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A little bit sad that this grand old campaigner has been reduced to running in sellers and claimers. Don’t want to reopen the Happy Hussar debate, but let’s hope Redemption comes home safe and sound from these races.
Still, if he’s enjoying himself then that’s great. There must be a good reason for running him, because it wouldn’t be the high prize money. I wonder if anyone will claim him, and how the connections would react if someone did…
Yes, it is sad seeing him being dropped into sellers/claimers. I do see why know though
Lately i haven’t been impressed with the horse in the sellers it’s running in and at the moment as im picking todays racing out, i probabley wont pick redemption. I do hope it gets a good run today and i hope it comes back safely.
I will be surprised if they do get any bids for the horse as it’s ability is limited nowThe decision to keep him going would appear to lie squarely with Nigel Twiston-Davies rather than any pushy owner, as the horse is now owner-trained.
I think “reduced to sellers and claimers” inspires a more negative connotation than is actually fair here; it’s probably more accurate to suggest there’s been a bit of a reappraisal as to precisely what sort of contests he can still prove effective in. Take out two – admittedly rather better – RPRs from finishing out of the money twice in classy Cheltenham contests last January, and it becomes apparent that he bascially achieved as much in finishing runner-up in a Uttoxeter seller last time as he otherwise had in banging his head against a brick wall in class 1, 2 and 3 events for the preceding 15 months.
He is presumably thought of as straightforward and willing enough to be kept on the go, an assumption given some credence by the fact he has only ever had the headgear applied once (January 2003), and as his jumping of fences has never been bombproof these non-handicap selling hurdles probably represent a more sensible option than the claiming chases with which he had a brief dalliance earlier in the Spring.
Further, today’s contest will constitute his 69th start in a career not much short of 10 years long now, which doesn’t strike me as especially onerous. However, one note of caution from me would be that part of the reason he hasn’t been overraced was due to the comparatively smaller number of (good / top class) races per season in which he could run. I’m not sure that suddenly bolting, say, a 16-race summer campaign (easier company or no) onto his itinerary now would necessarily be in his best interests, and I hope NTD gives him a month or so off after this before trying to find another similar contest.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
By the way i ment limited to only running in sellers/claimers.
I was biased for going with a trainer who used to live near me – J Spearing
Congrats
I have absolutely no issue with horses being campaigned where they can win so I see no sadness in Redemptions reinvention as a selling hurdler, as he’s clearly found his level ~ if he was unable to win such a race, I’d like to see him retired, but NTD clearly knows the old boy is enjoying himself.
Redemption was claimed for £6000 by Mr G Smith. Fair enough but we were relating to it being just in these type of races. Fairplay to the old boy
Dont think the comparison with Happy Hussar is at all relevant.
What comparison with Happy Hussar?
Redemption was claimed for £6000 by Mr G Smith.
Presumably that’s Leicestershire trainer Graham Smith, is it? He’s not especially given to over-facing his horses, and he’s done well to entice three chase wins and eight podiums from Fisherman Jack (all of those efforts gained off a mark below 80), so I’m not overly worried about Redemption’s move to his Six Hills yard… with the caveat mentioned earlier, of course, that he isn’t plonked in every last seller this summer hereafter.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I didn’t catch the name properly but im sure it was Graham Smith. Nice bit of info there Grayson!
For those of you who haven’t already spotted it, Redemption, sensibly rested for 56 days by new trainer Graham Smith, reappears in the claiming hurdle that opens Worcester’s card tomorrow.
The galloping 2m4f won’t bother him, but some of the opposition might, as this looks quite a decent contest for the grade – certainly better than any of the other sellers or claimers he contested earlier in the summer.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Dear old Redemption..he’s morphing into Justa bob in Horse Heaven…maybe we should all pool our pocket money and buy him…..
Further to this, why is he 14-1, when the Post tissue is 4-1?
Who has got this priced wrongly? Surely a great each way bet, as is Annie Fleetwood later on the card.
The Post price of 4-1 may have suggested Alistair Whitehouse-Jones felt Redemption would still be popular as the most recognisable name in the line-up, and that many punters would possibly presume the gelding still to be a bit better than claiming class ability-wise.
In the event, Redemption’s debut for Graham Smith this afternoon was an entirely serviceable one, finishing second – but well clear of the remainder – behind an inmate of the promising George Baker yard.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
In the event, Redemption’s debut for Graham Smith this afternoon was an entirely serviceable one, finishing second – but well clear of the remainder – behind an inmate of the promising George Baker yard.
gc
The winner looked to be treading water before getting a second wind around the final bend. Redemption put in a very good show.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
The winner also contains more kinks than Ray Davies’ photo album, so I suppose there is also the possibility that he was momentarily thinking of jacking it in turning for home – if so, well done to Andrew Tinkler for keeping him up to his task to the end.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Lately i haven’t been impressed with the horse in the sellers it’s running in and at the moment as im picking todays racing out, i probabley wont pick redemption. I do hope it gets a good run today and i hope it comes back safely.
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