Principal Jockeys: Andrew Lynch, Robbie Power
Notable Wins:
- Knight Frank Ganly Walters Novice Chase: Notre Pere 2007
- Anglo Irish Bank Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase: Jim 2004
- Durkan Punchestown Chase: Merry Gale 1994 + 1995
- Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup: Carvill’s Hill 1989
- Irish Grand National: Colebridge 1974, Brown Lad 1975, 1976 + 1978
- Cheltenham Gold Cup: Ten Up 1975
The Dreaper name will forever be associated with the greatest steeplechaser of them all, Arkle. ‘Himself’ was trained by Tom Dreaper, as was the second best steeplechaser of all time, Flyingbolt, with both of them amazingly being in training at the Dreaper’s Co. Dublin yard at the same time. Even with those two star performers being discounted, Dreaper was a spectacularly successful trainer, in addition to Arkle’s three wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he also saddled Prince Regent and Fort Leney to win the great race in 1946 and 1968 respectively. In total, he saddled 24 Cheltenham Festival winners, making him the most successful Irish trainer at the famous meeting. In addition to this, he also saddled no less than 10 winners of the Irish Grand National, including every renewal from 1960 to 1966.
Tom Dreaper’s son, Jim, was destined to take over from his father and since doing so, he has continued the great family tradition in National Hunt racing. He wasted no time in continuing the family’s great association with the Cheltenham Gold Cup, saddling Ten Up to win the 1975 renewal of the race. Later that season, Dreaper continued another family tradition by sending out Brown Lad to win the Irish Grand National. Remarkably, that horse would go on to win the race again in both 1976 and 1978, making him the only horse in the history of the race to win it on three occasions.
The hugely talented Carvill’s Hill was the stable’s standard bearer during the late-80’s/early 90’s. An immensely talented sort, in 20 starts for Dreaper he only met with defeat on three occasions when completing the course. His biggest win for Dreaper came in the 1989 renewal of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, a race he won by no less than 15 lengths. While the horse was transferred to the Martin Pipe stable, for who he gained a famous victory in the Welsh Grand National, it was the Dreaper’s that ‘made him’.
In the mid-90’s, many people felt that Dreaper may have uncovered the latest in a long line of National Hunt superstars to emerge from Kilsallaghan in the shape of Harcon. The winner of a bumper and two hurdle races, he really began to fulfil his potential when sent over the larger obstacles in 1994/5. He won his first four starts in that sphere, including two Grade 3’s and a Grade 2, by nine lengths, a distance, 20 lengths and 12 lengths, creating a huge impression in doing so. Those wins were enough to see him sent off at 6/4 for the Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, making him one of the Irish bankers of the meeting. However, he found Brief Gale too strong on the day, finishing nine lengths behind that rival in second. He was sent off at even money for the Heineken Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival the following month, but failed to sparkle and finishing down the field. Unfortunately, a severe tendon injury soon intervened and while Dreaper got Harcon back to the track in 1997 and again in 1998, he was a shadow of his former self and was soon retired.
Another star for the Dreaper yard who emerged around the same time was Merry Gale. He won his only start over hurdles in April 1993 and didn’t waste any time making a big impact when sent over fences the following season. He unseated on his chasing debut, but won all his remaining six starts that season, culminating in a notable success off top-weight in the Heineken Gold Cup Chase (then a handicap) at the Punchestown Festival, stamping himself as one of the top novice chasers in the country. In 1994/5, he put two defeats behind him to win the Grade 1 Durkan Punchestown Chase. He went on to finish second in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before wrapping up his season with a win in the Grade 2 Martell Cup Chase at Aintree. He gained a second consecutive win in the Durkan Punchestown Chase in 1995 and while this would prove to be his last win at the highest level, he continued to acquit himself well for many years, gaining notable wins in the 1997 Kinloch Brae Chase, the 1998 Dan Moore Handicap Chase and the 1999 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, before being retired at the conclusion of the 1999/2000 season.
In more recent seasons, the Dreaper standard bearer has unquestionably been the aptly named Jim. While he only had a win in a maiden hurdle to show for his first two seasons of action, like so many Dreaper charges, he flourished once sent over fences. He had a more than satisfactory novice chase season, winning three times in total with the highlight coming in the Grade 2 Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase at Naas. He went on to prove himself a consistent performer at Graded level, coming up just a head short of a memorable Grade 1 success in the 2005 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase and ended his career as a winner of eight races and over €200,000 in prize money.
If there is a star of the future currently housed in the Dreaper yard, it is unquestionably Notre Pere. A consistent sort in bumpers and over hurdles, he has thrived since being sent over fences this season. He improved from his chasing debut to win a beginners contest at Punchestown before improving again to win the Grade 1 Knight Frank Ganly Walters Novice Chase at the Christmas meeting at Leopardstown. Two disappointing efforts in Graded novice company with followed by a highly creditable run in the Irish Grand National a fortnight ago, finishing 16 lengths third on going that didn’t really suit him. He will be a force to contend with in that race next season provided the ground is soft and it would be no surprise to see him enhance the Dreaper’s already enviable record in the race.
April 2008
