Little Owl (horse)
| Little Owl | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Cantab |
| Grandsire | Cantaber |
| Dam | Black Spangle |
| Damsire | Black Tarquin |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 1974 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Colour | Bay |
| Owner | Mrs B Gundry, Mr R J Wilson |
| Trainer | Peter Easterby at Habton Grange near Malton, North Yorkshire |
| Record | 33: 16-4-2 |
| Major wins | |
|
Dipper Novices' Chase (1980) West of Scotland Pattern Novices' Chase (1980) Reynoldstown Novices' Chase (1980) Peter Marsh Chase (1981) Tote Double Chase (1981) Timeform Chase (1981) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1981) Tommy Whittle Chase (1982) |
|
| Awards | |
| Timeform rating: 176 | |
Little Owl was an English trained racehorse. Undefeated in his first eight completed starts over fences, he was described by Timeform as "potentially one of the most talented steeplechasers since Arkle". Particularly after winning a notably strong Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1981. However, after a series of injuries and a general drop in form, he was never to fulfill his promise and ended his career competing in hunter chases.
Little Owl was a bay gelding who was purchased at the 1977 Doncaster August Sales by his trainer at the price of 2,300guineas. His Sire, Cantab, was a useful horse on the flat before switching to the jumps for trainer Ryan Price. His most notable efforts were winning the 1961 Triumph Hurdle and finishing fourth in the 1962 Champion Hurdle. A successful jumps sire, his leading progeny included Little Polveir (1989 Grand National), The Thinker (1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup), Ballyross (1978 Powers Gold Cup) and Canton (1983 Scottish Grand National). His dam, Black Spangle, was a lightly raced half sister to Little Tom - a prolific jumps winner in Ireland and France while her dam, Spangle, was a seven time winner over hurdles. Little Owl's siblings were pointers and platers of little note.
Little Owl's career began in a juvenile hurdle on 1 March 1978 at Wetherby where he ran out an eight length winner. He followed up in two further novice events at the same venue during the spring, ending the season unbeaten in three starts.
After winning a qualifier for the Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle (currently known as the Pertemps Final at Nottingham, Little Owl was sent off favourite while carrying more weight than all but one of his opponents. Despite the race being only his fifth start, he ran with credit chasing home Willie Wumpkins (ironically ridden by Jim Wilson who would become Little Owl's regular jockey) who was six years his senior. Little Owl failed to win his next three starts but regained the winning thread at Market Rasen on his first start under leading amateur Jim Wilson. While success was seemingly assured, the jockey mistook the winning post and had to be rousted along to maintain his position at the finish. No such mistake was made on his next and final outing of the season at Wetherby where, despite conceding 33lb, Little Owl won by twenty lengths from Silversmith who himself had won four races that season. While he did not race outside of handicap company, Little Owl's progression was such that he wound up being rated that season's leading staying hurdler by Timeform - ahead of Stayers' Hurdle winner, Lighter.
...
Wikipedia