The saying goes that you should never be afraid of one horse. But what about three horses?
Constitution Hill, State Man and Brighterdaysahead were the formidable trio in this year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle, the highlight on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Taking on these giants would be folly, surely.
Despite trainer Jeremy Scott preferring an alternative target, owner Ian Gosden had no issue in nominating the championship race for his star performer, Golden Ace. She had already given her owner a day to remember when taking the mares’ novices’ hurdle at the 2024 Festival and prepared for this year’s jamboree with victory in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
The Champion Hurdle was about as incident-packed as any Grade 1 jumps contest in recent memory, with Constitution Hill and State Man, the two previous winners, both falling, the latter at the last when holding a significant advantage, leaving Golden Ace to storm up the hill in splendid isolation and take the prize.
“It was unbelievable that it happened like that,” says Gosden, who admits to having watched the replay “30 or 40 times” since that magical day in March. “We were very lucky it fell the way it did, but we were the ones on form and jumping well.
“Golden Ace thinks on her feet – it didn’t faze her when Constitution Hill fell in front of her. We can surmise that State Man was emptying when he fell at the last but we’re never going to know.
“It’s impossible to take it all in on the day. I don’t remember the music they played when she came back in as a Grade 1 winner. Even now I don’t think the importance of it has sunk in.
“The Champion Hurdle win is my most magical moment in racing. It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s such a whirlwind on the day – my wife couldn’t get near me after the race! It’s just mayhem and you’re swept along with it.”
Gosden’s wife, Claire, also played her part in the victory; she had produced a spreadsheet of times from likely opponents in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle, Golden Ace’s original Festival target, which showed the daunting challenge lying ahead. What’s that saying about never being afraid of one horse?
“Lossiemouth’s times were serious,” Gosden explains. “I watched all her races – she never came off the bridle once against a mare. I didn’t want to take her on, so I thought wherever she’s going, we’re not.
“Jade De Grugy also had a higher rating and I reckoned I’d rather come fourth in the Champion Hurdle than third in the Mares’ Hurdle. So that’s where we went!”
Gosden, who sold his insurance broker business, Higos, in 2017, was born in Portsmouth but moved to Somerset in 1989.
He’d had zero involvement in racing until one Christmas when, over a festive drink, some neighbours asked him along to Wincanton on Boxing Day.
“My son was six months old at the time of that first visit,” Gosden relates. “He’ll be 35 this year and I’ve only missed that meeting three times since – two were abandoned and one was called off due to Covid.
“For me it’s about the horses – they’re magnificent animals. I always tend to buy big ones because physique is important for jumpers. The fact that these animals can run and jump for four miles – I just love it! But I’m not into the Flat.”
The Victor Dartnall-trained Russian Trigger, shared with friend Russ Watts, was Gosden’s first horse and proved a talented stayer, completing a hurdles hat-trick at Wincanton on Boxing Day in 2007 – “it’s still my favourite day of the year” – and winning the Kent National and Midlands Grand National in 2009.
Golden Ace was sourced for just 12,000 guineas at Tattersalls’ Horse-in-Training Sale in July 2021, when, despite advice to the contrary, he decided to back his own judgement in the ring.
He says: “I buy horses with Wayne Clifford. He gives me a list of horses at the sales – I’m told to stick to that!
“On this occasion, I decided to do my own research and spent hours going through the catalogue. Looking at the pedigrees, I don’t like mares that haven’t run, and I could see the dam [Deuce Again] had won up to 1m6f and the stallion [Golden Horn] had won a Group 1 at a mile and a half. I thought the progeny would stay well.
“When I went into the ring to watch her go through, no-one was bidding at 10,000gns, so I thought I’d have a go. When I showed Wayne the slip for transport, he asked me what the hell I had done!
“I didn’t even know her sire had won the Derby. I was just looking at the calibre of the wins rather than the name of the race.”
Golden Ace, who was due to contest the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown at the time of writing, will likely have one more season of racing – “I’d like her to defend her title at Cheltenham” – before retiring to the paddocks.
At present Gosden has interests in 22 horses, comprising horses in training, youngstock and three broodmares based at Byerley Stud in Wiltshire. Golden Ace would be a hugely valuable addition to any breeding operation; her owner is excited by the prospect but admits he is “holding my council on whether or not to sell the progeny.”
He continues: “Stupid money is being charged for point-to-pointers. I don’t understand that thought process. With prize-money the way it is, if you pay three quarters of a million for a horse, you won’t get anywhere near that back. Most of mine have not covered their cost.
“If you get a decent mare then you should be able to breed something that has a serious chance of doing well.”
The state of prize-money in Britain is one of Gosden’s biggest frustrations. Golden Ace’s Champion Hurdle win yielded something of a windfall – first prize was listed as £255,000 – yet away from the headline meetings, returns can be poor.
He says: “I don’t expect my horses to pay for themselves – it’s a hobby and it will cost me money. But I had three seconds at Exeter in one day and my half of the prize-money was £1,700. That doesn’t even pay for one horse for one month.
“If your success doesn’t give you back half a year’s training costs, you’re not going to be at it for very long. The money I’ve spent in this sport – some people would call it a small fortune. When we say we want ordinary people to get involved, they’ve got no chance. Training costs will be going up again because of the National Insurance changes.
“The second big frustration is owners’ and trainers’ facilities, most of which are rubbish unless you’re going to a top-class track. I often end up paying extra so we can have a table for the day. You don’t want to be in a scenario where you can’t get a seat at the races.”
The major positive about ownership, understandably, is the thrill of big-race success while the camaraderie of the National Hunt scene is another huge draw.
“The social side is important – I have some very good friends who own horses. In the winter I probably go racing three or four times a week,” Gosden says.
He adds: “My dream when I retired was to have a string of racehorses and win a race at the Cheltenham Festival.
“Winning the Champion Hurdle is a once-in-a-lifetime event. If I can breed one that turns out to be really good… that’s my next goal.”
