| More Of That[1] | |
|---|---|
 More of That at Haydock Park in November 2013. | |
| Sire | Beneficial |
| Grandsire | Top Ville |
| Dam | Guigone |
| Damsire | Esprit du Nord |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 22 February 2008 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Eleanor Hadden |
| Owner | J. P. McManus |
| Trainer | Jonjo O'Neill |
| Record | 14:7-0-3 8:2-0-2 (Chases) 6:5-0-1 (Hurdles) |
| Earnings | £277,321 |
| Major wins | |
| Relkeel Hurdle (2013) World Hurdle (2014) | |
More Of That (foaled- 22 February 2008) is an Irish-bred, British-trainedThoroughbredracehorse, who competes inNational Hunt racing. After winning his only race as anovice he won twohandicaps and the Grade IIRelkeel Hurdle before taking the Grade IWorld Hurdle at the 2014Cheltenham Festival.
More Of That is a baygelding with a whitestar bred in Ireland by theCounty Wicklow-based Eleanor Hadden. He was sired by Beneficial (1990–2013), a British horse who won theDee Stakes and theKing Edward VII Stakes in 1993 and theScottish Classic in the following year before becoming a successful National Hunt stallion. Apart from More of That, his best winners include Realt Dubh (Powers Gold Cup), Benefficient (Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase) and Cooldine (RSA Chase).[2] His dam, Guigone is a French-bred mare who has produced several other winners.[3]
In November 2008, More Of That was sent as a foal to theTattersalls Ireland National Hunt sale, where he was bought for €28,000 by the bloodstock agent John O'Byrne on behalf ofJ. P. McManus.[4] The horse was sent into training withJonjo O'Neill at Jackdaw Castle inGloucestershire.
More Of That made his racecourse debut in amaidenhurdle race atFolkestone Racecourse on 4 December 2012. Ridden by Richie McLernon he started a20/1 outsider in a seven-runner field. He took the lead at the last hurdle despite a jumping error and won "very easily" by two and three quarterlengths from the 8/11 favourite Utopian, with a gap of twenty-two lengths back to the third-placed horse.[5]
After a break of eleven months, More Of That returned in a two and a half milehandicap hurdle atWetherby on 2 November 2013, in which he started 3/1 favourite despite carrying top weight of 165pounds. Ridden byA. P. McCoy, he jumped the last hurdle in second place before staying on to take the lead in the closing stages and won by a length from Twelve Roses.[6] Three weeks later, with McCoy again in the saddle, the gelding was carried 156 pounds in a more valuable handicap atHaydock Park Racecourse. He looked outpaced in the straight and was in sixth place jumping the last, but produced a strong finish to win by two lengths from theBarry Geraghty-ridden Blue Fashion.[7] On 14 December, More of That was moved up in class for the Grade II Relkeel Hurdle over two and a half miles atCheltenham Racecourse and started 11/4 second favorite in a field which included the Grade I-winning Irish mare Glens Melody and the French champion Gemix, winner of theGrande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. McCoy made his challenge at the last hurdle and More of That took the lead on the run-in to win by two and a quarter lengths from thePaul Nicholls-trained Salubrious.[8]
At Cheltenham on 13 March, More Of That started at odds of 15/2 for the Grade I World Hurdle over a distance of three miles. He was ridden by Geraghty as McCoy had opted to ride the other McManus runner At Fishers Cross. The betting was headed by the mareAnnie Power, unbeaten at that time in ten races andBig Buck's who had won the race on four previous occasions, while the other contenders included the Grade I winnersZarkandar,Celestial Halo andReve de Siola. Geraghty held the gelding up in the early stages before moving up to dispute the lead approaching the final hurdle. More Of That got the better of Annie Power on the run-in and won by one and a half lengths, with At Fishers Cross five lengths back in third.[9] After the race Geraghty said: "He still is a little bit innocent but he's got an engine. I always felt I had the finish".[10] Jonjo O'Neill commented "We were very pleased with the horse and he was in great old form. Jumping the last, I thought he would keep galloping. I had a little doubt in my mind that Annie Power might not quite get home but she gave us a fair fright".[11]
On his first and only appearance in the 2014/2015 season, More Of That started the 4/7 favourite against five opponents in theLong Distance Hurdle atNewbury Racecourse. After tracking the leaders for most of the way, he began to struggle approaching the final hurdle and faded in the closing stages, sustaining his first defeat as he finished third behind Medinas andCole Harden. The gelding underwent an operation to correct breathing problems butbled after an exercise gallop in February and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season.[12]
Almost a year later on 13 November 2015, More Of That debuted in his firstChase race of class 2 against a field of 6 other novice chasers. He traveled and jumped well mid-pack and made his move in the home straight to win easily by 2½ lengths.[13] He had one further outing before the Cheltenham festival and that was Raymond Mould Memorial Novices' Chase on 12 December in which he was again victorious. In the 2016RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he placed third to Blaklion despite havingburst a blood vessel.[14]
In the following season More Of That was campaigned against more experienced steeplechasers and began his season in theBetVictor Gold Cup on 12 November when he was pulled-up on the run-in. He produced an improved effort on 4 December, finishing third to Josses Hill and Tea For Two in thePeterborough Chase. In his next two races he contested Grade I chases in Ireland, finishing sixth in theLexus Chase and then unseating his rider in theIrish Gold Cup. On 17 March 2017 More Of That made his third appearance at the Cheltenham Festival when he started at odds of 14/1 for theCheltenham Gold Cup. He never looked likely to win but stayed on in the closing stages and came home sixth of the ten finishers behindSizing John.
| Sire Beneficial (GB) 1990 | Top Ville (IRE) 1976 | High Top | Derring-Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camenae | |||
| Sega Ville | Charlottesville | ||
| La Sega | |||
| Youthful (FR) 1980 | Green Dancer | Nijinsky | |
| Green Valley | |||
| First Bloom | Primera | ||
| Flower Dance | |||
| Dam Guigone (FR) 1990 | Esprit du Nord (USA) 1980 | Lyphard | Northern Dancer |
| Goofed | |||
| Rajput Princess | Prince Taj | ||
| Royal Arrival | |||
| Stena (IRE) 1979 | Ashmore | Luthier | |
| Almyre | |||
| Madonna | White Label | ||
| Azalea (Family 20-a) |