Spotted: prolific hurdler takes pride of place in the home of Prince Charles

Pacify may be the most famous summer hurdles winner ever after a surprise appearance in the media spotlight alongside Prince Charles.

A framed photo of the prolific novice hurdle winner was seen on the piano behind the Prince of Wales as he opened the Nightingale Hospital at London's ExCel centre by video link from his home in Scotland.

That footage, reporting on Britain's first emergency field hospital set up to treat coronavirus, featured on news bulletins worldwide, and earned Pacify plenty of comments on social media.

Among those to react on Twitter was the horse's trainer Jamie Snowden, who said: "I didn't spot it but two of our owners took a snapshot of it and sent it across to me.

"The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles bred him together and when an owner has bred a horse that turns out to be decent it always means that little bit more to them."

Snowden was not surprised to see the photo and added: "It's like all of us. We all have pictures of horses or dogs or children in our houses and it's their family home.

"Sir Chips Keswick is a part-owner now, as opposed to Prince Charles, but the Duchess of Cornwall absolutely loves it.

"She came to see him at Kempton when he won a Listed novice hurdle and he's been a very decent novice – I don't know if there are any other horses that won five novice hurdles this season."

By royal appointment: the Duchess of Cornwall with Pacify and Gavin Sheehan after winning at Kempton in OctoberCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Pacify is on his holidays, having been rested since finishing fourth behind subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Shiskin at Huntingdon in February.

"He pulled a muscle when he slightly disappointed in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon so we turned him out and we'll have him back to go novice chasing next season," Snowden said.

"We schooled him over a fence before he ran first time over hurdles and he jumped really well."

Watch Pacify winning at Newton Abbot

In the light of the coronavirus outbreak and the shutdown of racing, Snowden has dramatically scaled back activities and said: "I feel as trainers now we need to be looking after our staff and our owners as well as our horses. When racing resumes we need owners and staff so I've completely backed off everything and turned everything out - we only rode out three horses this morning when it would normally be 50.

"We're lucky, we're on the back of a good season and we had 46 winners from our 50-box yard. But we've cut as many costs as possible to save owners' bills. We've taken advantage of the furlough scheme and cash flow is key now because under the furlough scheme you have to pay out the 80 per cent before you get it reimbursed.

"We're all going to take a hit but if we look after the people that matter to us you'd like to hope that they'll look after you when it all resumes."

More coronavirus news:

BHA suspends jump racing in Britain until July with focus on return of the Flat

Racecourse groups forced to furlough staff due to the coronavirus

Summer jumps trainers frustrated by HRI plan but Galway plans business as normal

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