Kim Bailey’s Nationwide Hunt star and Grade One winner First Movement has been retired after a profitable profession, notching 12 victories from 28 runs, and profitable £307,409.

All his profitable performances got here beneath jockey David Bass, who struck up a fantastic partnership with the gelding owned by Terry Solomons, a long-standing proprietor of Mr Bailey’s. The 12-year-old was final seen profitable the Godstone Handicap Chase at Lingfield through the Winter Million assembly in January, carrying prime weight to victory by a size and 1 / 4 over Saint Segal.

“What a star he’s,” mentioned Mr Bailey. “There might be few others as powerful and satisfying to coach as First Movement. Thanks for being the horse that I simply cherished.”

First Movement was initially purchased by Irish occasion rider Karrie Fanshawe as a retailer [unbroken three-year-old] for €4,500 on the Tattersalls Derby Gross sales in Eire.

“Karrie broke him in and after a yr she rang me and requested me to come back and watch him work,” Mr Bailey mentioned. “David Bass rode him, and after watching him strut his stuff on that bitterly chilly snowy day, we sat down and did a deal.

“Tony Solomons was on the lookout for a horse to interchange Harry Topper, and First Movement fitted his finances and therefore the beginning of an exquisite partnership.”

It was effectively documented that leaping didn’t come naturally for First Movement; Laura Collett and fellow eventers Lucy Jackson and Ginny Thompson all frolicked education the gelding to assist him with this.

“The top product was that he jumped okay on the racecourse, even when at occasions we puzzled what he and David Bass had been doing,” mentioned Mr Bailey. “However they constructed a complete understanding on bravery, primarily based on belief and stupidity, which was to set them as much as tackle the massive boys in Graded races.

“First Movement was all the time higher right-handed, however we tried the Champion Chase at Cheltenham [in 2021] and contemplating David almost pulled him up as a result of he couldn’t steer him around the bends, he nonetheless most likely ran his finest race ever by ending sixth, overwhelmed six lengths behind Put The Kettle On.”

First Movement’s profession highlights embody profitable the Clarence Home Chase at Ascot in 2021 and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, additionally in 2021.

“Sadly his proprietor Tony Solomons isn’t in one of the best of well being so his colors, like his horse might be retired,” defined Mr Bailey. “Great reminiscences of each Tony’s enjoyment with all his horses and albeit, I actually don’t consider I’ve ever educated a horse who confirmed such ardour and guts as First Movement.”

Mr Bailey mentioned {that a} “very appropriate residence” might be discovered for First Movement.

“That might be troublesome as I’m detest to say goodbye to him.”

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H&H options, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an skilled journalist, having been a part of the H&H staff since 2014, who’s captivated with all equestrian sports activities, together with racing and point-to-pointing. She has loved driving out for prime trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took half in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting skills have taken her to quite a few five-star occasions round Britain and Europe, in addition to European championships.