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Leading jumps owner quits racing and puts Cheltenham Festival winner up for sale

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3 months ago

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Leading jumps owner quits racing and puts Cheltenham Festival winner up for sale

TOP jumps owner Chris Giles is set to sell off his squad of powerful horses and take an indefinite break from racing.

Among his 10 runners due to go to auction is Stay Away Fay, who was famously trained to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle by Paul Nicholls at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023.

Stay Away Fay gave Chris Giles a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2023Credit: PA

Giles’ decision to quit the sport will come as a huge shock to the jumps racing industry, and no doubt his old ally and 14-time champion trainer Nicholls, given the amount of success he has had over the years.

His famous pink and purple silks have been carried to victory in over 20 Grade 1 races over jumps and by some hugely popular horses.

He owned or part-owned multiple King George VI Chase winner Silviniaco Conti, former top hurdler Zarkandar and dual Tingle Creek Chase hero Greaneteen.

Stay Away Fay will go through the ring during the Goffs Doncaster Summer Sales on July 22-23 along with nine other horses.

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Among them is Regent’s Stroll, who is a perfect 2-2 and was last seen winning a valuable bumper at Newbury in March, as well as Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Rubaud.

Giles says the combination of having a young family and increased work commitments in the UK and abroad means he has less time to devote to racing and his horses – but he is hoping to return to racehorse ownership in the future.

Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said: “We would like to thank Chris for entrusting us with this top-class draft of horses.

“This is a fascinating collection of young and proven National Hunt performers, headed by the Grade 1 winner Stay Away Fay and the hugely exciting Regent’s Stroll.

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“I was at Newbury when he won the £100,000 Goffs Spring Sale Bumper, he showed he has an abundance of ability to match his good looks and he has a hugely exciting career in front of him over hurdles and fences.

“Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Rubaud is also a notable highlight in a draft which is sure to prove popular come the sale in July and the catalogue, for which entries are still open, will be available from 9 July.”

More to follow…

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