See More Business
Encyclopedia
See More Business was a top-class National Hunt chaser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup
as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase
. He was trained by Paul Nicholls
and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
in two of those races (the Gold Cup win was the first time Fitzgerald had ridden the horse in a race). Andrew Thornton
rode him in the 1997 King George win.
and then was second in a Grade 1 chase and then a Grade 2 chase to Dorans Pride
. He was a strongly fancied second favourite at 5/2 for the Racing Post Chase
. However, he suffered a heavy fall on the second circuit.
. The joint favourities One Man
and Suny Bay disappointed and coming to the last fence he was challenged by the enigmatic Challenger du Luc. The latter would have other words used about him by punters that day as he effectively stopped trying on the run-in and gifted See More Business the win. He then went on to win the Pillar Chase
at Cheltenham ahead of Cyborgo. He went into the Cheltenham Gold Cup
as the second favourite behind old rival Dorans Pride
. However, disaster struck as Cyborgo's jockey Tony McCoy
felt his horse had suffered an injury and urgently tried to pull him up before the next fence. See More Business was running slightly wide of the field and when McCoy pulled Cyborgo out he gave See More Business nowhere to go and took him out of the race.
as the favourite but fared badly and was pulled up as Teeton Mill won. He ran again in the Pillar Chase but could only finish third of five behind new star Cyfor Malta and Go Ballistic. He was now the forgotten horse of the 1999 Gold Cup. His chances were made easier by Cyfor Malta suffering an injury and being unable to run and Teeton Mill suffering a career-ending injury early in the race and having to be pulled up. Towards the final three fences there were only four horses with a chance of winning. Double Thriller faded and then so did favourite Florida Pearl
. The scene was set for a thrilling finish between See More Business and 66/1 outsider Go Ballistic. See More Business just prevailed by 1 length.
in fantastic form. He'd won the Charlie Hall Chase
and defeated Go Ballistic by 17 lengths in winning the King George VI Chase
for a second time. This was the last time the race was officially first-scheduled for Monday December 27th; Christmas Sunday
still being observed in the UK. Finally, he won the Aon Chase
by 18 lengths. He went into the Gold Cup as the 9/4 favourite. However, no horse since L'Escargot
had retained the crown and that had been nearly 30 years earlier. In the end he could only come fourth behind Looks Like Trouble
, Florida Pearl
and Strong Promise. However, he ended his season with a 21 lengths win in the Martell Cup Chase
.
where he defeated three rivals by 30 lengths. He then went into the King George VI Chase
as the hot favourite with Looks Like Trouble
injured. However, he had a dire race and finished a well-beaten fifth. He then won another Pillar Chase
before running another disappointing race this time in the Martell Cup Chase
(the Cheltenham Festival having been abandoned).
. He bounced back with a convincing win in the Jim Ford but it was a weak field. Still he lined up in that year's Cheltenham Gold Cup
. To the racing public's delight he ran a wonderful race. He was unable to hold off Best Mate
and Commanche Court
but his third place showed him back towards his best. Sadly, he couldn't repeat the trick at Aintree and was well-beaten in the Martell Cup Chase
.
.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
as well as the 1997 and 1999 King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. He was trained by Paul Nicholls
Paul Nicholls (horse racing)
Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...
and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...
in two of those races (the Gold Cup win was the first time Fitzgerald had ridden the horse in a race). Andrew Thornton
Andrew Thornton
Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to...
rode him in the 1997 King George win.
1995/96 season
He made his hurdling debut on 4 November 1995 at Chepstow with a win and followed with two further wins including the Grade 2 Winter Novices' HurdleWinter Novices' Hurdle
The Winter Novices' 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 Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
1996/97 season
He reappeared nearly a year later as a novice chaser. He started by winning the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices' ChaseRising Stars Novices' Chase
The Rising Stars Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase 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 5 furlongs , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
and then was second in a Grade 1 chase and then a Grade 2 chase to Dorans Pride
Dorans Pride
Dorans Pride is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse.-Racing Career: Dorans Pride joined Michael Hourigan's yard in 1992 and was sold by the trainer to Tom Doran in February 1993, who gave the then nicknamed Padjo, his racing name...
. He was a strongly fancied second favourite at 5/2 for the Racing Post Chase
Racing Post Chase
The Racing Post Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. However, he suffered a heavy fall on the second circuit.
1997/98 season
See More Business returned the next season with a win in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow and then ran in the King George VI ChaseKing George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
. The joint favourities One Man
One Man (horse)
One Man was an Irish-bred National Hunt steeplechase racehorse sired by Remainder Man out of the mare Steal On. The popular grey won 20 of 35 races, including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998. He was trained by the late Gordon W. Richards and owned by John Hales...
and Suny Bay disappointed and coming to the last fence he was challenged by the enigmatic Challenger du Luc. The latter would have other words used about him by punters that day as he effectively stopped trying on the run-in and gifted See More Business the win. He then went on to win the Pillar Chase
Cotswold Chase
The Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
at Cheltenham ahead of Cyborgo. He went into the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
as the second favourite behind old rival Dorans Pride
Dorans Pride
Dorans Pride is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse.-Racing Career: Dorans Pride joined Michael Hourigan's yard in 1992 and was sold by the trainer to Tom Doran in February 1993, who gave the then nicknamed Padjo, his racing name...
. However, disaster struck as Cyborgo's jockey Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
felt his horse had suffered an injury and urgently tried to pull him up before the next fence. See More Business was running slightly wide of the field and when McCoy pulled Cyborgo out he gave See More Business nowhere to go and took him out of the race.
1998/99 season
See More Business' first run of the new season was in the Edward Hanmer Chase but he could only finish fourth. He then retained the Rehearsal Chase in a 3 runner field. He went into the King George VI ChaseKing George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
as the favourite but fared badly and was pulled up as Teeton Mill won. He ran again in the Pillar Chase but could only finish third of five behind new star Cyfor Malta and Go Ballistic. He was now the forgotten horse of the 1999 Gold Cup. His chances were made easier by Cyfor Malta suffering an injury and being unable to run and Teeton Mill suffering a career-ending injury early in the race and having to be pulled up. Towards the final three fences there were only four horses with a chance of winning. Double Thriller faded and then so did favourite Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...
. The scene was set for a thrilling finish between See More Business and 66/1 outsider Go Ballistic. See More Business just prevailed by 1 length.
1999/2000 season
The following season See More Business went into the Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
in fantastic form. He'd won the Charlie Hall Chase
Charlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
and defeated Go Ballistic by 17 lengths in winning the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
for a second time. This was the last time the race was officially first-scheduled for Monday December 27th; Christmas Sunday
Christmas Sunday
Christmas Sunday is a name for the Sunday after Christmas.In the United Kingdom, if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, 26 December is sometimes referred to as "Christmas Sunday", and Boxing Day moves to 27 December, although this practice has now fallen out of common usage and 26 December is...
still being observed in the UK. Finally, he won the Aon Chase
Aon Chase
The Aon Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.The...
by 18 lengths. He went into the Gold Cup as the 9/4 favourite. However, no horse since L'Escargot
L'Escargot (horse)
L'Escargot was a racehorse notable as being the horse who halted the winning run of Red Rum at the Aintree Grand National in 1975. L’Escargot was owned by Raymond R. Guest, and ridden by champion Irish jockey Tommy Carberry. He was trained by Dan Moore, and beat Red Rum by 15 lengths.He won as a...
had retained the crown and that had been nearly 30 years earlier. In the end he could only come fourth behind Looks Like Trouble
Looks Like Trouble
Looks Like Trouble was a horse that was trained by Noel T. Chance. In 2002, he was well fancied for the Gold Cup at the odds of 9-2 and was ridden by Richard Johnson. At the 10th fence, he blundered very badly and almost had lost a complete chance in the race. He eventually went on to win by 5...
, Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...
and Strong Promise. However, he ended his season with a 21 lengths win in the Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
.
2000/01 season
See More Business' first port of call the next season was the Charlie Hall ChaseCharlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
where he defeated three rivals by 30 lengths. He then went into the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
as the hot favourite with Looks Like Trouble
Looks Like Trouble
Looks Like Trouble was a horse that was trained by Noel T. Chance. In 2002, he was well fancied for the Gold Cup at the odds of 9-2 and was ridden by Richard Johnson. At the 10th fence, he blundered very badly and almost had lost a complete chance in the race. He eventually went on to win by 5...
injured. However, he had a dire race and finished a well-beaten fifth. He then won another Pillar Chase
Cotswold Chase
The Cotswold Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1½ furlongs , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
before running another disappointing race this time in the Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
(the Cheltenham Festival having been abandoned).
2001/02 season
The next year it looked like time would be called on See More Business' impressive career. He fell in the Rehearsal Chase and was pulled up in the Welsh NationalWelsh National
The Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. He bounced back with a convincing win in the Jim Ford but it was a weak field. Still he lined up in that year's Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. To the racing public's delight he ran a wonderful race. He was unable to hold off Best Mate
Best Mate
Best Mate was a famous English trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
and Commanche Court
Commanche Court
Commanche Court is an Irish thoroughbred racehorse trained in Ireland by Ted Walsh. The son of Commanche Run gave his trainer his one and only Cheltenham Festival winner when landing the 1997 Triumph Hurdle under Norman Williamson.In 2000 he gave Ted Walsh and his son Ruby Walsh a first Irish...
but his third place showed him back towards his best. Sadly, he couldn't repeat the trick at Aintree and was well-beaten in the Martell Cup Chase
Totesport Bowl
The Totesport Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
.
2002/03 season
See More Business' four races the following season were a mixed bag. He was defeated by More Than A Stroll in Down Royal, won another Rehearsal Chase and Jim Ford before coming well down the field in the Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
.