse racing)
David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....
got into trouble for hitting a photographer who was taking his picture after this had happened. Barton Bank went to run in the Pillar Chase where he was well beaten by Master Oats. He then went to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. He was still running strongly when he hardly rose at the fifth or sixth last fence and crashed to the ground. The race was won by Master Oats. This was his third fall in four races. There has been a view that his jumping problems were caused by an old injury which meant he couldn't just pop easily over a fence. Peter Scudamore said about his King George fall 'He just does not shorten'. He then went onto the Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
where he was last of six runners.
The following season he ran a very poor race in the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
(ran that year at Sandown) where he was pulled up. He then went on to another attempt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. John McCririck
John McCririck
John McCririck is an English television horse racing pundit. He is notable not only for his racing opinions but also for his old-fashioned style of dress and mannerisms...
stated on Channel 4's Morning Line programme that at 16/1 he was good value. Fellow pundit Ted Walsh
Ted Walsh
Ted Walsh is an amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer, based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. He was born and raised in Co. Cork. As a rider, one of his most important wins was on Attitude Adjuster in the 1986 Cheltenham Festival Foxhunter Chase...
jokingly asked whether they were omitting the open ditches on the course as these were the sort of fences the horse had problems with. In the end he was a creditable fourth but never looked like winning. He then came second in the Martell Cup Chase.
Barton Bank ran in the 1996 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. He was placed but due to the rare fast ground at that time of year (which some considered to be dangerously frosty) only five horses turned up. One Man
One Man (horse)
One Man was an Irish-bred National Hunt steeplechase racehorse sired by Remainder Man out of the mare Steal On. The popular grey won 20 of 35 races, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998. He was trained by the late Gordon W. Richards and owned by John Hales...
retained his crown. He then came close to defeating One Man
One Man (horse)
One Man was an Irish-bred National Hunt steeplechase racehorse sired by Remainder Man out of the mare Steal On. The popular grey won 20 of 35 races, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998. He was trained by the late Gordon W. Richards and owned by John Hales...
in the Pillar Chase where the latter's stamina worries came to the fore. He wasn't really considered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
although the Racing Post newspaper felt his early morning price of 66/1 was some value. This was his best effort in the race as he stayed on well to finish second behind Mr Mulligan. He then convincingly won the Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run 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
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....
. His season ended in the Whitbread Gold Cup
Bet365 Gold Cup
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
where somehow he managed to unseat his jockey at the water jump.
In the autumn of 1997 he ran another great race, this time in the Hennessy Gold Cup where he was second to Suny Bay (Peter O'Sullevan
Peter O'Sullevan
Sir Peter O'Sullevan is a retired horse racing commentator for the BBC from 1947 to 1997, and correspondent for the Press Association, Daily Express and Today.-Early life:...
's last commentary). He returned for another crack at the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
, Pillar Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. However, he was well beaten in all three and was retired from racing.