# Hedgehunter > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hedgehunter > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hedgehunter.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehunter > Source revision: 1351033272 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse For the television episode named for the racehorse, see [Hedgehunter (Pennyworth)](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hedgehunter_(Pennyworth)&action=edit&redlink=1). Hedgehunter Sire Montelimar Grandsire Alleged Dam Aberedw Damsire Caerwent Sex Gelding Foaled 25 January 1996 Country Ireland Colour Bay Breeder Mary Lang & J. Anthony Keough Owner Trevor Hemmings Trainer Willie Mullins Record 40: 5-15-2 Earnings £784,593[1] Major wins Thyestes Chase (2004) Bobbyjo Chase (2005) Grand National (2005) **Hedgehunter** (born 25 January 1996) is an [Irish](/source/Ireland) [race horse](/source/Race_horse), who won the [2005 Grand National](/source/2005_Grand_National) steeplechase, ridden by [Ruby Walsh](/source/Ruby_Walsh) and trained by [Willie Mullins](/source/Willie_Mullins). He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to [Numbersixvalverde](/source/Numbersixvalverde). He also finished second in the 2006 [Cheltenham Gold Cup](/source/Cheltenham_Gold_Cup) to [War of Attrition](/source/War_Of_Attrition_(horse)). The horse was owned by [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire) billionaire [Trevor Hemmings](/source/Trevor_Hemmings) who also owned [Blackpool Tower](/source/Blackpool_Tower). ## Racing career ### Early career Hedgehunter was foaled in January 1996 on the Tully Hill Stud in [Dublin](/source/Dublin). He was bred by Mary Lang and her uncle, Tony Keogh. He was sold ten months later on 5 November for £3,200 at National Hunt Sales in Tattersalls Fairyhouse Ireland. Niall F Quaid bought him and put him into training with Willie Mullins. In his first season, he ran in and finished second in four National Hunt Flat Races. It wasn't until the end of the following season he managed to win a sixteen-runner Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel. ### Chase career The next season, he went [Novice](/source/Novice_(racehorse)) chasing winning the Grand National Trial at [Punchestown](/source/Punchestown) Gowran Park and ran at the 2003 [Cheltenham Festival](/source/Cheltenham_Festival) in the National Hunt Chase. He moved to dispute the lead before making a mistake at the second last fence and almost losing his jockey. He made one more racecourse appearance that season finishing second to the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase winner Rule Supreme at the Punchestown Festival. He began the 2004–2005 season chasing home the classy Strong Flow to finish fourth in the [Hennessy Gold Cup](/source/Hennessy_Gold_Cup) at [Newbury Racecourse](/source/Newbury_Racecourse). Next he finished third to the [Grand National](/source/Grand_National) winner [Bindaree](/source/Bindaree) in the [Welsh National](/source/Welsh_National), before winning the prestigious Thyestes chase at [Gowran Park](/source/Gowran_Park). ### 2004 Grand National His first run in the [Grand National](/source/Grand_National) was in 2004. He led the field as they turned for home before tiring and falling at the last when in third, unlucky not to finish close behind the winner [Amberleigh House](/source/Amberleigh_House). ### 2005 Grand National The race began at a furious pace and despite making a slight mistake at the tenth fence and [Ruby Walsh](/source/Ruby_Walsh) almost losing his irons Hedgehunter was chasing the well fancied Clan Royal. As the field approached [Becher's Brook](/source/Becher's_Brook) a loose horse swerved in front of the leader, and stopping him from jumping the fence. This left Hedgehunter in the lead 8 fences from the finish and he led the field over the last fence. He was travelling very well up the run in when Walsh asked him to quicken and he put a dozen lengths between himself and the second horse. ### 2006 Grand National Starting 5/1 joint favourite for the 2006 National, Hedgehunter carried top weight of 11 stone 12 (166 lb, 75 kg) and came off of a hard race a few weeks earlier when he finished second in the [Cheltenham Gold Cup](/source/Cheltenham_Gold_Cup). He finished six lengths second behind [Numbersixvalverde](/source/Numbersixvalverde). Few horses have been so close in three consecutive Grand Nationals since [Red Rum](/source/Red_Rum). ### 2007 Grand National Starting with odds of 14-1 and again carrying top weight, finished in 9th place. ### 2008 Grand National Starting with odds of 20–1, he'd finish [13th](/source/2008_Grand_National) of 15 finishers, again with top-weight. ## Retirement On 10 April 2008, at 12 years old, Hedgehunter was retired by his owner, having amassed three quarters of a million pounds in prize money.[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Hedgehunter"](https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/540426/hedgehunter). Racing Post. Retrieved 19 October 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hedgehunter retired after running final race at Aintree, 10 April 2008"](http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/horse-racing/hedgehunter-retired-after-running-final-race-at-aintree-1343327.html). Independent.ie. Retrieved 19 October 2012. ## External links - [The Story of the 2005 Grand National](http://www.grand-national-world.co.uk/gnw/the_race/1988_to_date/2005gnat/2005gnreviewofday1.html) - [A Hedgehunter's Fans Site](https://web.archive.org/web/20070304050104/http://www.rlwebsite.com/hedgehunter/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hedgehunter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehunter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehunter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.