Barton

Foaled in 1993, by Port Etienne out of the mare Peanuts, Barton was one of the most exciting national hunt horses to be trained in the north of England in the 1990s. Barton started out in a NH Flat race in 1998 for Charlie Brooks. He won easily but was disqualified as he had run outside a hurdle wing, and the race was awarded to Gatflax. Next time out he finished second in a Bangor bumper to Muskhill.

However, fortunes changed when he joined the Easterby yard and the chesnut ran up a total of seven consecutive wins in 1998-9, the only horse to trouble him being Kings Road in the Bovis Europe Winter Novices` Hurdle (Class A) (Grade 2) at Sandown in December 1998.

Barton`s biggest win came in the Royal and Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 1999. Barton, who connections believed was equipped to tackle staying distances, unleashed a burst of pace with two to jump that was to burn off his rivals. A "complete and utter steering job" was Wyer`s evocative summary.

Barton`s jumping was far from precise over the last two obstacles, but the 2-1 favourite was cheered every yard up the hill to justify his "banker" status and record a nine-length victory over Artadoin Lad, with 100-1 shot Winston Run third.

Back in the 1980s, such achievements were common as Easterby snr plundered 13 Festival wins, including a trio of Champion Hurdles with Saucy Kit, Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse and two Gold Cups with Alverton and Little Owl.

Jobroke brought the era to an end when landing the 1986 County Hurdle. "I`d almost forgotten what it was like," said Peter Easterby. "It`s a great feeling to be in the winner`s enclosure with Tim."

Barton, a chestnut with flashes of white who joined the Easterby stable when Charlie Brooks quit training, had won all his previous five starts for the Great Habton team. So confident had Tim Easterby been in the horse that he felt no pressure in being associated with a popular favourite tackling the biggest challenge of the trainer`s brief career.

"I played a round of golf this morning and have never hit so many straight shots in my life," he revealed. "There has never been a worry with this horse. He is very good, electric, the best I`ve trained. I couldn`t believe it when I read that some people didn`t think he would come up the hill. I think he could be a Champion Hurdle horse next year."

Clarke, a Grand National winner with Lord Gyllene, said: "Dreams can come true in racing. Tim is a great trainer and I think his father keeps a wise counsel.

"And Lorcan Wyer, what a horseman! He did just as he should have done, gave Barton plenty of space and kept out of trouble.

"I have always admired Tim from afar, so when Charlie Brooks packed up and the horse had a virus very badly, I gave him a rest and sent him up for some Yorkshire fresh air."

Barton followed up just three weeks later with a resounding victory in the Martell Mersey Novices Hurdle at Aintree, beating Autaeler by 2 lengths, his seventh consecutive win. This marked the end of a great season for Barton, who reportedly went `crackers` when he was turned out for the season, charging round the paddock in a fit of excitement.

Sadly, it was soon announced that Barton would miss the whole 1999/2000 jumps season. Tim Easterby was taking no chances with the Royal & SunAlliance Novices` Hurdle winner, who had been one of the main threats to Istabraq`s bid for a third Champion Hurdle victory. Barton had a little bit of heat in one of his front tendons and was given a year off.

"He`s not lame on it but it`s there - and that`s enough to make us stop now. It`s no use messing about and thinking we could give him a bit of time bring him back after Christmas. He wants the season off. It`s obviously very disappointing but these things happen and there`s nothing you can do about it," said trainer Tim Easterby.

Owner Stan Clarke added: "While it`s obviously disappointing Barton is young, it`s not a severe problem and time will put it right."

Barton had stamped himself Britain`s leading hope for the 2000 Champion Hurdle by winning all his seven starts last season. He was hailed as "possibly the best I`ve ever seen" by his trainer`s father Peter - who won the Champion five times himself - after winning the SunAlliance by nine lengths last March.

However, on his return to the track the following season Barton erased any worries that injury might have dulled his talent with a sparkling comeback in the Pertemps `Fighting Fifth` Hurdle at Newcastle. He stretched his unbeaten record to eight over timber with a comfortable dismissal of five rivals in the £37,000 contest. William Hill make him a 12-1 chance for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle after his seven-length defeat of The French Furze. Trainer Tim Easterby was relieved that Barton, the winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle in 1999, appeared to be as good as ever. I`m not thinking about any other races yet, I just wanted to get this one out of the way," he said.

Unfortunately his owner missed the victory as he is at home recovering from a back operation. Barton, backed into 8-13, was in front with three to travel and soon pulled into a clear lead. The French Furze threatened briefly from two out but Barton stretched away again to win comfortably. Tony Dobbin, reunited with the horse after the retirement of Lorcan Wyer, said: "I was most impressed. His jumping was awesome and he gave me a good feel all the way round. Easterby was following in the footsteps of his father Peter who won this race with Night Nurse in 1975 and Sea Pigeon in 1978 and 1980.

"I wasn`t worried about the distance of the race but I thought he might just need the run," said Easterby jnr. "He`s just different class to my other horses and kills them at home so you have to work him alone. I was worried about the tendon injury and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that he`s all right in the morning." There was some talk that Barton might be switched to chasing later in the campaign but Easterby said: "I`m sure he`ll be staying over hurdles now for the season."

Barton was beaten for the first time in the season in December by shock winner Geos in the Bula Hurdle. He was expected to come on again for the race, but Barton`s dismal effort in the Cleeve Hurdle was a mystery. The eight-year-old went into the Cleeve as one of the main Champion contenders, but trainer Tim Easterby was unable to give a reason for the gelding`s disappointing run, saying: “We can`t find owt wrong with him. I thought he would run well. I didn`t think the ground would suit him, but he stopped so quick I don`t know what to say. We scoped him afterwards and tested his ticker, but there`s nothing obvious. We`ll sort him out and get to the bottom of it. But there`s no magic combination. We`ll go through the routine we have when horses run bad. He travelled okay, but ran to the top of the hill and had no more.”

Barton was then sidelined, a very sick horse after Cheltenham. He was completely wrong and it took a while to put him right. But trainer Tim Easterby certainly did a good job and in April Barton sluiced through the mud to take the Martell Aintree Hurdle in impressive fashion under Tony Dobbin. Always travelling well he galloped all the way to line as his seven rivals toiled in behind. He was sent to the front approaching the last flight after the French raider Bounce Back had threatened with Best Mate and Mr Cool. But when Barton got his head in front there was only ever going to be one winner.

After his summer break Barton set out on his chasing career. His first run saw him beaten by October Mist, and he opened his account over fences in November 2001 at the second attempt with a breathtaking display. The 2-7 chance had little to beat in the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase, but was soon in splendid isolation out in front. He barely put a foot wrong as he breezed home by 20 lengths.

Tony Dobbin expressed his delight in Barton, "That was more like it. He picked up when I wanted and put down when I wanted. I couldn`t be more pleased."

Easterby said: "He`s a natural.. These novices need plenty of practice before they go for a big one, but one thing`s for sure, we`ll be keeping plenty in reserve for March."

Back at Newcastle in December, another effortless win followed. Stepping up to three miles, he continued his route to the top of the novice chase tree with a bloodless victory in a race in which only the first two home figured at any stage.

Although Barton made one or two minor mistakes, his jumping was solid in the main and his cleverness at getting himself out of trouble when required belied his relative inexperience. Well clear, he looked a little weary towards the finish, but this was a race run at a strong gallop on ground more testing than the official description.

Tony Dobbin seemed to be a little disappointed that Barton did not produce a copybook round, as he did here last time, but he did point out that his mount may have been unsettled by the early leader jumping out to his right, and he also pointed to the sticky ground as a possible reason why Barton did not look more impressive. Tim Easterby, though, seemed well satisfied by this performance.

Barton appeared on 27th December at Wetherby in the George Gregory Novices Chase and against poorer rivals showed how his jumping had improved. Whilst his jumping had been unimpressive at Newcastle on his last start, he was spot on throughout and, in a race run at a leisurely pace, he drew away in the straight to score easily.

Upped in class in January, Barton tackled the Dipper Chase at Newcastle and continued his march to the top of the novice chasing tree with another bloodless victory in a race which, admittedly, lost a little of its lustre when Hussard Collonges fell at the sixth. Barton made a fairly serious mistake at the same fence,and also guessed quite markedly at another, but, as Tim Easterby said afterwards, "he jumps when you need him". Back on the bridle at the fourth-last, he galloped home in the style of the top-class horse that he is.

More patient tactics were employed here than in his previous races and he settled quite beautifully, proving that he is as versatile as he is talented. He pulled off his near-fore plate during the race and came back with a bloodied foot, having seemingly torn the bulb of his heel; it was not, however, causing connections any concern.

In March 2002 Barton tackled the Arkle Chase over 2 miles, but ran no sort of race and was in trouble a long way out. It later came to light that before the race he had had a minor bout of colic. His trainer and owner were happy enough for him to run but it appears that the illness may have been part of the reason for his poor run, as he emerged in April to take the Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree`s Grand National meeting, beating Southern Star by ten lengths.

However, Barton failed to sparkle in the 2002 jumps season plagued by a degenerating foot injury. Sadly in June 2004 it became evident that the problems were worsening and that Barton would not be able to enjoy his retirement without suffering. Sir Stanley Clarke took the heartbreaking decision that his beloved horse should be put down to save him further distress.

And so there ends the story of Barton. We`ll never know how good this beautiful chesnut could have been over fences, and in a kinder world he could well have gone all the way to the top.