Tidal Bay

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{more citations needed|date=December 2011}} {{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Tidal Bay | image_name = Flickr - Carine06 - Tidal Bay, Roalco De Farges ^ Vic Venturi (1).jpg | caption = Tidal Bay (left with noseband) racing in the [[Bet365 Gold Cup]] at [[Sandown Park Racecourse|Sandown Park]] in April 2012 | sire = [[Flemensfirth]] | dam = June's Bride | damsire = Le Moss | sex = [[Gelding]] | foaled = 12 May 2001 | country = Ireland | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | owner = [[Graham Wylie|Graham & Andrea Wylie]] | trainer = [[Howard Johnson (racehorse trainer)|Howard Johnson]] [[Paul Nicholls (horse racing)|Paul Nicholls]] | record = 36: 13-11-3 | earnings = £641,088<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/653230/tidal-bay |title=racingpost.com |publisher=Racing Post |date= |accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref> | race = [[Mersey Novices' Hurdle]] (2007) [[Arkle Challenge Trophy]] (2008) [[Maghull Novices' Chase]] (2008) [[Cleeve Hurdle]] (2010) [[Bet365 Gold Cup]] (2012) [[West Yorkshire Hurdle]] (2012) [[Lexus Chase]] (2012) | honours = | updated = 4 November 2012 }} '''Tidal Bay''' is an Irish bred [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] [[gelding]] [[Thoroughbred]] [[race horse]] foaled on 12 May 2001. He was the winner of three Grade 1 jumps races, the [[Arkle Challenge Trophy]] and the [[Maghull Novices' Chase]] in 2008 as well as the [[Savills Chase|Lexus Chase]] in 2012. Trained by initially by [[Howard Johnson (racehorse trainer)|Howard Johnson]] and subsequently by [[Paul Nicholls (horse racing)|Paul Nicholls]] and owned by [[Graham Wylie|Graham and Andrea Wylie]], he was bred by John Dorgan.

==Racing career==

===Debut=== He made his debut in a [[National Hunt flat race]] (under Michal Kohl) at [[Wetherby Racecourse|Wetherby]] on 18 March 2006, where he finished a half [[Length (horse racing)|length]] second to Scribano Eile. He was then second again by only a neck just under a month later at Aintree. In doing so he beat the decent Kicks For Free, Hennessy and Wichita Lineman.

===2006/07 season=== In his first season racing Tidal Bay was sent novice [[Hurdling (horse race)|hurdling]] winning in his first three attempts by a total of 21 lengths. He was second by only a neck to Massini's Maguire in the [[Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle|Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle]] at the [[Cheltenham Festival]] in March 2007. On that day he had future [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] winner [[Imperial Commander (horse)|Imperial Commander]] well behind him. Tidal Bay then went on to improve on that in [[Mersey Novices' Hurdle]] at [[Aintree Racecourse|Aintree]] in April 2007, where he beat Wins Now by 8 lengths under [[Paddy Brennan (jockey)|Paddy Brennan]].

===2007/08 season=== In the 2007–2008 season, Tidal Bay was to embark on a hugely successful Novice Chasing campaign. He was sent off at odds on for his first three Novice Chases, the first at Aintree where he beat the brilliant Albertas Run by a staggering 22 lengths. He comfortably won his next two starts and was made ante-post favourite for the [[Arkle Challenge Trophy]] at [[Cheltenham Racecourse|Cheltenham]]. His prep run for that race came in a Novices Chase at [[Doncaster Racecourse|Doncaster]] in February, where he was sent off a 1/4 shot, but after making a mistake at the second last he was beaten a neck by Leslingtaylor. He was sent off the 6/1 second favourite for the 2008 Arkle Challenge Trophy behind market leader Noland (7/4) and it was in this race that Tidal Bay gained the biggest success of his career to date, where he was a comfortable 13 length winner over Kruguyrova. He went on to add to this success at Aintree in April 2008, where he won the Grade 1 [[Maghull Novices' Chase]] by 6 lengths from Takeroc.

===2008/09 season=== His first race out of novice company came at Carlisle on 2 November 2008. He won comfortably, again beating Albertas Run. Next he headed to Sandown Park for the Grade 1 [[Tingle Creek Chase]]. Here he put up a valiant effort beaten only by the juggernaut that is [[Master Minded]]. He was then 2nd again on boxing day in the [[Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase]] at Wetherby this time beaten 7 lengths by Nozic. In January 2009 Tidal Bay was 3rd behind Joe Lively and [[Welsh National]] winner Halcon Genelardais in the Letherby & Christopher chase on heavy going at Cheltenham. He headed straight back to Cheltenham for the Festival finishing fourth behind [[Imperial Commander (horse)|Imperial Commander]] in the Ryanair Chase. Tidal Bay then went to Aintree for the [[Melling Chase]] but could only manage a 5th at the end of a hard season. Subsequently, he was treated for a back problem and would return early in the 2009–2010 season.

===2009/10 season=== Tidal Bay returned in October 2009 at Aintree in the [[Old Roan Chase]]. He put up a decent performance for 2nd behind Monet's Garden and in doing so beat that seasons eventual [[Grand National]] winner [[Don't Push It]]. He disappointed at Huntingdon in December when finishing 4th when sent off the 15/8 favourite for the [[Peterborough Chase]]. Questions were now being asked as to whether his back was still an issue. Tidal Bay then pulled off a shock when winning the Grade 2 [[Cleeve Hurdle]] at the Cheltenham Festival Trials meeting beating ace hurdlers Lough Derg and [[Katchit]] as well as the potentially top class chaser Time For Rupert. It was decided that he would remain over hurdles and be aimed at the [[World Hurdle]] at the Festival in March. Unfortunately Tidal Bay was unable to repeat that form finishing 7th behind [[Big Buck's]] and Time For Rupert. He faced Big Buck's again at Aintree but could only manage 4th.

===2010/11 season=== Tidal Bay's first run of the 2010/11 season was again over hurdles, at Wetherby. He finished a decent 3rd before being reverted to chasing at Haydock (Grade 1 [[Betfair Chase]]) in November. Here he pulled off an amazing performance to finish second to [[Imperial Commander (horse)|Imperial Commander]] having been virtually tailed off with a circuit still to travel. Admittedly however Imperial Commander was always in control and Tidal Bay was slightly flattered by the half length he was beaten by. Next for Tidal Bay was the Cheltenham Trials meeting where he was again second. Once again he tailed himself off before staying on strongly as [[Neptune Collonges]] faded. Tidal Bay started at around 14-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He travelled well through the first circuit, then once again he idled and found himself at one point over 80 yards behind the leaders with 4 fences remaining only to produce his incredible finish at the end of the race to go down by under 14 lengths to Long Run. His final race of the season was the John Smiths Grand National. There were high hopes for him before the race with many thinking that his Gold Cup performance made him "well in" at the weights. He unseated his rider on the first circuit – too early in the race to know if he was going to be involved at the finish.

===2011/12 season=== Tidal Bay's only win of the 2011/12 season came when beating Roalco De Farges by 15 lengths to win the [[Bet365 Gold Cup]] at [[Sandown Park Racecourse|Sandown Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/2012-04-28/548624 |work=[[Racing Post]] |title=Results from the 3.10 race at SANDOWN – 28 April 2012 |date= |accessdate=4 November 2012}}</ref>

===2012/13 season=== He started the 2012/13 season by winning the [[West Yorkshire Hurdle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/87/wetherby/2012-11-03/565318 |work=[[Racing Post]] |title=Results from the 2.50 race at WETHERBY – 3 November 2012 |date=2 June 2011 |accessdate=4 November 2012}}</ref>

In his next race, the [[Hennessy Gold Cup]], he finished 2nd to [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] winner [[Bobs Worth]] by 3 lengths despite carrying top weight.

He was then sent to Ireland to contest the [[Lexus Chase]]. He produced his trademark late surge to win the race beating First Lieutenant, Flemenstar, and Sir Des Champs in a four way go for the line.

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:2001 racehorse births]] [[Category:Cheltenham Festival winners]] [[Category:National Hunt racehorses]] [[Category:Racehorses bred in Ireland]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Thoroughbred family 2-h]]