{{Short description|Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1992–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Looks Like Trouble | image_name = [[File:Owner Michael Worcester.svg|120px]][[File:Owner T Collins.svg|120px]] | caption = Racing silks of Michael & Gerry Worcester<br /> and Tim Collins | sire = Zaffaran | grandsire = [[Assert (horse)|Assert]] | dam = Lavengaddy | damsire = Balgaddy | sex = [[Gelding]] | foaled = {{birth date|1992|05|07|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|04|10|1992|05|07|df=y}} | country = [[Ireland]] | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | breeder = Stephen Reel | owner = Michael & Gerry Worcester<br />Universal Conference & Incentive Travel<br />Tim Collins | trainer = [[Noel Chance]] | record = 18: 8-2-2 | earnings = £336,017<ref name=Profile>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/472042/looks-like-trouble|title=Looks Like Trouble|access-date=12 April 2025|publisher=Racing Post}}</ref> | race = [[RSA Chase]] (1999)<br /> [[Cotswold Chase|Pillar Chase]] (2000)<br /> [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] (2000)<br />[[JNwine.com Champion Chase|James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase]] (2000) | honours = | updated = 12 April 2025 }}
'''Looks Like Trouble''' (7 May 1992 – 10 April 2025) was an Irish-bred British-trained [[Thoroughbred]] racehorse. A specialised [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechaser]], he was trained by [[Noel Chance]]. He raced between February 1997 and June 2003 and won eight of his eighteen races, including the 2000 [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]].
After finishing second in a [[Point-to-point (steeplechase)|point-to-point]] in Ireland, Looks Like Trouble joined the stables of trainer Noel Chance in [[Upper Lambourn]]. His first season in Britain (1997/1998) saw him race three times in novice [[Hurdling (horse race)|hurdle races]], coming fifth, second and third. The following season (1998/1999) he competed in novice chases and secured three victories, including the [[RSA Chase]] at the 1999 [[Cheltenham Festival]], in which he was ridden by [[Paul Carberry]].<ref name=Profile/>
Looks Like Trouble started the 1999/2000 season with third place in the [[Charlie Hall Chase]], ridden for the first time by [[Norman Williamson]]. The pair went on to win a race at [[Sandown Park Racecourse|Sandown]] by a distance before pulling up in the [[King George VI Chase]] at [[Kempton Park Racecourse|Kempton Park]]. In January 2000 they won the [[Cotswold Chase|Pillar Chase]] on Festival Trials Day by a distance.<ref name=Profile/> Before the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Looks Like Trouble's owner fell out with Williamson and the ride was given to [[Richard Johnson (jockey)|Richard Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/features/looks-like-trouble-when-he-started-to-deliver-he-was-damn-near-invincible-aGZUK2z1RcE9/|title=Looks Like Trouble: 'When he started to deliver he was damn-near invincible'|date=25 January 2022|publisher=Racing Post}}</ref> Starting at 9/2 joint second favourite, Looks Like Trouble won by five lengths in spite of a blunder at the tenth fence. In second place was the other joint second favourite [[Florida Pearl]], while the favourite, previous year's Gold Cup winner [[See More Business]], was fourth.<ref name=Profile/>
Looks Like Trouble raced only once in the 2000/2001 season, winning the [[JNwine.com Champion Chase|James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase]] under Johnson at [[Down Royal Racecourse|Down Royal]] in November 2000. He did not race again for over a year due to a tendon injury.<ref name=Profile/><ref name=Guardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/mar/16/horseracing|title=Looks Like Trouble retired after injury|date=16 March 2002|work=The Guardian}}</ref> On his return to the racecourse in January 2002, he won the [[John Bull Chase]] at [[Wincanton Racecourse|Wincanton]] under Seamus Durack.<ref name=Profile/> He was then reunited with Johnson for the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he trailed in last of the thirteen finishers. After the race, he was found to have a recurrence of his tendon injury and his trainer announced his retirement.<ref name=Guardian/> He came out of retirement in June 2003 to win a charity race with Brendan Powell at [[Newbury Racecourse|Newbury]]. He was then entered in the [[Queen Alexandra Stakes]] at the 2003 [[Royal Ascot]] meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2003/0612/173271-chancen/|title=Trouble set for Ascot race|date=12 June 2003|publisher=RTÉ}}</ref> It was his only appearance on the flat. Ridden by [[Richard Hughes (jockey)|Richard Hughes]], he finished ninth of the 13 runners, being virtually pulled up in the final furlong.<ref name=Profile/> After the race he was retired for good and lived with Richard Johnson and his family until his death on 10 April 2025, at the age of 33.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Birch |first1=Richard |title=Noel Chance and Richard Johnson pay tribute to Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble after death at age of 33 |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/noel-chance-and-richard-johnson-pay-tribute-to-gold-cup-winner-looks-like-trouble-after-death-at-age-of-33-aUp307r0Ta3Q/ |publisher=Racing Post |date=12 April 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Cheltenham Gold Cup winners}}
[[Category:1992 racehorse births]] [[Category:2025 racehorse deaths]] [[Category:Cheltenham Gold Cup winners]] [[Category:Cheltenham Festival winners]] [[Category:National Hunt racehorses]] [[Category:Thoroughbred family 10-d]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland]]