'A wonderful little horse' - Unowhatimeanharry retired aged 13

Former jockey Noel Fehily paid tribute to "wonderful little horse" Unowhatimeanharry after his retirement was announced on Friday.

The 13-year-old landed four Grade 1s during his 43-race career for trainer Harry Fry, including the 2016 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Fry confirmed the veteran, who ran at Punchestown in April, would not return to the racecourse after failing to show his usual spark.

"I was delighted to see he's retired in one piece," said Fehily. "He was a wonderful little horse with a heart of gold. He was a maiden over hurdles when he joined Harry. It was unbelievable what he did in his first season, progressing all the way to winning the Albert Bartlett.

"My favourite memory was winning the 2017 Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown with him when he beat Nichols Canyon. That was a great performance and I enjoyed that one, it was a brilliant day.

"He beat some good horses and probably wasn't quite right in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, where Nichols Canyon won, but he bounced back at Punchestown and managed to turn the tables."

Golden moment: Noel Fehily looks pleased as punch with the trophy following his victory on Unowhatimeanharry in the Champion Stayers HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Revealing the news on his website on Friday evening, Fry said: "He's been a marvellous flagship for the yard over the past six years, and a horse of a lifetime. Since he returned to training this autumn there have been little signs that the years are finally catching up with him. In a way he was telling us it was time for him to take life easy.

"You always have to put the horse first and Frank Berry, racing manager to his owner JP McManus, and I felt it was the right decision to pull stumps now. Unowhatimeanharry has more than earned a long and happy retirement with us and will be in good company with Rock On Ruby and other old soldiers in our care. He was a deservedly popular horse, a pleasure to train and a marvel in every way.”

Having started his career with Helen Nelmes, Unowhatimeanharry was switched to Fry’s yard as a seven-year-old to run in the colours of his racing club. After winning just once in 13 starts for Nelmes, on his debut in a Fontwell bumper, the gelding went on a memorable run of five wins from his first five starts for Fry in the 2015-16 season.

Three of those five wins came at Cheltenham culminating in festival success in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle under Fehily. He was then bought by JP McManus and recorded more Grade 1 success in his green and gold silks in the 2016 Long Walk Hurdle and in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in 2017 and 2019.

Unowhatimeanharry won 14 of his 43 starts and was placed in a further 13 contests, earning £678,890 in win and place prize-money.

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