War Of Attrition is a horse that has a place in the hearts of many Irish racegoers. Having initially come to prominence when finishing second to Brave Inca in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, he went on to become one of the leading staying chasers of the decade, culminating in a memorable win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006. Injury intervened just under a year later, but War Of Attrition gained even more fans after returning to action over 18 months later, coming back to near his very best over both hurdles and fences in his two remaining seasons.
Trainer: Mouse Morris
Jockeys: Conor O’Dwyer, Davy Russell
Grade 1 Wins: Guinness Gold Cup (2006), Cheltenham Gold Cup (2006), Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase (2005)
Early Days
War Of Attrition began his career in the point-to-point field, falling with victory in sight on his only start between the flags at Horse And Jockey in March 2003. He showed plenty of promise on his first racecourse outing when second to Zum See in a maiden hurdle at Naas in November 2003. After this promising debut, he was expected to win his next start at Thurles three weeks later, but having stumbled at halfway, he finished a disappointing seventh. Less than two weeks later, he left that performance well behind when comfortably winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown.
Just before Christmas, War Of Attrition took his chance in an above-average winners contest at Navan and stamped himself as a serious novice hurdler in defeating no less than Macs Joy. While War Of Attrition disappointed on his next outing, he was subsequently found to have mucus on his lungs. His trainer wisely decided to put him away until the Cheltenham Festival and although he started at 33/1 for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was quietly fancied to run well on the better ground. Travelling well throughout, he took the lead on the run to the second last flight and in a tremendous battle with Brave Inca from before the final flight, War Of Attrition never flinched but was just touched off by a neck in an epic race. The promise of this effort was clear and he was put away after this performance to go novice chasing in the 2004/5 season.
Chasing Beckons
War Of Attrition made his seasonal and chasing debut in a beginners event at Thurles in early-November 2004 and although he only won by a head, jockey Conor O’Dwyer was at his sympathetic best and never resorted to using his whip. Unfortunately, the horse met with a slight setback after this victory and was unable to race again before taking his place in a winners contest at Naas in February 2005. On that occasion, he defeated Healys Pub by an unextended four lengths and it was no surprise to see bookmakers quoting him as favourite for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival after this effort. However, at Cheltenham, the six-year-old never really looked like winning in a race run at a very strong pace and eventually had to make do with seventh place. His trainer was not too despondent with this effort as he felt the horse had a rushed preparation for Cheltenham and he bettered that effort at Aintree the following month, finishing second to Ashley Brook. Aimed at the Grade 1 Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival three weeks later, War Of Attrition had to come from well off the pace to wear down Watson Lake close home for a length victory, rounding off an excellent first season over fences.
Longer Trips And Stiffer Competition Beckon
The following October, War Of Attrition’s connections decided to kick off his campaign against the Gold Cup hero Kicking King in the Daily Star Chase at Punchestown. That decision was fully vindicated with a professional performance which saw him defeat the hot favourite by three lengths. He then claimed the notable scalp of the high-class Rathgar Beau in the Clonmel Oil Chase, but was then found to be sick after finishing a disappointing fifth in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in early-December. Less than two weeks later, he finished runner up to Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas before being put away by his trainer in order to prepare for Cheltenham in March.
Cheltenham Glory
War Of Attrition was produced in peak form by trainer Mouse Morris as he lined up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on St Patrick’s Day and having travelled and jumped superbly throughout, Conor O’Dwyer’s mount ran out a convincing 2½ lengths winner over Hedgehunter, with Forget The Past completing a 1-2-3 for the Irish. In particular, his two excellent leaps at the final two fences will long live in the memory. After that memorable win, he sealed his position as Ireland’s best staying chaser by winning the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival, producing a terrific display to defeat Beef Or Salmon and Hi Cloy in great style.
Defeat And Injury
After such a successful 2005/6, hopes were high for another lucrative campaign in 2006/7, but it didn’t work out that way. His seasonal debut victory in the Daily Star Chase at Punchestown over Watson Lake was a fine effort and he was only narrowly defeated by Beef Or Salmon in the James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal in November. However, the heavy ground again bogged him down in his next two starts, with him chasing home In Compliance in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December before finishing a fair third to The Listener in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. Just like the previous year, connections decided to bring him to the Cheltenham Festival a fresh horse, but unfortunately it was revealed in early-March that he had sustained a leg injury which would result in him missing over 18 months of racecourse action.
Back On Track
After the better part of two years on the sidelines, War Of Attrition made his return to action in a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown in October 2008. In opposition was his old rival and fellow Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King, who himself was not long returned from an injury-enforced absence. However, it proved to be no contest, with War Of Attrition bolting up by 19 lengths. Another easy win at Thurles followed a few weeks later and the nine-year-old was set for a return to Grade 1 company in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. While he met with defeat, he acquitted himself very well in finishing a close third to Noland. He again ran well in defeat in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown later than month, finishing a well-beaten second to Exotic Dancer. He missed the Cheltenham Festival having got jarred up at home, but he was well beaten when returning to action at the Punchestown Festival.
One Last Season
War Of Attrition began the 2009/10 season with a couple of solid runs over fences, including a third-place finish to The Listener in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, but after he was well beaten in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, the decision was taken to revert to hurdling with him. He wasn’t beaten far in the woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, but better still was to come in the months that followed. Sent off a 6/1 for the Grade 2 Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle, War Of Attrition made all the running and ground out a four lengths success, prompting emotional celebrations in the winner’s enclosure. The following month, he gained another Grade 2 win in the Ladbrokes.com Boyne Hurdle at Navan, getting the better of the strongly-fancied Mourad by a very game head. The intention was to give War of Attrition his final career start in the Aintree Grand National, but Morris was very unhappy with the weight his charge was issued with and decided against that plan.
After he was well beaten in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, hopes were not high for his swansong in the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival. However, the 11-year-old had other ideas and for a few strides it looked like he might pull off a spectacular victory. As it transpired, he found just Planet Of Sound too good, but you wouldn’t have known it such was the reception War of Attrition got on his return to the parade ring. It was a fitting final start for Mouse Morris’ stable star, but it wasn’t the last time he would be seen in public by any means. The following August, War Of Attrition took part in the Racehorse To Riding Horse class at the Dublin horse show and he emerged victorious, beating off the likes of Hardy Eustace and Beef Or Salmon in the process. During his racing career, War Of Attrition won 14 of his 34 starts, winning almost €1m in prize money and securing his position as one of the most popular chasers of the decade.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011
