'He's been a true hero': 14-year-old Loose Chips forced to miss final outing

Charlie Longsdon on Thursday described the £10,000 he paid for Loose Chips as a once-raced pointer in May 2011 as money well spent following the 14-year-old's slightly premature retirement, which has come partly due to coronavirus.

Longsdon, who bought the son of Sir Harry Lewis with bloodstock agent Tessa Greatrex, wife of trainer Warren, had planned to give Loose Chips his farewell appearance at Newbury on Saturday, but the lockdown of British racing following the outbreak of coronavirus means that is not possible.

Successful in 11 of his 62 starts, Loose Chips won £180,489 in prize-money.

Asked what appealed when he first saw the now-veteran chaser, Longsdon joked: "We could afford him!

"The syndicate had a very small budget and when we went to see him he was running around his stable at 100mph. He's been a chronic box-walker all of his life. We thought he might slip through the net and he fitted the budget.

"He's never taken a lame step in his nine years in training and we couldn't have envisaged the career he's had. The reason he's lasted so long is because he's a massive character; horses still going at 14 have their quirks, but it helps keep them going. He's been a true hero, a warrior."

Loose Chips, who raced for the Barrels Of Courage partnership, will spend his retirement leading younger horses at Claire Hart's operation in Gloucestershire, where he summered.

"He's been quite a character and hell of a servant," Longsdon added.

"He recorded two Boxing Day wins at Kempton, while his wins at Sandown were special too.

"He ended up running a lot at Sandown and loved it there. He was a hard-running front-runner who was a great fun horse.

Loose Chips with Charlie Longsdon and the Barrels Of Courage after winning at Ascot in April 2017Credit: Steven Cargill

"He was popular too, and we always had emails when he ran. It was the same with Pete The Feat, whom we had here as well. The hardcore racing fans do get attached to those old warriors, and it was nice to get those emails.

"He's spent all of his summers with Claire and will have a fantastic - and busy - retirement, which is what he needs."

Loose Chips in numbers

62 starts
11 wins
9 seconds
8 thirds
£180,489 prize-money won
18 starts at Sandown
145 best Racing Post Rating

Based in Oxfordshire, Longsdon has been training since 2006 and, like many of his counterparts, is anxiously awaiting developments on the coronavirus front following the BHA's announcement on Tuesday the sport would be suspended until the end of April.

He said: "It's tough and is going to be very tough. I've spoken to some owners and, quite naturally, most want their horses turned out, but we're not going to be the only ones in difficult times - they are as well.

"We've got to act accordingly and do nothing rash, but be sensible. A lot of yards will have a tough two months and we'll all be seeking advice from one another and the NTF [National Trainers Federation], who are doing their hardest to keep everyone abreast of what we should be and can be doing. It's a worrying time, health-wise for the country and for small businesses like us."

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