|
Nowell House was a flagbearer for the yard around the turn of the millennium. We called him 'Polo' because he was small, like a polo pony.
He arrived at the yard as a yearling in 1997, nicely bred by Polar Falcon out of Langtree Lady, a five times winner. He was a half brother to Sharp Return who had won the previous year at Folkestone.
Nowell House was a good looking chestnut with white socks, and was looked after by Scott Pease. He was a particularly early rise was Nowell House,
and he had to be one of the first horses out in a morning or he would try to kick down his stable door.
He made his debut at Ripon in May 1998 at the age of two, and ran with promise without getting his head in front. His second and third runs saw him finish third and for his efforts he was awarded a rating of 77.
He had been bought as a longer term project and he lost his maiden tag at Beverley in September 1999 off a mark of 51, ridden by Terry Lucas. It has been a big step up in trip from seven furlongs to a mile and a half and he saw out the longer trip nicely. Further three year old wins came at Pontefract, again over a mile and half, and at Redcar over 10 furlongs.
Nowell House's time was the autumn, as he handled the rain softened ground. His two four year old wins came in soft ground at Catterick and Redcar during the wet and soggy September of 2000.
Switched to hurdles he was a winner at Sedgefield in February 2001, and then back on the flat won the Babraham handicap under Kevin Darley at Newmarket in April.
The 2002 season was winless, but at Newcastle over hurdles in 2003 off a mark of 102 Richie McGrath steered him home to win in his favourite heavy ground.
A further win followed back on the flat at Hamilton, again the soft ground being the key. After his a summer break, he returned in October to mix all weather racing with hurdling, winning at Ayr in October for our apprentice Paul Mulrennan. His final two victories came over hurdles at Carlisle and Wetherby, winning two consecutive races, by which point he was rated 121.
He was retired in July 2005, having won almost £75,000 prizemoney from 12 wins and 13 places.
|