John Barbour

John Barbour is a striking gelding in training with Fergal O’Brien, who has already shown a high level of ability and consistency under Rules. He was identified by Highflyer Bloodstock at the Goffs UK Spring Sale and secured on behalf of Old Gold Racing as a horse with both the physical presence and pedigree to develop into a smart National Hunt performer.

A strong, well-made individual who moves well, John Barbour looked the part from the outset and quickly began to show his ability on the racecourse. He shaped with considerable promise on his bumper debut at Huntingdon, finishing third despite suffering significant interference at a crucial stage. Having travelled strongly into the race, he was forced wide before staying on late once the penny dropped, suggesting he was much better than the bare result.

He confirmed that promise when winning his bumper at Uttoxeter in good fashion, before following up with a solid placed effort under a penalty in a race that worked out well.

Sent over hurdles, he made an immediate impact, finishing second at Ludlow before building on that effort with an impressive seven-length victory at Newbury. He continued his progression when finishing runner-up at Southwell in stronger company, shaping particularly well against a rival rated 15lb his superior.

After a long and productive campaign, the season appeared to catch up with him at Sandown, but he returned the following term in good form. Following a respectable reappearance, he returned to Uttoxeter, where he has an excellent record, to win impressively. He backed that up with a strong second at Leicester, conceding significant weight to the winner, before making it three wins from three starts at Uttoxeter with another straightforward success.

He stepped up in class at Ascot next time and ran a fine race to finish second, beaten only a neck, further confirming his consistency at a higher level. A rare below-par effort followed at his beloved Uttoxeter, where he was pulled up after not looking entirely comfortable, but he quickly put that behind him.

Given time to regroup, he returned to form with an impressive victory in a Class 3 Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton, produced late to finish strongly and assert in the closing stages.

John Barbour is by the outstanding Yeats, a four-time Gold Cup winner at Royal Ascot and a multiple Champion National Hunt sire, responsible for top-class performers such as Flooring Porter, Chantry House and Noble Yeats. His dam, Lindeman, was a dual winner and has already produced high-class performers, including Grade 1 winner Bossman Jack and Grade 2 winner Gidleigh Park.

He has proven himself to be a consistent and likeable performer, finishing outside the first four only twice in fourteen starts. With his size, scope and attitude, he looks an ideal candidate for chasing, and the plan is for him to school over fences before a summer break ahead of a novice chasing campaign next season.

Fergal was born in Ireland and made the move to England in 1989 to complete a course at the British Racing School before going to work for Captain Tim Forster. He then made the move to Nigel Twiston-Davies, where he stayed for 19 years and finished as Assistant Trainer.

Fergal started training in 2011, following a brief spell as a successful Point-to-Point trainer. He moved to the state-of-the-art Ravenswell Farm (ner Cheltenham) in 2019 and has since had multiple Graded successes with the likes of Poetic Rhythm scoring in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle.