Bacchanal

Bacchanal was one of the gamest National Hunt horses of recent years. A chestnut gelding with a very low head carriage, he was a very sound animal and gave his connections tremendous amounts of pride and pleasure in all too short a time. The son of Bob Back made his first appearance on the 28th January 1999 at Huntingdon in the European Breeders Fund National Hunt Novices` Hurdle.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, as was the case for his whole career and in the colours of his owner, Lady Lloyd Webber, the five year old put up a decent performance to run the more experienced Tonoco to 1 and a ¼ lengths. By some twist of fate, Tonoco was also in action on the day that Bacchanal made his last appearance, nearly to the day, four years later. Bacchanal`s head carriage marked him out in a field. It was so low, so honest, that it made him appear uncomfortable, but that was not the case. That first run was under John Kavanagh.

Bacchanal had only four jockeys. Out of his 20 races, Kavanagh, Richard Johnson and Ruby Walsh each rode him once, and the remaining 17 were under Mick Fitzgerald, who took the mount for his next race. Bacchanal travelled to Sandown for the Chips Are Free National Hunt Novices Hurdles on the 19th of February 1999. Starting the 13-8 favourite, Bacchanal ran out the comfortable 11 length winner from Lordberniebouffant. His next run was on the 13th of March 1999 at Chepstow in the M & N Group`s Sir Peter O`Sullevan Novices` Hurdle. Bacchanal ran away from Davoski to win by 23 lengths.

His next run was at Punchestown, in the Country Pride Champion Novice Hurdle. It was his first time out of the first two, but he was far from disgraced in finishing last of five, behind the likes of Cardinal Hill, and only a neck in front of him in fourth, Fadoudal Du Cochet. His next run was more like him, in the Skyhopper Helicopter Partnership Gerry Feilden Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury on the 27th of November 1999. He beat Hit And Run by ¾ of a length, conceding him five pounds. Auetaler was 12 lengths back in third, but only he gave Bacchanal any weight, 1 pound, and the likes of Lord Lamb and Silence Reigns were well in adrift. His next run was quite brilliant when he took on the wonderful Lady Rebecca at her favourite hunting ground in the Marchpole Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. Conceding five pounds to the mare, Bacchanal made a slight mistake at the last, but never gave in. He ran his heart out up the hill, his honest head held low, to gain on Lady Rebecca all the way up the hill. He only just failed by a neck and would have got to her in another few strides.

Bacchanal returned to Cheltenham for his next race, his finest hour, in the Grade One Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Bacchanal took on the best the game had to offer. Limestone Lad, with claims to being Ireland`s toughest hurdler since the wonderfully game Monksfield, nearly twenty years earlier, Behrajan and Lady Rebecca. He tracked Limestone Lad for most of the race before going past him on the run to the last. He took that ahead of the Lad and climbed up the hill under the Fitzgerald drive. But the Lad is one of the best advertisements for the game and he renewed his challenge with tremendous courage. Bacchanal, however, could not be called a coward either and he fought on tenaciously to hold on by a length, with Behrajan 3 lengths back in third. Bacchanal`s next run was on the fourth of May 2000, when he ran at Punchestown in the Ballymore Properties Barretstown Gang Camp Champion Stayers Hurdle. He finished fourth, beat 7 lengths, a neck and 9 lengths, by Rubhahunish, Effectual and Lady Rebecca.

His next run was his first chase at Newbury in the cantorindex.com Fulke Walwyn Chase. He ran brilliantly under Richard Johnson, to cruise home by 18 lengths from Wahiba Sands, with his other four rivals a distance and more behind. Then to Kempton, on the twenty sixth of December 2000 for the Grade One Network Design Feltham Novices` Chase. He put up a brilliant display under Mick Fitzgerald, to land it by a distance from Take Control, with Shotgun Willy a further 21 lengths back in third. Neither Bindaree nor Crocadee finished the course. Then to Ascot for the Gerrard Reynoldstown Novices` Chase, which he won by thirteen lengths from Bindaree, with Mighty Kilcash a distance behind him. Bacchanal`s next run was at Aintree, where he fell at the first behind What`s Up Boys in the Heidsieck Monopole Mildmay Novices` Chase. In the absence of the Cheltenham Festival, Bacchanal travelled to Sandown for the Bonusprint Distance Championship Hurdle on the twenty seventh of April 2001. He never showed his true running and finished tenth of eleven behind Baracouda.

Next time he was back over fences at Sandown in the Future Stars Chase on the seventh of December 2001. He was never troubled and ran out a 26 length winner from Granit D`Estruval, with Be My Manager falling. His next run was in the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day 2001 at Kempton. He ran a blinder, finishing third behind Florida Pearl and Best Mate, beaten just ¾ of a length and 6 lengths. His next run was his first of 2002, on the ninth of February in the Aon Chase at Newbury. He ran away from six top class rivals, Shotgun Willy, Marlborough, Take Control, Supreme Glory, Paris Pike and What`s Up Boys to win by 12 lengths. He then went to Cheltenham for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on the 14th of March 2002. He was never going and finished 12th behind young gun Best Mate.

A return to Newbury on the 30th November 2002 saw him run first in the Cantor Sport Long Distance Hurdle, beating the likes of Native Emperor and Deano`s Beeno. It was then a return to Kempton for his second King George. Again he finished third, behind Best Mate and Marlborough, beaten just 1 and a ½ and 4 lengths.

Bacchanal`s next race was his last. On the 25th of January 2003, nearly four years to the day after his first appearance, the chestnut gelding with the exceptional head carriage went to Cheltenham for the Pillar Property Chase, to decide if he would line up in the Gold Cup or Stayers Hurdle. Bacchanal raced along behind Behrajan for much of the first circuit of the race. But racing towards the first downhill fence, Bacchanal, in first time blinkers made an uncharacteristic mistake that saw him take a terrible fall. He unshipped Ruby Walsh and at first appeared to be scrambling to his feet. But it was not to be. In the short time it took the remainder of the field to cross four more fences, it had been announced that he had been put down.

A broken leg was the cause and the short time response shows you how bad it must have been. Sadly, Bacchanal`s fate had been cruelly decided. He would not be lining up in either the Gold Cup or Stayers Hurdle. Over hurdles, his best moment must have been his triumph over Limestone Lad in the Stayers, whilst his courageous second to Lady Rebecca in the Cleeve Hurdle must rate a close second. At least Bacchanal`s name will be forever etched on the Stayers trophy. Over fences, his two King George runs were his best. Thirteen horses took him on round the Kempton course and only three, Best Mate (twice), Florida Pearl and Marlborough beat him home, as a result of two fine thirds. But at the sadness of his young death, it must be remembered how brilliantly he shone, if only for all too short a time.

He graced the racecourse for four years and he gave his fairly small owner, Lady Lloyd Webber some brilliant memories and forged a partnership with Mick Fitzgerald that has rarely been seen in any combination. He had many more years left to give, but what he gave us was brilliant and richly appreciated. Rest In Peace, young fellow.