One of the most talked about horses on RHH, 606 and Not606 over the years, Barbers Shop, has been retired with immediate effect. I’m sure I speak for the rest of the forum when I loudly wish the old boy a most happy and very, very long retirement. Throughout his career Barbers Shop was, of course, handled to perfection by Mr Henderson and in total the 10YO won 8 races and just over £143k. He achieved a career high rating of 159 and was also placed in such ‘top table’ races as the Jewsons, Paddy Power, King George VI and Hennessy. Apart from the very, very best of NH performers this is a record comparable with almost any horse over the past decade. His last term on the track saw Barbers Shop impressively win his first 2 races and in doing so prove that the fire was still burning most brightly and he may even have gone close in his final run, the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival in March, were it not for him suffering the unusual misfortune of losing a checkpiece. This obviously had a detrimental effect on the old boy and he faded pretty soon after this. He has therefore retired at the top level and exits the sport as one of the best performers of recent seasons. Again I say thanks for memories old boy and please enjoy a most happy and very, very long retirement.
Nass, old boy, you know he was still competing and winning races in 2012 following an inspired move by Mr Henderson to take Barbers Shop along the Hunter Chase route! And, who knows, perhaps he was only a faulty cheekpeice away from winning at the Festival in March.
One of a number of Grade 3 / Listed class horses who have been ruthlessly exposed by top notchers Denman & Kauto Star in recent years. Happy retirement
The following was in Saturday's Racing Post: "Former smart chaser Barber Shop proved such a hit at last month's Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle that his owner the Queen has retired him and claimed him for her own private riding stable. The ten year old was best known for finishing third to Kauto Star in the 2009 Ling George VI Chase at Kempton. Last season he won hunter chases at Fakenham and Fontwell. Barbers Shop then signed off with an honourable effort in the Cheltenham Foxhunter before leaving Nicky Henderson and taking his place at the Windsor Horse Show. Ben Pauling, assistant to Henderson, said: "Barbers Shop made quite an impression on Her Majesty, so much so that she said she would like him to have him join her private stable. He probably won't be ridden by the Queen but be kept for other members of the royal family to ride around Windsor Great Park." Sounds like the perfect retirement for any horse! May it be a long and happy one.
I say Oddy that’s a bit harsh! Thanks for that Princess. It certainly sounds as if Barbers Shop is in for a great retirement.
They should put up a plaque in his honour at Cheltenham's two furlong pole. "In honour of BARBERS SHOP, who always seemed to be going so well at this point"
One of the most overrated horses in recent memory, how this donkey went off 16/1 in a Gold Cup against Kauto and Denman il never know.* Anyways it's not the horses fault punters overrated him, so I wish him a long and happy retirement*
I heard his odds for the gold cut were trimmed. Im sure he will still go a good clip in retirement however.
