news Fantastic line-up of retrained racehorses on show at Cheltenham

A wonderful line-up of former racehorses now thriving in a new career will be parading at Cheltenham this Friday on day one of the November Meeting. The parade of retired racehorses takes place in the parade ring at 11.50am and features a host of familiar names, including Gold Cup winner Coneygree and Grand National winner Pineau De Re.

The parade showcases the versatility of the thoroughbred together with the range of activities open to racehorses when they finish their racing careers, thanks to the work of Retraining of Racehorses (RoR).

Leading the parade will be Annacotty, who fittingly won the feature race at the 2015 Cheltenham November Meeting when landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Nowadays, Annacotty is more frequently seen in the show jumping arena. Following Annacotty will be former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Coneygree, who is now winning classes in the show ring, while National winner Pineau De Re is enjoying his eventing, as well as doing some dressage.

Among the other horses in the parade carving out new careers are two former Paul Nicholls trained horses, Saphir Du Rheu, who is competing at Intermediate level in eventing, and former Triumph Hurdle winner, Zarkandar, who is excelling at showing side-saddle.

The parade also features Minella Rebellion, a full brother to Cheltenham Festival winner Balthazar King. However, Minella Rebellion did not share his sibling’s ability and was retired after just five runs under rules, but his star has shone in a different sphere and in just his first season in the show ring he was crowned Supreme Champion at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships at Aintree, the first novice to lift the title, and winner of the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship at HOYS in October.

Other old favourites in the line-up are dual Festival winner Un Temps Pour Tout, Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Smad Place, Scottish Grand National winner, Wayward Prince, and the pride of Robin Dickin and his family, Thomas Crapper.