Al Eile
Encyclopedia
Al Eile is an Irish Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I Aintree Hurdle
three times.
and Francis Martin Berry. As of May 2010, Al Eile has amassed a career record of 12 wins, 4 places and 6 shows while accumulating £598,075 in lifetime earnings.
, Ireland. In that race, he beat a field of seven horses in what was his first entry into a jump competition. After the victory, Al Eile went on to win five of his next eight races. Of those wins, the first notable victory was in April 2004 when, as a 25-1 outsider, Al Eile defeated 17 other horses to win the Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
, a Grade 2 National Hunt race.
at Aintree Racecourse
in Merseyside
, England
. In April 2005, Al Eile beat out Inglis Drever
by a neck to win his first Aintree Hurdle. In 2007, he defeated Gaspara by 1.5 lengths
en route to his second Grade 1 victory. Al Eile followed his win in the 2007 Aintree Hurdle with another in 2008 when he Osana by 10 lengths. The win made Al Eile the first horse to achieve back to back wins in the Aintree Hurdle since Danoli in 1993 and 1994. Al Eile has won one other Grade 1 race in his career, the 2007 December Festival Hurdle
at Leopardstown Racecourse
in Leopardstown
, County Dublin
, in which he bested a field of six horses, defeating Hardy Eustace
by a single length.
Thoroughbred
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I 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...
three times.
Background
He was sired by, Alzao out of the mare Kilcsem Eile. He is owned by Michael Ryan and is trained by John Queally. Throughout his time as a racehorse, he has been ridden by several jockeys, including Timmy MurphyTimmy Murphy
Timothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...
and Francis Martin Berry. As of May 2010, Al Eile has amassed a career record of 12 wins, 4 places and 6 shows while accumulating £598,075 in lifetime earnings.
Flat Racing
Al Eile started racing as a two year old in October 2002 when he was entered into the European Breeders Fund Maiden where he finished in 14th place out of 17 entries.2003/4: Novice Hurdles
He won his first race, the Devon Inn 3-Y-O Hurdle, in September 2003 at Listowel Racecourse in Listowel, County KerryCounty Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland. In that race, he beat a field of seven horses in what was his first entry into a jump competition. After the victory, Al Eile went on to win five of his next eight races. Of those wins, the first notable victory was in April 2004 when, as a 25-1 outsider, Al Eile defeated 17 other horses to win 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...
, a Grade 2 National Hunt race.
2005-2009: Senior Hurdle Races
In total, Al Eile has won a total of four Grade 1 races, three of which have come in the Aintree HurdleAintree 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...
at Aintree Racecourse
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....
in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In April 2005, Al Eile beat out Inglis Drever
Inglis Drever
Inglis Drever was a champion racehorse trained in the North of England by Howard Johnson. He was one of the most successful hurdle racing horses to date and the only horse to have won the World Hurdle three times...
by a neck to win his first Aintree Hurdle. In 2007, he defeated Gaspara by 1.5 lengths
Length (horse racing)
A horse length, or simply length, is a unit of measurement that refers to the length of a horse from nose to tail, approximately 8 feet, It is commonly used in Thoroughbred horse racing, where it describes the distance between horses in a race...
en route to his second Grade 1 victory. Al Eile followed his win in the 2007 Aintree Hurdle with another in 2008 when he Osana by 10 lengths. The win made Al Eile the first horse to achieve back to back wins in the Aintree Hurdle since Danoli in 1993 and 1994. Al Eile has won one other Grade 1 race in his career, the 2007 December Festival Hurdle
December Festival Hurdle
The December Festival Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
at Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
in Leopardstown
Leopardstown
Leopardstown is a district in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland, located at the foot of the Dublin Mountains. A residential suburb of the greater Dublin area, it is divided by the course of the M50 motorway, and adjoins the neighbouring areas of Sandyford, Stepaside, Ballyogan, Foxrock and...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, in which he bested a field of six horses, defeating Hardy Eustace
Hardy Eustace
Hardy Eustace is a retired thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the Champion Hurdle in 2004 and 2005. He was trained in Ireland by Dessie Hughes and owned by Laurence Byrne.-Early Career:...
by a single length.