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Just read on David Pipe’s website that Well Chief is to be retired.
Enjoy it Chiefy – you deserve it!Possibly one of the finest 2 milers, never to win a Queen Mother Champion Chase.
A fantastic horse, and i hope he has a great retirement and he so deserves it.
One of my favourite horses.
I remember his battles with Moscow Flyer and Azertyiop- he will go down as one of the best 2 mile chases never to have won the Champion Chase.
I also remember him winning the Victor Chandler off a mark of 176.
With age and fragile legs catching up,he had a last hurrah when beating an injured Master Minded in the Connaught Chase last Nov after which he got a great reception.
It was sad but inevitable to see him never in contention at Cheltenham in March. I am glad this decision has been taken and hope the legs permit a happy retirement.
A horse with a great attitude and one of my favourites. Just loved to see his big white face! Hope he has a long life ahead of him and it would be nice to see him do something as I’m sure he is one of those who probably would enjoy turning his hoof to another career!
I think I remember reading that his performance in coming 2nd to MF in the 2005 Champion Chase would have been good enough to win the previous 20 Champion Chases (rated 177 for that performance)!
Here’s a link to the 2004 Tingle Creek (last 4 fences only) which is where Well Chief really stepped up to the plate in terms of being able to live with the big 2 at the time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17P9ipuJwSY
Never get tired of watching that race.
Forget the "never to win a Champion Chase" bit.
Simply "one of the best 2 milers ever seen", FULL STOP.
Happy retirement Well Chief.
Value Is EverythingGlad they’ve taken the decision now.. I said to a friend at the time he won the Connaught it would have been a great moment to retire him – he got the most amazing reception and it have been a lovely moment.
Still, he’s retired whole and I hope he’ll have a lovely long time ahead of him yet.
And a big thank you to the Pipes who are so good at getting these fragile horses back onto the racetrack [think Cyfor Malta]. Happy retirement, Well Chief, although childrens hack you are never likely to be!
I hope Well Chief has a long and happy retirement.
It’s a shame that he never won the Champion Chase but you only have to look back through his form against Moscow Flyer & Azertyuiop to know that he was better than most Champion Chase winners.
A lot of praise was heaped on Denman after he won the Hennessy off a mark of 174 but Well Chief put up a weight carrying performance every bit as good as that, if not better, when he won the Victor Chandler off a mark of 176.
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