Highclere owner experience: Carlenrig Cheltenham Cheer
by Pat Treacy
Carlenrig storms home to claim the prize in a nail biting photo finish 13.12.25
The Cheltenham dream is always a possibility for those with an interest in National Hunt horses, but it often doesn’t survive an encounter with reality in the shape of hurdles, fences and the day-to-day challenges of keeping hurdlers and chasers fit and in form – not to mention the small question of genuine ability.
The first hint we had that Carlenrig might take his owners to Cheltenham came with a promising first performance over hurdles at Chepstow early in November, when he finished second over a trip that looked a bit short. Excitement really began to build, however, at a fantastic owners’ day organised by Highclere at Dan Skelton’s Warwickshire yard about a week later, when Dan mentioned a potential target at the Cheltenham Christmas meeting – no less than the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, the 3pm feature race on Saturday 13 December.
Any entry for a Saturday race at Cheltenham is something to get excited about, but so much can intervene between entry and declaration, that it wasn’t until getting stuck in Cheltenham’s habitual race day traffic jam that I allowed myself to look forward with real anticipation to seeing this talented young hurdler take his place alongside half a dozen rivals to battle it out over 3 miles and up the Cheltenham Hill for Grade 2 honours and a prize of over £45,000.
Highclere had done a great job in persuading Cheltenham to provide badges for the syndicate members who wanted to attend, and it was a real pleasure to meet up with fellow owners in the pre-parade ring and parade ring as excitement ramped up ahead of the 3pm off time. Carlenrig looked magnificent in his Highclere sheet, beautifully turned out and taking all the preliminaries like a real pro, chestnut coat gleaming and white socks brightening up a gloomy December day.
We clustered round Dan and Harry for the pre-race briefing and the dream seemed agonisingly possible as Dan spoke highly of Carlenrig’s ability and Harry exuded confidence in his plan to tuck him in during the initial stages before bringing him to challenge as they turned for home.
The bell rang, Harry was legged up, and Carlenrig strode off, looking every inch a potential winner.
The owners scattered to their preferred viewing points – in my case the balcony outside the Owners and Trainers facility on the second floor of the Princess Royal stand, which gives a great view over the course, the finishing straight and the big screen – plus easy access to the winners’ enclosure if needed!
Then, as it always does, time slowed to a crawl as the horses made their way to the start and the preliminaries unwound. The butterflies in my tummy threatened to dislodge the sandwich I’d eaten earlier but, finally, the starter let them go and Carlenrig was travelling well and flicking over the hurdles. Harry kept him wide, allowing him the better ground, while being well in touch as the race began to unfold.
Celebrations in the winners enclosure at Cheltenham 13.12.25
As they turned for home, I was beside myself with excitement as Carlenrig came to challenge the favourite, with three of them battling up the home straight. Carlenrig’s enormous stride took him to the front, travelling at over 36 mph approaching the final hurdle, which he took well, but then, agony- he began to drift right and lose ground, showing his inexperience. All seemed lost, but with a brilliant piece of judgement and horsemanship, Harry allowed him to find the rail and urged him up the last hundred yards of the Cheltenham hill. Carlenrig hit the line strongly, still overtaking the others. but it was a photo finish- had he got there in time? I thought he had, but it was impossible to tell, so I didn’t let myself believe until, finally, confirmation came through – he had done it, our magnificent son of Soldier of Fortune, who we thought would be a chaser, had won over hurdles at Cheltenham! Trigger pandemonium…
Of course, lots of excitement followed in the winner’s enclosure. We all thoroughly enjoyed reliving the race over a glass of champagne afterwards- this time without the agony, majoring only on the ecstasy, knowing the outcome of the photo-finish.
To top the experience off, Dan mentioned the possibility of a return at the festival in March, meaning that when the celebrations were over, we were all able to return home to nourish another Cheltenham dream - while realising that Carlenrig had already done more as a hurdler than we had ever imagined he would. What a horse, what a ride, what a dream…