2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness has been retired by connections. The 11-year-old fittingly went out at Prestbury Park with another game effort in the Champion Chase. He finished fourth behind Il Etait Temps.
In all, Captain Guinness won seven times in 33 starts under rules. They included five Grade level success, but only one at the top level. That came at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago when a 17/2 winner of the Champion Chase. Strong 2/9 favourite El Fabiolo had been pulled up after an early jumping mistake and Henry De Bromhead’s charge took full advantage under Rachael Blackmore.
He proved that no fluke when beaten only on the line in the Punchestown version in 2024. Banbridge beat him late on that day, though Captain Guinness placed twice more at the highest level before retirement. His last victory would prove that Champion Chase at Cheltenham. De Bromhead paid tribute to one of his stable’s most loved horses.
“He had a fantastic career and we had a lot of fun with him,” he said to the Racing Post. “He gave us some great days and I always thought he deserved to win a Grade 1 but wasn’t getting there. And then all of a sudden he went and won the Champion Chase!
“He was always a genuine horse who enjoyed his racing. Declan [Landy, owner] and Josephine and all the Landys enjoyed every minute of the journey.”
Ballyadam to swap Cheltenham for Ascot
Another 11-year-old among De Bromhead’s ranks remains fit and firing, however. Ballyadam continues in fine fettle, getting off the mark on the flat at Listowel recently. He won that race in convincing fashion and the Cheltenham Festival regular looks set to swap his deerstalker cap for a top hat in June.
“Ballyadam was brilliant,” De Bromhead said. “I was delighted with him. He’s still got a real appetite for it and I thought he was really good. It was great, but when they have his ability and his attitude, it makes it easier.”
One stumbling block for Ballyadam’s Roayl Ascot chances is the handicapper. Despite his manner of victory at Listowel on just his second flat start, De Bromhead is fearful that his rating may not be high enough to earn a run.
“We were hoping to go for the two-and-a-half-mile race (Ascot Stakes) at Royal Ascot, but I’m just not sure ratings-wise if it will work. We’ll have to see. He might just be a bit low, unfortunately.”