Tag Archive for: Harry Fry

Gidleigh Park in line for chasing return at Exeter

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Gidleigh Park could get his novice chasing career back up and running at Exeter on Monday after suffering an episode of atrial fibrillation at Kempton in November.

One of the stars of Harry Fry’s Higher Crockermoor string, the strapping seven-year-old won three of his four starts over hurdles last term, including a Grade Two at Cheltenham on Trials day.

He would go on to finish sixth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, but his future was always set to be over fences and hopes were high he could make a real impression over the larger obstacles this term.

Sent to Kempton Park for a clash with Nicky Henderson’s Iberico Lord he was sent off the 10-11 favourite, but was pulled up halfway through the contest with Gidleigh Park found to have an irregular heartbeat.

Fry is now eager to “start from scratch” with his exciting chasing prospect and, given a clean bill of health, could now head to the Exeter Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over two miles and three furlongs.

“He’s made a full recovery and he entered on Monday,” said Fry.

“What happened on his chasing debut was obviously disappointing, but a reason came to light straight away with the atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat. That reset itself by its own accord within 24 hours and everything has gone according to plan as we’ve gone back up through the gears.”

Fry went on: “He did suffer an episode in October 2023 and we were able to manage that during his novice hurdle campaign.

“Why it happened again, we don’t know and there was no obvious reason for it. He is obviously more prone to it than others might be, but everything has gone well since Kempton and hopefully that remains the case.

“We’ll forget Kempton and we start from scratch and hopefully Exeter is a nice starting point for him.

“We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves and first and foremost we just want to get him back and can then make plans on the back of it.”

Prior to Gidleigh Park’s impending return to the track, Fry is hoping Kempton can survive the wintry conditions threatening this Saturday’s valuable meeting so he can saddle Beat The Bat in the feature Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.

Beat The Bat (left) bumping into Dysart Enos at Cheltenham last season
Beat The Bat (left) bumping into Dysart Enos at Cheltenham last season (Simon Marper/PA)

Yet to finish outside the first two over obstacles, he made an encouraging return over an intermediate trip at Haydock in November and is the 6-1 second-favourite with the sponsors for the £100,000 prize.

“We were very pleased with his reappearance at Haydock, we had the option to drop back to two miles at Ascot before Christmas but we decided this race would suit him better,” continued Fry.

“I hope the weather doesn’t interfere with our plans because he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to taking our chance.

“He’s only once been out of the first two in his career to date and he’s got some very good form in defeat, so we hope he’s still progressive as a second-season hurdler.

“With a bit of luck there is a valuable prize in him, that’s always been our feeling and hopefully he gets the opportunity to do that.”



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Boothill handed Kempton Christmas assignment

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Boothill has been rerouted to Kempton for the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27.

Harry Fry had intended to have another crack at Jonbon in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, but had to abandon those plans due to travel difficulties with Storm Darragh.

Fry felt he would not have been suited by conditions in any case so it may prove a blessing in disguise and with Jonbon now heading to Ascot instead for the Clarence House, the Grade Two may have an open look to it.

“Boothill was another of those who couldn’t make it to Sandown and while that was frustrating, the softer ground probably wouldn’t have been his bag as it turned out,” Fry told Grosvenor Sport.

“Our plan now will be to send him to Kempton on December 27 for the Desert Orchid. He fell in the race last year, but we feel like there’s a little bit of unfinished business in the race as a result, and we’re keen to make amends this year.

“He won the Wayward Lad at the track two years ago on the same card, and so we know he acts well around the track, and we’re excited to be returning to Kempton with him.”



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Fugitif now fully primed for Cheltenham title defence

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Richard Hobson admitted it would “mean the world” if stable star Fugitif could become only the second horse to successfully defend the Nyetimber December Gold Cup on Saturday.

The nine-year-old enjoyed a titanic battle with Il Ridoto in last year’s renewal to land the prestigious Grade Three handicap by a short head on the New course at Cheltenham.

That pair will renew their rivalry again this weekend, after Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old came out on top in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month at Prestbury Park, which came two months after Fugitif had wind surgery.

Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif
Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif (Nigel French/PA)

Nicholls remains the only trainer since the race’s inception in 1963 to train the same horse to two victories in the extended two-and-a-half-mile feature, which started life as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup.

Poquelin – the first and only horse to do so to date – recorded successive victories in 2009 and 2010 before Frodon entered the winner’s enclosure in 2016 and 2018.

Following his fifth-placed finish on his seasonal reappearance on the Old course, Hobson is optimistic Fugitif can retain his crown.

“He’s in good order. He’s where I want him to be,” the trainer said. “He was in need of that run because of the pure size of him.

“He’s a hard horse to get fit first time out in that quality of race and probably dropped himself out a bit far thinking his breathing was going to affect him.

Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours)
Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours) (Nigel French/PA)

“Now that he knows he can breathe again, he will go out there with a different frame of mind – and he has been at home, to be fair.

“What is the beauty of him on Saturday is that he will be meeting the likes of Il Ridoto fairly now, because he wasn’t for some time. He’s had some battles with him giving heaps of weight away.

“He’s got a chance off his current mark on what he’s performed at and what he’s achieved before.”

Hobson added: “It would mean the world. It means we can go and compete and do the job at the highest level against stables spending millions of pounds with a horse that cost €40,000.”

Jamie Snowden is confident Ga Law can support his “career-best” run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with another strong showing on Saturday.

The eight-year-old was four and a half lengths behind Il Ridoto in second despite not being at his fluent best, which gives the Folly House handler reason for optimism of his charge securing a sixth win over fences.

Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January
Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January (Nigel French/PA)

“Ga Law is in great form. He ran a career-best in the Paddy Power, but the handicapper nudged him up a pound, which makes life a little bit trickier for him,” Snowden said.

“We had him in the Peterborough Chase, but obviously it rained so we didn’t declare for that. Touch wood, if it stays dry, this looks the right opportunity for him.

“He’s kind of betwixt and between, as he’s betwixt Grade Twos and these premier handicaps at the moment.

“It was obviously a very creditable run in the Paddy Power and if he can run to that level of form again, he shouldn’t be too far away.”

Madara was fourth in the Paddy Power on his stable debut and Dan Skelton feels switching from the Old course to the New one will aid his charge, who scored here for Sophie Leech last December.

Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “He’s in good form right now – he ran well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I think this track suits him better. He actually won around the new track last year, having got beat around the old track – so that’s only a positive.

Cheltenham Races – The Christmas Meeting – Saturday December 16th
Madara (right) and In Excelsis Deo at Cheltenham last season (Nigel French/PA).

“I know him a bit better now, as well, and how best to position him in the race, so I’ll have a good chat with Harry (Skelton) and try to get those tactics right. But, based on his form, he’s obviously got a chance.” 

In Excelsis Deo won over course and distance on his last completed race in April and gives Harry Fry hope of a first victory in the race.

Despite pulling up at Galway in July and unseating jockey Bryan Carver in the Paddy Power on his previous two starts, the Dorchester-based trainer believes the unfortunate mistake in the latter could work in his favour.

“He’s schooled really well since and this time we’ll be hoping for a clear round of jumping,” Fry told Grosvenor Sport.

“He looks to be facing plenty of familiar faces again and we think he’s got a fantastic chance looking at the final field.

“Who knows, him not completing at the track on his last outing might mean he didn’t have such a hard race as the others reopposing here, and that might just be a little blessing in disguise.”



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Boothill on course for another Jonbon clash

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Boothill is set to renew rivalry with Jonbon in the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday week.

Harry Fry’s high-class two-mile chaser made a flying start to last season with back-to-back handicap wins at Ascot, but fell on his next two starts at Kempton and Newbury.

He rounded off his campaign with a creditable performance in finishing fourth behind Jonbon in Sandown’s Celebration Chase – and finished best of the rest behind Nicky Henderson’s runner on his reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham earlier this month.

Jonbon will be odds-on to win his second Tingle Creek next weekend and Fry admits he will be a tough nut to crack, but he is happy to roll the dice nonetheless.

Fry said: “Boothill is very much on target for the Tingle Creek. He’s come out of the Shloer Chase in really good form and we were delighted with his run.

“He deserves to take his chance at Sandown, albeit we’re going to be coming up against Jonbon and Edwardstone for sure and if Jonbon turns up and runs his race, he’s going to be very hard to beat.

“We deserve to be in there pitching, so we’ll throw our hat in the ring and you never know. One day one might go his way.”



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Gidleigh Park will be given time to get over Kempton setback

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Gidleigh Park is undergoing further tests after suffering a second episode of atrial fibrillation on his chasing debut at Kempton on Monday.

Harry Fry’s stable star won his first three starts over hurdles last term, including a Grade Two victory at Cheltenham, before finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival in March.

Hopes were high ahead of the six-year-old’s introduction to the larger obstacles, but he was pulled up by Bryan Carver after jumping just five fences, with a subsequent stewards’ report revealing he was found to have an irregular heartbeat.

Fry revealed it is not the first time Gidleigh Park has been diagnosed with a heart issue and the team are now fully focussed on his recovery.

“He seems absolutely fine himself. The vets have been running tests and he’s been having an ECG and we’re just awaiting further results,” the trainer said on Tuesday.

“He did have an episode of atrial fibrillation at the beginning of October last season and reset himself within sort of 24 hours. He obviously went on and had a good novice hurdle campaign, so we’ve been here before with him and monitor him closely.

“You could see early on in the race at Kempton that things weren’t right, he wasn’t travelling and certainly wasn’t jumping with the zest that we’d expect. Bryan was very quick to pull him up when clearly there was something amiss and so it’s proved.”

Trainer Harry Fry
Trainer Harry Fry (John Walton/PA)

Fry is in no rush to make future plans for Gidleigh Park, adding: “We’re back to the drawing board and awaiting results from the vets. There’s no timeline on it or anything like that. It’s obviously paramount first and foremost that we give him a chance to recover.

“The best-case scenario is he’ll correct himself, but if he doesn’t, he’ll potentially need treatment. It’s still very early days and we’ll just try and get to the bottom of it and make plans from there.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we’ve got to get him right first before we think about anything else or make any plans whatsoever. That’s our focus at the moment, getting to the bottom of it and getting him back to full health before we think about what might happen next.”



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Gidleigh Park carrying great expectations ahead of chasing debut

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Harry Fry believes Gidleigh Park is as exciting a prospect as he has ever sent over fences ahead of his seasonal debut in the Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Ascot on Friday.

Winner of his first three starts over hurdles, including a Grade Two at Cheltenham, he went on to finish sixth in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival in March.

Fry is still kicking himself for running Gidleigh Park in that race on soft ground, feeling it tested his stamina, but he is one for whom everything has been leading towards the bigger obstacles.

“We’ve always thought Gidleigh Park’s future would lie over fences, and we’ve been delighted to see him school so brilliantly at home. The lack of rain this autumn has made us wait, but now the heavens have opened, we can’t wait to get started at Ascot on Friday,” he told Grosvenor Sport.

“We’ve made no secret of the high regard that we hold him in and of the hopes we have for him, so fingers crossed he can put in a good, clean round of jumping at Ascot to kick off his season.

“We’re obviously dropping him back in trip from his run in the Albert Bartlett to two-and-a-quarter miles at Ascot. The more I think about it, the more I can’t believe we ran him in the Albert Bartlett. This is a horse with loads of speed and we’re looking forward to making the most of that on Friday and beyond.

“His optimum trip would probably be two-and-a-half miles, but we’ll see, as I think he’ll tell us more once we’ve got our campaign under way. Eventually, he will be a three-miler, but we’ve no problem with bringing him back in distance for the moment. We can’t wait to see how his season unfolds.

“Right here, right now, I think Gidleigh Park is probably as exciting a novice chase prospect as we’ve ever had. Hopefully he can deliver on that promise, but he certainly gives us a huge amount to look forward to.”

Gidleigh Park faces far from a walkover, with Charlie Longsdon’s Rare Edition having already won over fences, among the five-runner field.



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Eagerly-awaited fencing for Gidleigh Park may have to wait a little longer

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Harry Fry is relishing the prospect of seeing the exciting Gidleigh Park tackle fences this season – but ground conditions could scupper hopes of a chasing bow at Exeter on Monday.

The strapping six-year-old created a real buzz when winning the first four starts of his career in decisive fashion, but his future was always set to lie over the larger obstacles when sent novice chasing this term.

Owned by the Eyre family, Gidleigh Park holds an entry for the Brigadier Rayner Beginners’ Chase and despite Fry’s eagerness to begin his chasing career in earnest, the trainer has suggested he may miss that pencilled-in option given the current lack of rain.

Fry said: “He’s a horse we obviously have high hopes for over fences and we’re looking forward to seeing him out on the track again – whether that is Monday or not, that is probably unlikely given the current ground conditions.

“The weather looks like it might be beginning to change from the weekend onwards so hopefully it is not too long before we can get him out.”

The only slight disappointment in Gidleigh Park’s hurdling career was when stepped up to three miles in deep ground for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Although not disgraced when finishing sixth, Fry has made the decision to come back in distance for Gidleigh Park’s fencing endeavours in a bid to allow his natural attributes to come to the fore.

“I’m cross with myself and in hindsight that (Albert Bartlett) was the last race I should have run in him,” explained Fry.

“On the testing ground that day, they obviously sensibly went steady and we tried to hold him up to see out the trip. He’s a big, galloping horse who covers a lot of ground and that is his strength and we kind of curtailed that really.

Gidleigh Park with connections after winning at Cheltenham (
Gidleigh Park with connections after winning at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)

“That is why we are keen to bring him back in trip over fences and he jumps and gallops and we just want to let him get on with it.

“When you see the size of him, everything he did over hurdles is a bonus and we’ve been looking forward to this point where we could go chasing and hopefully that is not too far away now.”

Ahead of Gidleigh Park’s impending return, Fry watched his talented novice hurdling prospect Anno Power make a winning debut over obstacles at Sandown last weekend, as she sets out to fill the void left by the retirement of the stable’s Cheltenham Festival-winning Love Envoi in the mares’ ranks.

Despite having to work harder than had been imagined to open her account over the timber, she showed great tenacity, with her handler hopeful she can steadily climb the rank as the season progresses.

Anno Power made a winning start to her hurdles career
Anno Power made a winning start to her hurdles career (Steven Paston/PA)

“Credit to her because 99 per cent of horses would not have got back up and won from the back of the last,” continued Fry.

“It didn’t all go smoothly on Sunday, but that is only her first run over hurdles and there is definitely room for improvement.

“She’s come out of the race OK, but there are no immediate plans of yet. We’re just letting her fully recover before deciding where we could go next.

“You would like to think she will progress through the grades and there is a good programme for mare. We would like to think we will be taking advantage of that and plotting our way through the season, but for now a win is a win and it’s hopefully onwards and upwards.”



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In Excelsis Deo primed to chase Paddy Power Gold Cup gold

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Cheltenham experience could come to the fore when In Excelsis Deo returns to the Cotswolds seeking Paddy Power Gold Cup glory on Saturday.

Sporting the colours of JP McManus, the six-year-old was a consistent performer for trainer Harry Fry last term and a regular sight at Prestbury Park.

After rattling the crossbar at first over two miles in the early part of the season, he again made the frame when a staying-on fifth in the Plate when upped to two and a half miles at the Cheltenham Festival.

In Excelsis Deo finished the 2023-24 season as a Cheltenham winner when claiming a deserved victory in the April meeting’s Silver Trophy and with a disappointing summer trip to Galway quickly forgotten, he will be back on familiar ground to take his place in the track’s early-season highlight.

Fry said: “He was really consistent last season. We campaigned over shorter in the first part of the year, he was really unlucky not to win over two miles and I’m sure he would have done at Sandown (when unseating Jonathan Burke at the last).

“When he was stepped up in trip he was a bit unlucky when a staying-on fifth in the Plate at the Festival, but got his due reward back for his consistency throughout the season at Cheltenham in April when winning the Grade Two Silver Trophy.

“That sort of teed us up for a tilt at Galway, but you can put a line through that and it was over before he’d even started. Now we’re looking forward to taking him back to Cheltenham and we hope he has a lovely racing weight and we hope he can be competitive.”

Ginny’s Destiny is the Paddy Power Gold Cup favourite
Ginny’s Destiny is the Paddy Power Gold Cup favourite (Bradley Collyer/PA)

In Excelsis Deo is a 12-1 chance with the sponsors after 15 remained in the hunt for the £84,405 first prize following Thursday’s declarations.

Dan Skelton’s Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat will shoulder top-weight, with Ginny’s Destiny bidding to give Paul Nicholls back-to-back victories following the success of Stage Star last year.

Ginny’s Destiny’s stablemate Il Ridoto is another high up in the betting along with Jamie Snowden’s 2022 winner of the race Ga Law and Harry Derham’s expensive stable debutant Imagine.



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In Excelsis Deo flying the flag for Britain in Galway Plate

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In Excelsis Deo bids to become a rare British-trained winner of the Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday.

It is 16 years since Oslot claimed top honours for Paul Nicholls, while the only other horse to travel across the Irish Sea and plunder the Ballybrit showpiece in the last half-century was the Philip Hobbs-trained Amlah in 1998.

Harry Fry’s In Excelsis Deo will line up as a leading contender for the €270,000 contest, having been saved for the race since landing the Grade Two Silver Trophy at Cheltenham in April.

The six-year-old, who is fitted with cheek pieces for the first time, is one of four runners for owner JP McManus, along with Gavin Cromwell’s Punchestown Festival runner-up Perceval Legallois and the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Saint Roi and Janidil.

Perceval Legallois (right) in action at Leopardstown
Perceval Legallois (right) in action at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

“Perceval Legallois ran well in Punchestown and this looked the obvious race to have a go at. Gavin is happy with him, it’s a very competitive race and you need a bit of luck, but he goes there in good form,” said McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.

“In Excelsis Deo ran well in some of those good handicaps in Cheltenham last season, Harry is pleased with him. He won’t mind the ground and we’re hoping for a good run.

“Saint Roi ran a blinder in Punchestown, he missed a fence and just got nabbed on the line. He’s going there fresh and well and Willie is happy with him and Janidil – but of the two, Saint Roi looks the one with the current form.”

The powerhouse stables of Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead are all well represented, with Mister Policeman perhaps the pick of the champion trainer’s squad.

Zanahiyr and course and distance winner Ash Tree Meadow look Elliott’s two leading hopes, while Rachael Blackmore has sided with Lets Go Champ over the other De Bromhead runners – Amirite, Toss Again and Life In The Park.

Noel Meade, who won the 2014 Galway Plate with Road To Riches, has a couple of bullets to fire in the form of recent Mullingar Midlands National winner Idas Boy and Pinkerton, who beat Saint Roi by a short head at the Punchestown Festival in early May.

Meade said: “Idas Boy obviously went up a few pounds for winning in Kilbeggan, but still the top-weight (Ash Tree Meadow) stayed in to keep him down the weights and if he gets a good run round, he has to have an each-way chance.

“The other lad is the same. You couldn’t be sure he’d get the trip, but I’d be more worried about the ground than the trip actually.

“As long as there’s a good enough ease in the ground, he has a respectable chance.”



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Fry confident Gidleigh Park will shine over fences

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Harry Fry is excited to see what Gidleigh Park can achieve over fences next season following his sixth-place finish in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Impressive on his racecourse debut in a Chepstow bumper in the spring of last year, the six-year-old this term established himself as one of Britain’s leading novice hurdlers with a hat-trick of victories.

Having claimed Grade Two honours on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham in January, the son of Walk In The Park lost his unbeaten record on his return to the Cotswolds last month, with Fry blaming a combination of three miles and heavy ground for his slightly disappointing effort.

“He’s fine, it just didn’t happen for us on the day,” said the Dorset-based trainer.

“Obviously, the ground went testing from Thursday night into Friday and suddenly we were encountering what we’d been trying to avoid, which was running him over three miles on testing ground.

“It just meant they went steady, sensibly in the conditions, which didn’t suit us and he just overraced through the early and middle part of it and didn’t give himself a chance to really see it out.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I don’t think we’d have beaten Ballyburn in the other race anyway (Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle). Probably the race we should have run in was the Supreme as it turned out, given the conditions.

“He’s fine and he’s been schooling away over fences since Cheltenham, which has gone very well, ahead of a novice chase campaign next season.

“We’ve always had half an eye on the day this horse goes novice chasing and he won’t be the first novice hurdler to get beat at the Festival and go on to better things over fences.”



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Fry backing In Excelsis Deo to strike Silver gold

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In Excelsis Deo will not be winning out of turn if he can belatedly open his account for the season in the Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Although winless since making a successful British and chasing debut for Harry Fry at Hereford in December 2022, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old has run several good races in defeat and his trainer feels he is due a change of fortune.

Placed on his first two starts of the current campaign at Cheltenham, the Saddex gelding may well have secured top honours on his next appearance at Sandown but for unseating Jonathan Burke at the final fence.

He then did well to finish as close as he did when fifth at the Cheltenham Festival last month after being hampered by a faller four fences from home.

Harry Fry at Cheltenham in January
Harry Fry at Cheltenham in January (Nigel French/PA)

Fry feels In Excelsis Deo has more than enough ability to claim victory in Wednesday’s Grade Two feature if getting the rub of the green.

“He bumped into Madara in December, who then went and won at the Dublin Racing Festival, and we obviously unseated when with every chance at the last at Sandown on his next run,” said the trainer.

“I think it’s fair to say he hasn’t necessarily had luck on his side or the rub of the green this season, but he’s been running well in defeat and, with a bit of luck in running, hopefully he won’t be too far away in this.

“Hopefully he can put it all together and he’ll be in there with every chance.”

Sail Away winning at Ayr last season
Sail Away winning at Ayr last season (Jane Barlow/PA)

The title-chasing pair of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls are both represented in the £70,000 contest, with Skelton saddling Sail Away and Nicholls running course-and-distance winner Il Ridoto.

Sail Away returns to handicap company after finishing last of four in the Grade One Ascot Chase, while Il Ridoto has been placed in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the December Gold Cup and on Festival Trials day at Cheltenham this season, but could finish only eighth in the Plate on his latest visit.

“He’s a standing dish at Cheltenham and usually runs very well in these two-and-a-half-mile handicaps,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“It didn’t quite happen for him last time at the Festival, when he was towards the rear in the early stages before staying on at the finish. He has his chance, but is probably still on a stiff enough handicap mark.”

Scarface in action at Sandown
Scarface in action at Sandown (Steven Paston/PA)

Scarface has won three of his last four starts over fences for Joe Tizzard and faces a rise in class.

Tizzard said: “He’s done nothing wrong and we were tempted to wait for Sandown next week, but the forecast is drying out all the time and we thought we’d have a go here.

“It’s a step up, but he’s in cracking form and he’s on the upgrade.”



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Love Envoi leaves Fry with ‘wonderful memories’

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Harry Fry has paid tribute to the admirable mare Love Envoi after her retirement at the Cheltenham Festival.

The bay provided connections with an unforgettable day at the meeting in 2022 when landing the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, the highlight of an excellent season where she won five successive contests.

The following year, she returned to take on Honeysuckle in the Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and though it was Henry de Bromhead’s superstar who came out on top, Love Envoi was a tough and gallant second when going down by a length and a half.

This term, she began her season with second-placed runs in both the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Unibet Hurdle, after which she headed back to Cheltenham for the Mares’ Hurdle as a 14-1 chance.

In a field of 11, the eight-year-old came home a respectable fifth behind the exciting Lossiemouth, and that run will be her last, as she is now set to retire to become a broodmare.

“She’s been a star. She was our second Festival winner and she’s been really consistent, running in some top races over the last couple of seasons,” Fry said.

“It wasn’t quite the swansong we were hoping for, she was still in there with every chance turning in, but younger and fresher legs told.

“Now she will go off to start her second career.

“We won’t be able to replace her, the likes of her don’t come around too often, but they are wonderful memories that she provided us with.”



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Fry favouring Champion Chase challenge for Boothill

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Harry Fry is poised to let Boothill take a shot at the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, despite his star chaser heading into the Cheltenham Festival on the back of two falls.

A winner of seven of his 17 starts, the nine-year-old has claimed Grade Two honours over fences and started the current campaign in blistering form, winning two valuable Ascot handicaps at two miles.

Testing conditions saw him miss out on a run in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, but he has returned to graded company the last twice where he has failed to complete in both the Desert Orchid at Kempton and Newbury’s Game Spirit Chase earlier this month.

Boothill won twice at Ascot earlier this season
Boothill won twice at Ascot earlier this season (John Walton/PA)

However, Fry has few concerns about Boothill’s jumping and rather than face the burden of top-weight in the Grand Annual, is preferring to let his charge take his chance in the feature of Wednesday’s Festival action, where his rivals are likely to include the mighty duo of El Fabiolo and Jonbon.

“He’s fine and come out of the race at Newbury well and we’re still working towards Cheltenham, albeit it’s not an ideal prep coming down the last twice,” said Fry.

“Fundamentally he jumps well, he has just made two mistakes and fallen on the two occasions he has made a mistake. He’s fine in himself and it’s got to be onwards and upwards.”

Harry Fry will saddle Boothill in the Champion Chase
Harry Fry will saddle Boothill in the Champion Chase (Tim Goode/PA)

He went on: “At Newbury we knew the ground had gone against him, but having fallen at Kempton, we knew it was our last opportunity to run and we just thought we would use it to get a clear round under his belt.

“Unfortunately the heavy ground just finds his wind out and that was exactly what Johnny (Burke, jockey) said – going to the second last his wind just gave out on him and he just made a tired lunge at the fence rather than a genuine mistake. He’s normally very surefooted.

“It’s either the Champion Chase or carry top-weight in the Grand Annual and we’re inclined to let him take his chance (in the Champion Chase) on hopefully a bit better ground.

“Wee’re not saying we’ll go there and win, but if he was to run a good race then you never know.”



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Anno Power play giving Fry much to look forward to

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Anno Power has left Harry Fry full of excitement after booking her ticket to Aintree with a scintillating display at Ascot on Saturday.

Held in high regard by her trainer, the five-year-old suffered a narrow reversal at the hands of Ben Pauling’s Dunskay on her debut, but put the record straight in breathtaking fashion when sent off the 5-4 favourite for the British EBF Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Having succumbed to keenness in her first outing, she was ridden cold by Jonathan Burke at Ascot and still had the whole field to pass before her jockey flicked the switch within the final two furlongs.

She quickened impressively, swallowing up her rivals one by one, before hitting full flow as she hit the line almost three lengths clear of the runner-up, the Karl Burke-trained Nala The Lioness.

Anno Power will now be held back for the Grade Two Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race on the opening day of Aintree’s Grand National Festival (April 11), a race won in the last two years by Ashroe Diamond (2022) and Dysart Enos (2023).

“We’re very excited with her and to be honest I was rather disappointed when she got beat the first day at Exeter,” said Fry.

“She over-raced a bit that day and was last off the bridle up against a horse of Ben Pauling’s who won again last week under a penalty and looks a useful young horse. It turned into a bit of a duel up the straight at Exeter, which didn’t play to our strengths but we learnt plenty about her.

“She was running against mares for the first time on Saturday and we knew first and foremost we needed to get her switched off to give herself a chance, hence why Johnny rode such a patient race.

Anno Power after winning at Ascot
Anno Power after winning at Ascot (Steven Paston/PA)

“We were trying to teach her with the future in mind and she had to settle. If she was capable of what we think she is, then when he asked her turning in, we would be able to see if she could go and win the race – and the manner in which she did was hugely exciting.

“It was impressive to see her pass the field like she did and quicken and then keep quickening to the line and then gallop right through the line.

“I was delighted to see her take that next step forward and now we can go to Aintree for the Grade Two mares’ bumper on the opening day of the Grand National meeting. That would probably be that for this season and then she will be a nice novice hurdling prospect for next season.”



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Fry seeking Newbury riches with Boothill and Altobelli

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Harry Fry has his eyes fixed on two of Newbury’s biggest prizes of the season with Boothill and Altobelli on Saturday.

Two-mile chaser Boothill is set for a clash with Edwardstone, Editeur Du Gite and dual winner Funambule Sivola in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase.

Boothill won twice at Ascot early in the season, missed the Tingle Creek due to the heavy ground and was a faller last time out in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

Boothill is aiming at the Game Spirit
Boothill is aiming at the Game Spirit (Nigel French/PA)

“We are looking forward to running Boothill on Saturday in the Betfair Game Spirit Chase at Newbury,” said Fry.

“He was last seen at Kempton where he fell at Christmas, but thankfully he was none the worse for that fall and we are hoping he can put that firmly behind him on Saturday.”

Altobelli, a second-season hurdler, has been placed in two big-field handicaps at Ascot, first when second to Dan Skelton’s Knickerbocker Glory and then when third to Luccia in the Betfair Exchange Trophy and he is chasing more of the sponsor’s money this weekend.

“Altobelli is all set to run in the Betfair Hurdle having run well in two competitive handicap hurdles at Ascot so far this season,” said Fry.

“The experience of those races won’t be lost on him and, with hopefully slightly slower underfoot conditions, that can only play to his strengths and he can be competitive, all being well on Saturday.”



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