Not many horses have changed hands at public auction for a six-figure sum, run in the Grand National and at the Punchestown Festival, and then line up in a point-to-point.
Don Poli has become another example of the nuances of racing following his inclusion among the list of horses entered at Wadebridge on Sunday – although Warwickshire trainer Nick Pearce says the 10-year-old is most unlikely to run, and will be entered at Alnwick and Barbury Castle the following week.
A top-class horse in his prime, Don Poli won the Gr.1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown for trainer Willie Mullins in 2015. He was subsequently moved to Gordon Elliott by owners Gigginstown House Stud, but failed to add to his winning score and was sent to Goffs UK's Aintree Sale in April (pictured above) where he was knocked down for £170,000 to Yorkshire trainer Phil Kirby on behalf of owner Darren Yates. Two days later he ran in the National but finished last of 19 runners who completed the course and was then pulled up at Punchestown.
In midsummer Yates moved his horses to Dan Skelton's yard, and when it was decided to target hunters' chases with Don Poli he came under the care of assistant trainer Pearce. He trains two horses in his spare time – Don Poli and Workbench – and has taken on the role of clerk of the course at Shelfield Park, which stages its inaugural meeting on Saturday, March 21.
Nick Pearce, Clerk of the Course at Shelfield Park and trainer of Don Poli
Of Don Poli, Pearce said: "I know people will be saying Dan trains the horse, but I ride him out at 6.30am or during the lunch break, and I haven't seen Dan at those times for weeks. As I'm speaking to you Don Poli and Workbench are being ridden out on their own under Murray Dodd and Tristan Durrell who are the two lads that will ride them in points.
"Murray had his first ride at Cottenham recently and was second on Workbench, while Tristan has ridden a winner under Rules for Dan [to add to seven successes in point-to-points]. He believes in giving lads a chance if they work hard and both Tristan and Murray deserve rides in races.
"I'm hoping Don Poli rediscovers some of his old form, but he hasn't won a race for four and a half years and shouldn't put anyone off taking him on. If all goes well we would like to run him in the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunter Chases, but he has to qualify by winning a couple of open point-to-points so we have to kick on.
"The Wadebridge entry was a bit of a whim, but in hindsight another week would do him good and I'll enter him at Barbury and Alnwick. Tom and Gina [Ellis and Andrews] went to Alnwick last year and said it was a very good course, and while it is a long way to go that is probably our first choice. We will take a look at entries before making any decisions."