Rhinestone Cowboy set for return

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From RP

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/master.sd?psection=racingpost.co.uk&page=News&category=News&story_id=867268

RHINESTONE COWBOY, not seen in public since handing out a seven-length defeat to Iris’s Gift in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown in April 2004, could make a surprise return to action at Haydock next weekend.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill on Saturday revealed that the ten –year-old is back in full training at Jackdaws Castle and that he will be entered for Saturday’s 2m4f Totescoop6 Handicap Hurdle.

Speaking after his hat-trick at Cheltenham, O’Neill said: “He is back in training and there is a chance he could return to action next weekend at Haydock, as he will be entered for a handicap hurdle. “Whatever happens, he will be staying over hurdles and will not be sent over fences. Wherever we run him, he will be ridden by amateur JP Magnier."

Though never officially confirmed, it was widely believed that Rhinestone Cowboy had been retired, with O’Neill reporting last March that the Sue Magnier-owned horse had left his care and returned to the owner’s farm in Ireland.

His triumph over stablemate Iris’s Gift, himself recently retired, 955 days ago rounded off a fantastic season for Rhinestone Cowboy, which saw him win four of his six outings, including when coming out on top in a battle with Rooster Booster in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.

His last defeat – one of just four in 14 starts – came when he finished third under top-weight in the 2004 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

keepitquiet

forgot about this one. think its stupid tht they use the owners relative to ride it rather than a pro jockey!

mdwexford

indeed it is stupid but even with magnier on board the horse was still good enough to carry him to a martell hurdle and a destruction of iris's gift at punchestown. this is the horse that could get black jack ketchum at it....

if only jonjo didnt train the 2 of them

keepitquiet

mdwexford wrote:

indeed it is stupid but even with magnier on board the horse was still good enough to carry him to a martell hurdle and a destruction of iris's gift at punchestown. this is the horse that could get black jack ketchum at it....

if only jonjo didnt train the 2 of them

why would it matter that he trains the two of them? remember he ran it against iris's gift so i dont think it matters. its a bit early to speculate tho need to see if its still got class first.

mdwexford

he kept them apart at cheltenham that year though

the cowboy ran in the coral cup under top weight instead of taking on iris's gift in the stayers

keepitquiet

ar gd point missed tht one!! as jonjo says anyway we need to see if the horse can still compete at the level.

masterK

It would be a huge ask for the horse to come back and compete at the highest level. Some would say the fact that he has been kept in training would indicate he still has ability, however being owned by who he is it only cost them peanuts to keep his in training.

The jock

Barney Curley brought back his horse aqua something to win today after a 3 year layoff.Im sure Jonjoe can get Rhinestone to win a few as it hasnt had many runs in its career.