Cape Gentleman Grand National Wins
Cape Gentleman has never won the Grand National.
They have never finished the race.
A graded winner over both hurdles and fences, it is fair to say that the career of Cape Gentleman has been full of action so far. Trained by three different trainers, he’s been based in both France and Ireland and has won races in those countries, plus in the UK.
Foaled in 2016, he began his career in France before moving to Ireland and is now trained by John Joseph Hanlon, though did spend time with Emmet Mullins before that. His career has seen a lot of change, but on the track, the horse has always run well, going to a high level, winning races along the way.
That took him to staying chase races, and ultimately, the Grand National, a race he would debut in at Aintree in 2023. However, things didn’t go to plan for him, after being badly hampered by a faller at the first, the horse struggled to recover, and was pulled up at the 14th fence, and was reported to be lame after the race.
Full Results
| Year | Result | Prize Money | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fence 13 - Pulled Up | - | 10-8 | Jody McGarvey | John Joseph Hanlon (2) |
Cape Gentleman’s Early Years
The racing career of Cape Gentleman started out in France, with the horse hitting the track for his debut in June 2019. This was a three-year-old flat race, and he would finish fourth. Two further flat runs would come in France, finishing second on his second start, and then winning his final start there, by just under a length.
Ireland would come next, with the horse moving to the Emmet Mullins yard and although known more for jump racing, Cape Gentleman would initially stay on the flat with him. He was second on his Irish debut, before winning a big race, the Irish Cesarewitch in October 2020 by two lengths.
In December of the same year, the horse would go hurdling, and after an impressive flat win at a high level, he won his hurdling debut. This came in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown, winning by two lengths and after that success, the horse was immediately put up into Grade One company. He was pulled up at Leopardstown there but bounced back after to win the Grade Two Dovecote Novice Hurdle at Kempton, on a trip across the Irish Sea.
He targeted big races over the summer, both hurdling and on the flat, including a trip to Royal Ascot, where he finished fifth in the Ascot Stakes.
Chasing would come next, and Cape Gentleman really took to it well, winning his first two starts. Punchestown was first, winning by six lengths, and that was backed up by a Grade Three novice chase win at Cork by 14 lengths. He would end his novice chase season with a second in a Grade Two race, then a fall at Fairyhouse in a Grade One.
Cape Gentleman’s Big Race Wins
Three race wins so far in the career of Cape Gentleman’s career have been classed as big race wins, all coming in the early part of his career.
First up came the Irish Cesarewitch victory on the flat, a big staying handicap over two miles before he went hurdling, showing that stamina was going to be no problem for this horse at all. The biggest win of his career was his win in the Dovecote Novice Hurdle at Kempton when he was sent across from Ireland and delivered in great style.
As a chaser, he added a Grade Three novice chase to his resume at Cork, which left him with a record of winning a big race on the flat, over hurdles and over fences, which is a trio that not too many horses are capable of achieving.