Hunt Ball

Shame about Hunt Ball being sold to America he seemed a very British success story.
 
Chances are he'll do very well there, being a better class than 99% of the other horses running in steeplechasers there. I do feel it's sad to lose him from British racing though.

Anthony Knott lost my respect when he jumped on his back after he won, to do that to a tired horse on the weakest part of his back was not kind.

Sad about Ballytrim. Worse happened to Church Island who got sent to Ascot of all places and sold for a couple of grand, with very wonky legs. Anyone know what happened to him?

Nx
 
DBS managing director Henry Beeby yesterday said he was "infuriated" after owner Anthony Knott withdrew former Cheltenham Festival winner Hunt Ball from the company's Spring Sale at the eleventh hour.

DBS said on Sunday the eight-year-old son of Winged Love would "definitely be offered" for sale at yesterday's second session, but it was announced on Tuesday morning that the horse had been sold privately to race in the US.

"We're infuriated because we put a lot of work into promoting the horse," said Beeby. "We know there were a number of people coming to the sale with proper money to spend.

"We heard rumours on Sunday that the horse might have been sold privately, but we clarified with the owner that the horse was definitely travelling to the sale on Sunday.

"However, we had a telephone call on Tuesday morning to say he wasn't coming, having made sure we knew the horse was coming and after we had sent out the press release on Sunday stating the horse would be offered. We are all deeply disappointed."

Beeby believes the incident has made DBS look foolish but will ensure the company receives full commission for the sale.

"He has made us look like fools, to be honest," said Beeby. "We did a pretty good job of promoting the horse and no doubt he would have made a pretty penny.

"I believe he has made a mistake - buyers try and force a private sale before auction for one reason and one reason only: because they know they will have to pay more in the sales ring."

He added: "We will be charging full commission as conditions of sale allow.
 
but shouldn't trainers do as they are told?...not long ago we were talking about how owners call the shots..they pay the bills i was told and so should get their way..no matter how daft the instructions..re tactics or owt else.
 
Be some mess if they did EC. Most owners have the common sense not to throw their weight about with the trainer they employ.

Most of the time the stable jockey is who both listen to. Nicky Henderson is a classic example...How many times have we heard him say "Barry thinks" ? and to be sure the horse will run where he has suggested

The owners that that think they know better and don't join the team cut their own throats. They end up with an unhappy jockey and more so a trainer who will simply say f*ck you take your horse somewhere else.

*Unless of course it's a horse like Flemestar that you've been praying for all your life Then you just put up with the shyte and hope the owner learns his lesson
 
Knott still wanted to paint the horse green even after the vet appeared to say that he couldn't guarantee there'd be no long term damage to the horse :(

Racing is well rid of Knott - if he's as big a mug punter as he seems then he's quite a short price to owe training fees and the like.

Martin
 
I really liked him till he got way too full of himself, now I just think he's a ****. Saw that linked article via Facebook last night and I'm gobsmacked.
 
He agreed to paint the horse green, which makes him slightly less of a c@nt than Paddy Power. No sanctions for the latter, of course...
 
One of the best painting stories surely involves the racing family who painted a star on the head of a ringer in a p2p only for the paint to run after rain/sweat.
Needless to say the person involved had to high tail it to America until the controversy died down where the next generation was born. Enough said!
 
Hunt Ball running in five mins time in the AP Smithwick Memorial Chase at Saratoga ($100,000 purse). Ross Geraghty up.
Currently 9/4.
 
Nope, not to be.
Unplaced in a six-runner race despite having the U.S. champion jumps jock aboard and trained by the legendary Hall Of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
Outlook doesn't look promising. :o
 
Longer trip and less sharp track (if this exists in the US) might see him to better effect, but it was a distinctly underwhelming debut.
 
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