War Of Attrition (horse)
Encyclopedia
War Of Attrition is a National Hunt racehorse and winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in 2006.
Trained by Mouse Morris
in Fethard
, County Tipperary
, War Of Attrition's confirmation and pedigree suggested his potential would blossom when jumping fences over distances requiring stamina. Therefore, his second at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival
in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
when beaten a neck by subsequent Champion Hurdle
r Brave Inca
, promised a bright future lay ahead when sent chasing. That promise along with two comfortable victories in novice chases, hallmarked by sound jumping saw War Of Attrition sent off favourite in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the 2005 festival, where he could only finish seventh, 14 lengths behind the Martin Pipe
trained Contraband. A first grade one victory soon followed at the Punchestown Festival in the Swordlestown Novices Cup Chase the following month, providing compensation for the Arkle disappointment and supplying a more accurate indication of War Of Attrition's ability after reported minor setbacks latterly in his novice season and hinting at future glories.
Victory over the previous season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King
, on his debut in open company provided War Of Attrition's Gigginstown House Stud ownership with real hope that he could reach the very peak of National Hunt racing during the 2005/06 season. A staying on second to multiple grade one winner Beef Or Salmon
, on his first start over three miles in the Lexus Chase
at the Leopardstown
Christmas meeting provided a good preparatory run before the testing three-and-a-quarter miles of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ridden prominently, the combination of good ground and racing beyond three miles for the first time saw War Of Attrition travel comfortably with the generous pace during the festival show piece, taken to the front three fences from home by jockey, Conor O'Dwyer, Mouse Morris's stable star jumped impeccably and ran on strongly up the Cheltenham hill to win racing's most prestigious chase by two-and-a-half-lengths from 2005 Grand National
hero, Hedgehunter
. War Of Attrition's win gave O'Dwyer a second victory in the Gold Cup ten years after Imperial Call claimed the race and Ireland a St. Patrick's day first, second and third with Forget The Past completing the placings along with his compatriots. Another grade one win followed at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup
for War Of Attrition when making all to beat Beef Or Salmon by a comfortable two-and-a-half-lengths, rounding off a highly successful 2005/06 season and confirming his standing as a high class staying chaser.
Racing on less favourable soft ground, the following season proved more difficult yielding only one win before War Of Attrition picked up a tendon injury when in the final phases of preparation for an attempt to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown, keeping him off the track for nearly two years. Ground breaking stem cell therapy on the tendon, combined with sympathetic handling by Morris - described as "an artist, distinct from the commercial horse trainer", brought the brown gelding back to a good level of form once recovered. The long absence and the need for him to be raced on softer ground to aid his soundness meant War Of Attrition never scaled the heights of past glories but still recorded two more victories over fences during the 2008/09 season and a never threatening second in the grade one Lexus Chase behind Exotic Dancer
.
The 2009/10 season was ear marked as War Of Attrition's last in racing, in which a return to hurdling was implemented in a bid to renew enthusiasm in the veteran after finishing mid-division in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury
. It proved another shrewd move by Morris as War Of Attrition won two grade two hurdle races, the latter when beating Mourad by a head at Navan
in February. A fourth run in a grade one race at the Cheltenham Festival followed where War Of Attrition enjoyed racing prominently before fading two flights from home in the World Hurdle
, won for the second successive year by the top class staying hurdler Big Buck's
. One final start over the larger obstacles in the Guinness Gold Cup back at the Punchestown Festival provided a fitting end to War Of Attrition's career who, on good ground and racing beyond three miles produced another stirring display under Davy Russell
to finish a superb second, three-and-a half-lengths behind the progressive Planet Of Sound with 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman
back in fourth.
Immediately after his final race, owner Michael O'Leary paid glowing tribute to War Of Attrition by saying "apart from the birth of my children, this horse has given me the best days of my life". War Of Attrition ran 34 times, winning 14 - including three grade one races, over £700,000 in prize money and ranks as one of Ireland's best and most consistent chasers from the first decade of the twenty-first century.
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...
in 2006.
Trained by Mouse Morris
Mouse Morris
Michael 'Mouse' Morris is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey.As a jockey he rode Skymas to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1976 and 1977 and Billycan to win the 1977 Irish Grand National, while his most notable successes as a trainer have come with Buck House in the 1983 Supreme...
in Fethard
Fethard, County Tipperary
Fethard is a village in South Tipperary in Ireland. It is located east of Cashel on the Clashawley River where the R692, R689 and R706 regional roads intersect. It is in the barony of Middle Third, and is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, War Of Attrition's confirmation and pedigree suggested his potential would blossom when jumping fences over distances requiring stamina. Therefore, his second at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme Novices' 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 on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
when beaten a neck by subsequent Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
r Brave Inca
Brave Inca
Brave Inca is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won ten Grade I races including the 2006 Champion Hurdle.-Background:...
, promised a bright future lay ahead when sent chasing. That promise along with two comfortable victories in novice chases, hallmarked by sound jumping saw War Of Attrition sent off favourite in the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the 2005 festival, where he could only finish seventh, 14 lengths behind the Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe
Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....
trained Contraband. A first grade one victory soon followed at the Punchestown Festival in the Swordlestown Novices Cup Chase the following month, providing compensation for the Arkle disappointment and supplying a more accurate indication of War Of Attrition's ability after reported minor setbacks latterly in his novice season and hinting at future glories.
Victory over the previous season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King
Kicking King
Kicking King is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Ardclough, Co. Kildare, Ireland, by Tom Taaffe. He is best known for his victory in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the major Chase run at the Cheltenham Festival...
, on his debut in open company provided War Of Attrition's Gigginstown House Stud ownership with real hope that he could reach the very peak of National Hunt racing during the 2005/06 season. A staying on second to multiple grade one winner Beef Or Salmon
Beef or Salmon
Beef or Salmon was a multiple Grade 1 winning National Hunt racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Michael Hourigan and owned by B J Craig. He was most famous for never winning a race outside of Ireland and for defeating three Cheltenham Gold Cup winners in Best Mate, Kicking King and War of...
, on his first start over three miles in the Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
at the Leopardstown
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...
Christmas meeting provided a good preparatory run before the testing three-and-a-quarter miles of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ridden prominently, the combination of good ground and racing beyond three miles for the first time saw War Of Attrition travel comfortably with the generous pace during the festival show piece, taken to the front three fences from home by jockey, Conor O'Dwyer, Mouse Morris's stable star jumped impeccably and ran on strongly up the Cheltenham hill to win racing's most prestigious chase by two-and-a-half-lengths from 2005 Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
hero, Hedgehunter
Hedgehunter
Hedgehunter is an Irish race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde...
. War Of Attrition's win gave O'Dwyer a second victory in the Gold Cup ten years after Imperial Call claimed the race and Ireland a St. Patrick's day first, second and third with Forget The Past completing the placings along with his compatriots. Another grade one win followed at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup
Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
for War Of Attrition when making all to beat Beef Or Salmon by a comfortable two-and-a-half-lengths, rounding off a highly successful 2005/06 season and confirming his standing as a high class staying chaser.
Racing on less favourable soft ground, the following season proved more difficult yielding only one win before War Of Attrition picked up a tendon injury when in the final phases of preparation for an attempt to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown, keeping him off the track for nearly two years. Ground breaking stem cell therapy on the tendon, combined with sympathetic handling by Morris - described as "an artist, distinct from the commercial horse trainer", brought the brown gelding back to a good level of form once recovered. The long absence and the need for him to be raced on softer ground to aid his soundness meant War Of Attrition never scaled the heights of past glories but still recorded two more victories over fences during the 2008/09 season and a never threatening second in the grade one Lexus Chase behind Exotic Dancer
Exotic Dancer (horse)
Exotic Dancer was a French bred National Hunt racehorse, who was trained by Jonjo O'Neill. He had a famous rivalry with Kauto Star but never beat him....
.
The 2009/10 season was ear marked as War Of Attrition's last in racing, in which a return to hurdling was implemented in a bid to renew enthusiasm in the veteran after finishing mid-division in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
. It proved another shrewd move by Morris as War Of Attrition won two grade two hurdle races, the latter when beating Mourad by a head at Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
in February. A fourth run in a grade one race at the Cheltenham Festival followed where War Of Attrition enjoyed racing prominently before fading two flights from home in the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World 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 on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
, won for the second successive year by the top class staying hurdler Big Buck's
Big Buck's
Big Buck's is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls and specialising in racing over hurdles. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdles, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths...
. One final start over the larger obstacles in the Guinness Gold Cup back at the Punchestown Festival provided a fitting end to War Of Attrition's career who, on good ground and racing beyond three miles produced another stirring display under Davy Russell
Davy Russell
Davy Russell is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Russell's first win as a professional jockey was for English-based Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy on Inn Antique in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, 12 November 2002...
to finish a superb second, three-and-a half-lengths behind the progressive Planet Of Sound with 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman
Denman (horse)
Denman is an Irish bred National Hunt racehorse sired by Presenting. Known as The Tank, Denman is widely known for his great rivalry with Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup...
back in fourth.
Immediately after his final race, owner Michael O'Leary paid glowing tribute to War Of Attrition by saying "apart from the birth of my children, this horse has given me the best days of my life". War Of Attrition ran 34 times, winning 14 - including three grade one races, over £700,000 in prize money and ranks as one of Ireland's best and most consistent chasers from the first decade of the twenty-first century.