Hors La Loi III
Encyclopedia
Hors La Loi III was a French-bred AQPS
racehorse who won the 2002 Champion Hurdle
. A dark bay gelding with a narrow blaze
and white hind feet, he developed a reputation for being rather inconsistent, but was one of the most talented hurdlers of his era with a peak rating of 165.
who specialised in producing jumpers. Hors La Loi's dam was the non-thoroughbred mare Quintessence {descibed in some sources as a Selle Francais}, who also produced his full-brother Cyborgo, winner of the 1996 Stayers' Hurdle
. The post-nominal "III" was added to distinguish him from a successful, but less notable thoroughbred racehorse, who had already been registered as "Hors La Loi".
in France and was ridden in most of his early races by the trainer's son Thierry. He began his career in 1998, running without success in four races on the flat at provincial tracks. Switched to jumping he won on his hurdling debut at Auteuil
and was then aimed at races in Britain where he was unbeaten in four starts that season. In December he led early and recorded a sixteen length win in the Grade II Summit Junior Hurdle
at Lingfield, and a month later he followed up with another easy win in the Grade II Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
at Cheltenham
beating the Tolworth Hurdle
winner Behrajan by eight lengths.
After these two successes he was moved to the stable of Martin Pipe
for the remainder of the season. Unusually for a four-year-old, he was not aimed at the Triumph Hurdle
at the Cheltenham Festival, instead taking on older Novices in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
. Ridden for the first time by AP McCoy
he put in an impressive performance, moving into the lead three flights from home and pulling away to win by seventeen lengths in a time that was 2.2 seconds faster than that recorded by Istabraq
in winning the Champion Hurdle
one hour later. His performance was described by The Independent's correspondent as one of "the most impressive at the Festival". A month later, Hors La Loi and McCoy came together again for another easy win in in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
at Aintree. He had established himself as the leading Novice in the British Isles and a potential challenger to Istabraq for the following season's Championship.
at Wincanton
, an important trial for the Champion Hurdle. He had some problems in training, and his connections considered running him in the Stayers' Hurdle
before opting for the Championship. At Cheltenham, he went off as at 11-1 and ran up to expectations, but was no match for Istabraq, finishing a four-length second. As a result of this effort he was made odds-on favourite for the Aintree Hurdle
, but after leading three hurdles from the finish, he weakened badly and finished a disappointing fourth.
The 2000/2001 season proved to be disappointing. Moved to the stable of James Fanshawe
, he managed a fair second in the Kingwell Hurdle, but was pulled up in his other three starts, including a substitute Championship race at Sandown (the Cheltenham Festival was cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak). By the end of the year his official rating had fallen 15 pounds to a mark of 150, well below Championship standard. James Fanshawe was later to say of this seaon "We couldnt get him to do a thing... He was an embarrassment"..
, Bula Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle
against top class opposition. A three and a half length victory in the 2002 Kingwell Hurdle saw him back amongst the leading contenders for the championship. Most of the interest, however, was on Istabraq, attempting to win an unprecedented fourth title, and the Christmas Hurdle winner Valiramix.
In the Champion Hurdle Hors La Loi was sent off 10-1 fourth favourite for the Champion Hurdle. In an eventful and controversial race, he raced prominently, took the lead two flights from home, and pulled away to win by three lengths under Dean Gallagher, who had "never lost faith" in the horse. His triumph was somewhat overshadowed by the runs of Istabraq, who was pulled up early in the race, and Valiramix, who suffered a fatal injury when falling on the on the home turn.
His retirement was announced in June 2003, with his owner citing ongoing back problems, but, more than two years later, Hors La Loi re-appearred as a Novice Chaser, now under the care of Paul Nicholls
. According to RTÉ he produced some "magnificent leaps" to win at Taunton
in December 2005 and recorded placed efforts in good races later in the season, including one back at Wincanton. He was finally retired after running unplaced as a 40-1 outsider in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.
AQPS
AQPS , translated as "Other than thoroughbred", is a general term used in France to refer to horses not listed as Thoroughbreds. Anglo-Arabians, Selle Français , and French Trotters plus all other crossbreds can be qualified as AQPS. For racing purposes, each breed has its own studbook...
racehorse who won the 2002 Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
. A dark bay gelding with a narrow blaze
Horse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and white hind feet, he developed a reputation for being rather inconsistent, but was one of the most talented hurdlers of his era with a peak rating of 165.
Background
Hors La Loi III was bred in France by Francois Cottin. His sire Cyborg, was a thoroughbredThoroughbred
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...
who specialised in producing jumpers. Hors La Loi's dam was the non-thoroughbred mare Quintessence {descibed in some sources as a Selle Francais}, who also produced his full-brother Cyborgo, winner of the 1996 Stayers' Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
. The post-nominal "III" was added to distinguish him from a successful, but less notable thoroughbred racehorse, who had already been registered as "Hors La Loi".
1998-1999: Early career
Hors La Loi III first went into training with Francois DoumenFrançois Doumen
François Doumen is a French racehorse trainer currently based at Boucé, Orne. From 1956 to 1970 he was an amateur jockey, and he then worked as an assistant trainer to his father Jean. He obtained his own training licence in 1977....
in France and was ridden in most of his early races by the trainer's son Thierry. He began his career in 1998, running without success in four races on the flat at provincial tracks. Switched to jumping he won on his hurdling debut at Auteuil
Auteuil Hippodrome
The Auteuil Hippodrome is a horse racing venue on Route des Lacs in Paris, France. The 33-hectare race course opened November 1, 1873...
and was then aimed at races in Britain where he was unbeaten in four starts that season. In December he led early and recorded a sixteen length win in the Grade II Summit Junior Hurdle
Summit Junior Hurdle
The Summit Junior Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
at Lingfield, and a month later he followed up with another easy win in the Grade II Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle
The Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is...
at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
beating the Tolworth Hurdle
Tolworth Hurdle
The Tolworth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and...
winner Behrajan by eight lengths.
After these two successes he was moved to the stable of Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
for the remainder of the season. Unusually for a four-year-old, he was not aimed at the Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
at the Cheltenham Festival, instead taking on older Novices in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
. Ridden for the first time by AP McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
he put in an impressive performance, moving into the lead three flights from home and pulling away to win by seventeen lengths in a time that was 2.2 seconds faster than that recorded by Istabraq
Istabraq
Istabraq is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He had an exceptional pedigree, being the produce of Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, and a Secretariat mare making him a three-quarter brother to Epsom Derby winner Secreto. He won the Champion...
in winning the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
one hour later. His performance was described by The Independent's correspondent as one of "the most impressive at the Festival". A month later, Hors La Loi and McCoy came together again for another easy win in in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
The Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
at Aintree. He had established himself as the leading Novice in the British Isles and a potential challenger to Istabraq for the following season's Championship.
1999-2001: Championship contender
Returned to Francois Doumen's stable for the 1999/2000 season, Hors La Loi began with two disappointing efforts at Auteuil, but once again showed improved form when raced in England. In February he won the Grade II Kingwell HurdleKingwell Hurdle
The Kingwell Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Wincanton over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in...
at Wincanton
Wincanton Racecourse
Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset, England.The steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a chaser...
, an important trial for the Champion Hurdle. He had some problems in training, and his connections considered running him in the Stayers' Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
before opting for the Championship. At Cheltenham, he went off as at 11-1 and ran up to expectations, but was no match for Istabraq, finishing a four-length second. As a result of this effort he was made odds-on favourite for the Aintree Hurdle
Aintree Hurdle
The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
, but after leading three hurdles from the finish, he weakened badly and finished a disappointing fourth.
The 2000/2001 season proved to be disappointing. Moved to the stable of James Fanshawe
James Fanshawe
James Fanshawe is a British racehorse trainer.He principally trains flat horses such as multiple Group 1 winner Soviet Song. However, he has twice won the Champion Hurdle in 1992 with Royal Gait James Fanshawe is a British racehorse trainer.He principally trains flat horses such as multiple Group...
, he managed a fair second in the Kingwell Hurdle, but was pulled up in his other three starts, including a substitute Championship race at Sandown (the Cheltenham Festival was cancelled because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak). By the end of the year his official rating had fallen 15 pounds to a mark of 150, well below Championship standard. James Fanshawe was later to say of this seaon "We couldnt get him to do a thing... He was an embarrassment"..
2001-2002: Champion Hurdler
The early part of the 2001/2002 season saw signs that Hors la Loi was adjusting to his new environment. He put in placed efforts in the Ascot HurdleAscot Hurdle
The Ascot Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 3½ furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped...
, Bula Hurdle and Christmas Hurdle
Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
against top class opposition. A three and a half length victory in the 2002 Kingwell Hurdle saw him back amongst the leading contenders for the championship. Most of the interest, however, was on Istabraq, attempting to win an unprecedented fourth title, and the Christmas Hurdle winner Valiramix.
In the Champion Hurdle Hors La Loi was sent off 10-1 fourth favourite for the Champion Hurdle. In an eventful and controversial race, he raced prominently, took the lead two flights from home, and pulled away to win by three lengths under Dean Gallagher, who had "never lost faith" in the horse. His triumph was somewhat overshadowed by the runs of Istabraq, who was pulled up early in the race, and Valiramix, who suffered a fatal injury when falling on the on the home turn.
2002-2006: Later career
Hors la Loi never recaptured his Championship form. In 2002/2003 he ran five times without success, his best effort being a third place in the Kingwell Hurdle. At Cheltenham, his Championship defence ended when his stubborn temperament came to the fore, as he refused to race and was left at the start.His retirement was announced in June 2003, with his owner citing ongoing back problems, but, more than two years later, Hors La Loi re-appearred as a Novice Chaser, now under the care of Paul Nicholls
Paul Nicholls
Paul Nicholls is an English actor.-Career in TV:Nicholls made his TV debut in 1989, at the age of 10, in Children's Ward. In 1994 he appeared in the BBC children's drama Earthfasts and The Biz, a teenage performing arts drama filmed at Hampton Court...
. According to RTÉ he produced some "magnificent leaps" to win at Taunton
Taunton Racecourse
Taunton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Orchard Portman, two miles south of Taunton, Somerset, England. Opened in 1927, Taunton is the youngest National Hunt course in England, and the last racecourse to be opened in Britain until Great Leighs in 2008.-History:Horse...
in December 2005 and recorded placed efforts in good races later in the season, including one back at Wincanton. He was finally retired after running unplaced as a 40-1 outsider in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.