Queen’s horse goes supreme at Aintree

Her Majesty The Queen’s former racehorse has won the Overall Supreme Championship at the first Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championship Show.

Great success

Barbers Shop won eight races and £143,000 during his racing career, under trainer Nicky Henderson.The 13-year-old gelding raced for the final time at the Cheltenham Festival in 2012, and has since being enjoying great success in the show ring with leading producer and rider Katie Jerram.

Nicene Creed, who is ridden by Hannah Chisman, was named Reserve Overall Supreme Champion, while Liverpool and Joanna Mason were third.

Joanna fractured a vertebrae after a fall in a point-to-point in March. She has since made a remarkable recovery to return to competition, in both racing and showing.

Worth winners

Barbers Shop also took Reserve Champion in the RoR Elite Showing series, following a memorable duel against former stable mate, Jack The Giant.

“The performance of Allister Hood and Jack The Giant on Saturday night was a joy to behold and they are worthy winners of the Supreme Championship,” said RoR chief executive, Di Arbuthnot

Never too late

Allister Hood also won the Jockey Club RoR Novice Championship with the former dual Group 3 winner Royal Rock.

Reserve Champion went to Beware Chalk Pit, who only stopped racing in January. Now trained and ridden by Rebecca Court, the horse has already qualified to compete in 2016 RoRChampionship final at Hickstead.

In the TBA TARRA Final 16-year-oldMoonakiproved it is never too late to start retraining for a new career, when he was named Supreme Champion with rider Ann Wright. Hannah Chisman and Nicene Creed once again took the Reserve title.

Special class

There were 27 classes over the course of the two-day show at Aintree Equestrian Centre. Other winners included Bang on Trend and Sophie Tranter, who won the Concours d’Elegance. Best Grey Ridden Class went to by RoR northern region co-ordinator Jackie Story on her former racehorsePrideusand the Veteran Championship was won by My Broadstairs Joyridden by Heather Blythe.

Wild Westand Lizzie Harris took the title in the RoR Side Saddle Class. This was the pair’s second big win, as they were named the RoR/Tattersalls Show Series Champions at Hickstead’s Derby meeting earlier this year.

There was also a special class for horses who had raced at Aintree, which was won byDance Islandand Catherine Beaumont.

Second career

“The highlight for me has been watching the pleasure participation in all the classes has given the competitors and their horses,” said Di. “RoR’s success is really best measured by its ability to help give former racehorses of all shapes and ability a fulfilling second career.”

“We hope the show will grow in future years and become the event everyone with a former racehorse wants to attend and compete at, either for the Championships or the grassroots classes.