{{Short description|French racehorse}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Neptune Collonges | image = Neptunecollonges.jpg | caption = After winning the 2006 WBX.com Rehearsal Chase on Fighting Fifth Hurdle Day | sire = Dom Alco | grandsire = Dom Pasquini | dam = Castille Collonges | damsire = El Badr | sex = Gelding | foaled = {{Date of birth|2001|04|25}} | colour = Grey | country = France | breeder = Gaec Delorme Freres | owner = John Hales | trainer = Paul Nicholls | record = 36:16-4-3 | earnings = £1,313,675 | race = {{ubl|Prix Fleuret (2005)|Winter Novices' Hurdle (2005)|River Don Novices' Hurdle (2006)|Prestige Novices' Hurdle (2006)|Punchestown Gold Cup (2007, 2008)|Hennessy Gold Cup (2009)|Cotswold Chase (2011)|Grand National (2012)}} | awards = }}
'''Neptune Collonges''' (foaled on 25 April 2001) is a retired AQPS racehorse who competed in National Hunt racing. His most noted success came when winning the Grand National on 14 April 2012.
==Background== Neptune Collonges was bred in France as an AQPS (a Selle Français warmblood with predominantly Thoroughbred parents). He was sired by Dom Alco out of the mare Castille Collonges.<ref name=RP>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/633431/neptune-collonges|title=Neptune Collonges|access-date=19 February 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref> Owned by toy-maker John Hales, he was trained by Paul Nicholls at his Ditcheat yard, where he was known as Nipper and looked after by groom Clare Smith.<ref name=Sixthings>{{cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/what-you-didnt-know-about-neptune-collonges-312464|title=What you didn't know about… Neptune Collonges|date=1 May 2012|work=Horse & Hound}}</ref><ref name=Hales>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/grand-national-winner-neptune-collonges-leads-the-way-as-top-racing-figures-celebrate-the-life-of-john-hales-aICB11l56sQO/|title=Grand National winner Neptune Collonges leads the way as top racing figures celebrate the life of John Hales|date=18 February 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref> He was ridden in eleven of his thirty-six starts by Ruby Walsh.<ref name=RP/>
==Racing career== Neptune Collonges started racing as a three-year-old in France in December 2004, winning the Prix Raymond de Bouglon.<ref name=RP/> Having been bought by Nicholls for Hales, he first raced in England in November 2005, easily winning a novice hurdle at Cheltenham. His first win in a graded race came in December 2005 when Barry Geraghty rode him to victory in the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park.<ref name=RP/> His first win in a Grade 1 race came in March 2007 when, ridden by Walsh, he won the Punchestown Gold Cup in Ireland, holding off Kingscliff by 3½ lengths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/6593059.stm|title= Neptune triumphs at Punchestown|date=25 April 2007|work=BBC}}</ref> He successfully defended his title in the race the following year, defeating Snowy Morning by seven lengths.<ref name=RP/> In December 2008, he was leading in the field in the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December 2008 when he fell at the second-last.<ref name=RP/> Six weeks later he secured his third Grade 1 victory when he won Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, providing Walsh with his first win in the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/4633111/Paul-Nicholls-strikes-gold-with-Neptune-Collonges.html|title=Paul Nicholls strikes gold with Neptune Collonges|date=15 February 2009|work=The Telegraph}}</ref>
Neptune Collanges ran four times without success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. In 2007 he came eighth behind stablemate Kauto Star; in 2008 he came third behind stablemate Denman; in 2009 he came fourth behind Kauto Star; in 2011 he was eighth behind Long Run.<ref name=RP/> After the 2009 race, he was found to have injured a tendon and did not race at all during the following season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/7950682.stm|title=njured Neptune out for 12 months|date=18 March 2009|work=BBC}}</ref>
At the time of his injury, Neptune Collonges had amassed 14 wins from 26 starts, with two second and three third places, while accumulating £685,279 in earnings.<ref name=RP/> He returned to racing in November 2010 and in January 2011 won the Argento Chase at the Cheltenham Festival trials.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/9379050.stm |title=Neptune Collonges wins Argento Chase at Cheltenham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 January 2011 |work=BBC}}</ref>
===2012 Grand National=== Ridden by Daryl Jacob and starting at 33/1, Neptune Collonges won the 2012 Grand National on 14 April 2012, beating Sunnyhillboy by a nose in the closest-ever finish to the race. He was the first grey to win the National since Nicolaus Silver in 1961, and only the third grey to win the race (in addition to Nicolaus Silver, The Lamb won the race in 1868 and 1871).<ref name=Sixthings/> It was his only start in the race.<ref name=RP/> His trainer said: "He's probably the best horse we've run in the race. He's got great form, he's been placed in Gold Cups, he stays, he's genuine and Daryl gave him a fantastic ride when you analyse where he went. It's absolutely brilliant." After the race, his owner said he would be retired immediately: "He'll never race again, that's it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/7672858/neptune-collonges-wins-national|title=Neptune Collonges wins National |date=15 April 2012|work=Sky Sports}}</ref>
==Retirement== thumb|At a dressage event in 2013 After his retirement from racing in April 2012, Neptune Collonges moved to his owner's stables near Shifnal in Shropshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-17804115|title=Grand National winner Neptune Collonges retires|date=22 April 2012|work=BBC}}</ref> He was retrained for dressage and competed for John Hales' daughter Lisa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/neptune-collonges-trots-into-alder-hey-childrens-hospital-316449|title=Neptune Collonges trots into Alder Hey Children's Hospital|date=5 April 2013|work=Horse & Hound}}</ref> He also makes appearances for charity, including annual visits to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/neptune-collonges-alder-hey-childrens-hospital-visit-grand-national-821909|title=Gentle grey Grand National hero brightens sick children's days with annual hospital visit|date=14 April 2023|work=Horse & Hound}}</ref>
When John Hales died in 2025, Neptune Collanges led the funeral procession from the church.<ref name=Hales/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:2001 racehorse births Category:Non-Thoroughbred racehorses Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Category:Grand National winners Category:Racehorses bred in France