Al Ferof

Al Ferof is a grey gelding and was bred by J. Rauch and G. Chenu in France. His sire Dom Alco is a hugely successful sire of National Hunt horses, with 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges and 2012 Betfair Chase winner Silviniaco Conti among his progeny.{{cite web |url=http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/grands-crus-silviniaco-conti-death-of-dom-alco-sire-of-neptune-collonges/796381/ |work=Racing Post |title=Death of Dom Alco sire of Neptune Collonges | UK Bloodstock News | Racing Post |date=2010-12-05 |accessdate=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022854/http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/grands-crus-silviniaco-conti-death-of-dom-alco-sire-of-neptune-collonges/796381/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} Al Ferof was initially owned by Martin Timothy Murph an engineer from Cork in Ireland before being sold to John Hales.{{cite news|author =Liz Doyle |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/al-ferofs-cheltenham-win-puts-yard-in-shop-window-28904736.html |title=Al Ferof's Cheltenham win puts yard in shop window |work=Irish Independent |date=2012-11-23 |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof began his career on the amateur Point-to-point circuit. He made his racing debut at Summerhill in 2009, where he fell behind Jetnova. He then won a three-mile race at Athlacca, beating future Tolworth Hurdle winner Minella Class.

Al Ferof finished third to Summit Meeting in a National Hunt Flat race at Punchestown, before winning a similar event at Fairyhouse.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/732265/al-ferof |publisher=Racing Post |title=Al Ferof | Record By Race Type |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof made his debut for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls in a Grade 2 Bumper race at Newbury, which he won by five lengths under Ruby Walsh.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/36/newbury/2010-02-13/497860 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results From The 4.45 Race At Newbury | 13 February 2010 |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}} He then finished an eight length second to Cue Card in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2010-03-17/499634 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results From The 5.15 Race At Cheltenham | 17 March 2010 |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof's first start over hurdles ended in a fall when leading at Cheltenham in December.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2010-12-10/518611 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results From The 3.35 Race At Cheltenham | 10 December 2010 |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}} He immediately stepped up in class and trip to contest the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, finishing nine lengths back in third behind Backspin.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/36/newbury/2010-12-29/519781 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results From The 2.10 Race At Newbury | 29 December 2010 |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}} Al Ferof finally got off the mark over hurdles in a two-mile three furlong race at Taunton, which he won easily by twenty lengths as the 1/7 favourite.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/73/taunton/2011-01-20/521707 |title=Results From The 2.30 Race At Taunton | 20 January 2011 |date= |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof was then involved in a tragic incident at Newbury, where live cables under the parade ring electrocuted two horses before a novice hurdle race. Al Ferof avoided a shock, and won the race by fifteen lengths before the rest of the meeting was abandoned due to safety concerns.{{cite news|author =Tony Paley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/feb/12/two-horses-die-paddock-newbury |title=Newbury abandoned after two horses die in mysterious circumstances |work=The Guardian |date=2011-02-12 |accessdate=2013-03-13 |location=London}}

Al Ferof's next race came in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where he was considered a 10/1 shot behind the favourite Cue Card. In an unusually strong field, Al Ferof became outpaced two flights out, but stayed on resolutely up the hill to beat Spirit Son by two lengths.{{cite web|author=James Burn |url=http://cheltenham.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival-paul-nicholls-r-walsh-cheltenham-supreme-novices-nicholls-and-walsh-strike-with-al-ferof/829748/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411163932/http://cheltenham.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival-paul-nicholls-r-walsh-cheltenham-supreme-novices-nicholls-and-walsh-strike-with-al-ferof/829748/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-11 |title=SUPREME NOVICES' Nicholls and Walsh strike with Al Ferof | Cheltenham 2013 |publisher=Cheltenham.racingpost.com |date=2011-03-15 |accessdate=2013-03-13 }} The subsequent performances of the beaten horses marked this out as a quality renewal of the race: Spirit Son went on to romp in the Grade 2 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, third placed Sprinter Sacre developed into a top class two mile chaser and won the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Cue Card also became a top class chaser and winner of the Ascot Chase.

Al Ferof switched to fences the following season and made his chasing debut in the Grade 2 November Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, which he won easily by seven lengths from Astracad.{{cite web|author=Tom Kerr |url=http://cheltenham-open-meeting.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/paul-nicholls-r-walsh-cheltenham-open-november-novices-al-ferof-thrills-on-chase-debut/946933/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411163710/http://cheltenham-open-meeting.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/paul-nicholls-r-walsh-cheltenham-open-november-novices-al-ferof-thrills-on-chase-debut/946933/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-11 |title=NOVEMBER NOVICES Al Ferof thrills on chase debut | Cheltenham Open Meeting 2012 |publisher=Cheltenham-open-meeting.racingpost.com |date=2011-11-13 |accessdate=2013-03-13 }} He then stepped up in class for the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December. Sent off the 4/11 favourite, Al Ferof was forced to work unexpectedly hard to repel future Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner For Non Stop by a neck.{{cite web|author =Lewis Porteous |work =Racing Post |url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/sandown-sandown-al-ferof-paul-nicholls-for-non-stop-henry-viii-al-ferof-eased-for-arkle-despite-victory/957118/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605071155/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/sandown-sandown-al-ferof-paul-nicholls-for-non-stop-henry-viii-al-ferof-eased-for-arkle-despite-victory/957118/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-06-05 |title=HENRY VIII Al Ferof eased for Arkle despite victory | Horse Racing News |date=2011-12-03 |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Paul Nicholls next pitted Al Ferof against seasoned chasers in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January.{{cite news|last=Purnell |first=Gareth |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/nicholls-throws-novice-al-ferof-in-at-deep-end-6284509.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105015543/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/nicholls-throws-novice-al-ferof-in-at-deep-end-6284509.html |archive-date=2012-01-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Nicholls throws novice Al Ferof in at deep end – Racing – Sport |work=The Independent |date=2012-01-04 |accessdate=2013-03-13 |location=London}} Kept wide by Ruby Walsh, Al Ferof jumped well but was outpaced by Somersby and subsequent Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Finian's Rainbow.{{cite web|author =James Burn |work =Racing Post |url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/henrietta-knight-ascot-somersby-on-top-in-victor-chandler-thriller/979073/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605071056/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/henrietta-knight-ascot-somersby-on-top-in-victor-chandler-thriller/979073/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-06-05 |title=ASCOT Somersby on top in Victor Chandler thriller | Horse Racing News |date=2012-01-21 |accessdate=2013-03-13}} Afterwards, Walsh suggested that the King George VI Chase over three miles at Kempton would suit the horse, who appeared more of a stayer.

Despite the reverse, Al Ferof stayed at two miles for a rematch with Sprinter Sacre, who was unbeaten in two starts over fences, in the Grade 1 Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival. Sent off at 3/1, Al Ferof attempted to pressurise Sprinter Sacre on the far side of the course, but made a bad mistake four out and dropped away to finish a distant fourth behind Sprinter Sacre, Cue Card and 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Menorah.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2012-03-13/546179 |publisher=Racing Post |title=Results From The 2.05 Race At Cheltenham | 13 March 2012 |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof completed his first season chasing in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree. Although the favourite, Al Ferof ran a rather lifeless race to finish third to Menorah and stablemate Cristal Bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/732265/al-ferof |publisher=Racing Post |title=Al Ferof | Record By Race Type |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}

Al Ferof made his seasonal debut in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, a race his trainer Paul Nicholls had never won. He was given the weight of top weight of 11 st 8 lbs and, in very soft conditions, stayed on stoutly to defeat Walkon by three lengths. Trainer Paul Nicholls called it "a stunning performance".{{cite news|author =Greg Wood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/nov/17/al-ferof-paul-nicholls-cheltenham |title=Al Ferof ends Paul Nicholls hoodoo in Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup|work=The Observer|date= 2012-11-17|accessdate=2013-03-13 |location=London}} After the race, the King George on Boxing Day was announced as his target, and he was cut to around 5/1 second favourite behind Long Run for the race.

On 17 December 2012, Paul Nicholls announced that Al Ferof had "a small nick in a tendon",{{cite news|author =Greg Wood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/dec/17/paul-nicholls-big-bucks-al-ferof |title=Paul Nicholls reeling as Al Ferof and Big Buck's found to be injured|work=The Guardian |date= 2012-12-17|accessdate=2013-03-13 |location=London}} and would miss the King George and the rest of the season. In a strange coincidence, his illustrious stablemate Big Buck's, four-time winner of the World Hurdle, suffered a similar injury at the same time. Owner John Hales announced that Al Ferof would probably need around twelve months off, but would hopefully be fit to race the following season.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/uk/2012/1217/359401-big-bucks-and-al-ferof-set-to-miss-entire-season/ |title=Big Buck's and Al Ferof set to miss entire season|publisher=RTÉ|date= 2012-12-17|accessdate=2013-03-13}}

After more than a year off the track Al Ferof returned in a two-runner affair, considered by Racing Post a public schooling session,{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/2013-11-23/589876 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2013 Ascot Result |date=23 November 2013|accessdate=7 December 2015}} in the Ascot 1965 Chase on which he made all to win by 8 lengths. His next start was in the King George VI Chase where after staying in touch with the leader who set a good gallop he could only manage third spot behind his stablemate Silviniaco Conti.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/28/kempton/2013-12-26/589377 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2013 Kempton Result |date=26 December 2013|accessdate=7 December 2015}} In February 2014 he started 5/4 short favourite in the Denman Chase but facing a heavy going and a three miles trip he failed to get home and finished in second spot, 25 lengths behind the winner, trainer Paul Nicholls reporting: "Daryl (Jacob) said he travelled really well into the straight but then just ran out of stamina".{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/36/newbury/2014-02-08/594416 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2014 Newbury Result |date=8 February 2014|accessdate=7 December 2015}} At the 2014 Cheltenham Festival Al Ferof was dropped down in trip, going instead for the 2m5f({{convert|21|furlong|km|2|disp=out}}) Ryanair Chase and while the good ground was in his favour he still failed to make an impression, only staying on for the 5th place with the Vet reporting after the race that he had got struck into on his off fore.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/11/cheltenham/2014-03-13/592284 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2014 Cheltenham Result |date=13 March 2014|accessdate=7 December 2015}}

Al Ferof returned for his first run of the 2014/15 campaign in the same race that he won at the start of last season, the Ascot 1965 Chase, in which he met six opponents, two of them higher rated on the official handicapper scale than himself at that time. He tracked the leader throughout the race but by the last fence he took the lead and drew away clear of his opponents to win by 7 lengths.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/2/ascot/2014-11-22/613488 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2014 Ascot Result |date=22 November 2014|accessdate=9 December 2015}} The Grade 1 King George VI Chase was targeted a month later but like in the previous year his stablemate Silviniaco Conti proved better than Al Ferof, who stayed on well in the final stage of the race to take the third place.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/28/kempton/2014-12-26/612706 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2014 Kempton Result |date=26 December 2014|accessdate=9 December 2015}} In February 2015 Al Ferof was entered in the Ascot Chase but Paul Nicholls ruled him out with couple of days prior to the race and also took him out of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, explaining that "He has a partially entrapped epiglottis which requires minor corrective surgery",{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/surgery-rules-al-ferof-out-of-cheltenham-festival/1819219/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210224618/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/surgery-rules-al-ferof-out-of-cheltenham-festival/1819219/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2015 |work=Racing Post |title=Surgery rules Al Ferof out of Cheltenham |date= 9 February 2015|accessdate=9 December 2015|author =Tom Kerr}} and only returned for the Aintree and Sandown festivals at the end of National Hunt season. In the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree Al Ferof wasn't able to prove competitive and only finished in fifth place while two weeks later at Sandown he was dropped in class for the listed event Oaksey Chase where he found an opponent too good finishing only a length and a quarter in second spot at the line.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/2015-04-25/622562 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2015 Sandown Result |date=25 April 2015|accessdate=9 December 2015}}

In the next season Al Ferof was transferred to a new stable and was sent in training with Dan Skelton, the former assistant of Paul Nicholls.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/10028471/al-ferof-moves-from-paul-nicholls-to-dan-skelton |title=Al Ferof in Dan Skelton switch |date=14 October 2015|accessdate=11 December 2015|work=Sporting Life}} He reported at the start of the campaign that "Al Ferof is absolutely fine and we are just ticking away quietly with him". In early December on his first seasonal appearance he bolted up in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase after travelling the best of his rivals. At the last fence Al Ferof was three lengths in front of his main adversary Ptit Zig, who made a mistake and went down, leaving Al Ferof to finish 40 lengths clear of the nearest pursuer.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/26/huntingdon/2015-12-06/638799 |title=2015 Huntingdon Result |date=6 December 2015|publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=11 December 2015}}

Al Ferof next start was his third successive attempt in the King George VI Chase over three miles trip with Skelton declaring that "Al Ferof is in the best shape possible".{{cite web|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/dan-skelton-kempton-kempton-al-ferof-in-best-shape-possible-for-king-george/2007594/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201175117/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/dan-skelton-kempton-kempton-al-ferof-in-best-shape-possible-for-king-george/2007594/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2016 |work=Racing Post |title=Al Ferof in 'best shape possible' for King George |date=21 December 2015|accessdate=3 January 2016|author =Jack Haynes}} He travelled in the rear for the first circuit and was only asked to make progress in the last mile. He responded well to his jockey Harry Skelton and was about to make a move in the home straight when the lack of stamina, just like in his previous attempts in this race, prevented him of getting in contention with the three leaders. At the second last fence the favourite of the race Don Cossack fell and left Al Ferof to run on for the same third spot in which he completed for the last two renewals, with the Hennessy winner Smad Place a further three lengths in behind.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/28/kempton/2015-12-26/637266 |publisher=Racing Post |title=2015 Kempton Result |date=26 December 2015|accessdate=3 January 2016}}

Al Ferof was expected to compete in steeplechases again in the 2016–17 season but sustained a minor leg injury. The injury was not serious but given the horse's age, it was decided to retire him from racing. He won 11 of his 28 races and over £500,000 in prize money.{{cite web|last1=Burn|work=Racing Post|first1=James|title=Classy grey Al Ferof retired after leg injury|url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=20749024&category=0|accessdate=12 October 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013082032/http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=20749024&category=0|archivedate=13 October 2016}}

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• [http://www.jockeycolours.com/horses/Al_Ferof.html?origin=wikipedia Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart] – Al Ferof

Category:2005 racehorse births

Category:Cheltenham Festival winners

Category:Racehorses bred in France

Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom

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Category:National Hunt racehorses