Pedigree

                                                                      Sadler's Wells
                                        Saddler's Rock
                                                                      Grecian Bride
Both Barrels
2018 chestnut gelding
                                                                      Midnight Legend
                                        Red Legend
                                                                      Haliguen Bay

The family

Both Barrels is out of the Midnight Legend mare Red Legend who ran just the once in a bumper for Zoe Davison in the 2013-14 season.

He is the 3rd foal of Red Legend following fillies by Arvico (2016) and Telescope in 2017. In 2021 she gave birth to a colt by Sans Frontieres.

The grand dam Haliguen Bay was unraced but is the half sister to Busy Henry who was placed in a couple of bumpers before winning a staying handicap hurdle for Jonjo O'Neill.

About the sire

The sturdy Saddler's Rock (bay h born 2008) was too backward as a 2 year old to race but had a fine first season on the racecourse as a 3 year old when trained by John Oxx in Ireland.

He showed useful form in winning a couple of races before stepping up to 2 miles and displaying top class staying form to win the Doncaster Cup. He was rated 125 by Timeform at the end of that season.
He raced for a further 3 seasons and whilst showing smart form he didn't really scale the heights of that first season although he did win the Goodwood Cup (Group 2), another 2 mile race, as a 4 year old.
A third place in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger of 2013 was another highlight.

Saddler's Rock was retired to stud at Beech Tree Stud in Somerset in 2015 at a fee of £1,500.
His opportunities have been limited (6 individual winners from just 11 jumps runners) and the triple winning hurdler Uggy Uggy Uggy would be just about his best to date.

Form Summary

Season 2024-25 outlook

Both Barrels is an athletic type in appearance and a really nice horse to have in our yard.
This progressive type has never been outside the first 4 in his 7 races so far. If that's not the kiss of death, I dunno what is!!

Having won his last race, Both Barrels will start 2024-25 up 4lb on a mark of OR113.
Both Barrels will be aimed at staying handicap hurdles this season, and is one we're looking forward to.

Profile....
This Saddler's Rock gelding had been in pre-training prior to being sent to us by owner Anne Marshall before the beginning of season 2021-22.

So in training here as a 3yr old, and quite a forward type but 'Sid' suffered from "growing pains" so we backed off for a couple of months and prepared for a racecourse debut in the 2022-23 season.
And that wait was worth it as he placed in all three of his bumpers, going really close in the last of these at Kelso when 3rd in the final of the Go North Jodami series.
Hurdling in season 2023-24 was an exciting time for connections, as form figures of 4321 testify. The last of these, at Kelso where he defeated Phil Kirby's 26-time winner Bushypark by a couple of lengths, was his best (and a couple of next time out winners were in the field too).

Season		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other
2022-23	NH Flat			2	1
2023-24	Hurdles	1	1	1	1
2024-25	Hurdles	1				2

Current Season Form

7 March 25 Ayr 2m 4½f handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR112 soft 10 ran (Craig Nichol) - won (by 4¼l)

Made all, quickened the pace after 4 out, not fluent 3 out and next, clear, not extended

Both Barrels confirmed the promise of his last race with a gritty performance here. Making all, and although not jumping a couple of hurdles in the home straight all that well, was never for catching. He can win again before the season is out.

14 February 25 Kelso 2m 6½f Cond'l Jockeys' Hdcp hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR112 soft 12 ran (M Dodd (5)) - 6th (beaten 9l)

Prominent on outer, in touch with leaders after 3rd, lost ground before 4 out, soon reminders and rallied, no extra from 2 out, weakened from last

A better run although without the sparkle of last season. Still, if Both Barrels continues the seasonal improvement, he shouldn't be far way next time.

2 January 25 Ayr 3m ½f handicap hurdle (Class 3 0-130) OR113 soft 10 ran (Craig Nichol) - 7th (beaten 27¼l)

Mid-division, headway tracking leaders 6th, weakened before 3 out

Both Barrels started favourite here, ran well enough to the turn into the straight for the last time but got tired.

Previous Season Form

15 April 24 Kelso 2m 6½f handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR109 soft 10 ran (Craig Nichol) - won (by 2¼l)

Mid-division, closed on inside 7th, challenged 2 out, led just before last, stayed on, ridden out

Both Barrels remains unexposed and looks as if 3 miles will suit next season. Well ridden and a fine first stable victory for Anne Marshall.

26 February 24 Ayr 2m 4½f handicap hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR109 heavy 7 ran (Craig Nichol) - 2nd (beaten 4¾l)

Tracked leaders, not always fluent and ran green in snatches, ridden approaching 3 out, upsides 2 out, not pace of winner but stayed on run-in

Both Barrels went down by just 4¾ lengths in the end but the winner (Eire Street) won this readily. However, our gelding was clear of a well strung-out field at the finish and stayed on in game fashion. Another step forward here and he remains a horse with a fair amount of potential.

14 December 23 Newcastle 2m 6f novices' hurdle (Class 4) heavy 7 ran (Craig Nichol) - 3rd (beaten 7l)

Raced in second, hampered and mistake 6th, soon recovered, lost second and mistake 2 out, weakened flat

Up in trip here, and the subject of some market support but after a mistake 2 out didn't make any impression on the winner. Still, this was an improvement from his hurdles debut so he's going the right way.

5 November 23 Carlisle 2m 4f novices' hurdle (Class 4) soft 11 ran (Craig Nichol) - 4th (beaten 10½l)

Settled in midfield, not fluent 3rd, effort to close on leaders 3 out, kept on but never quite able to challenge

A nice introduction. Both Barrels jumped well enough if a bit novicey but he kept on well up the stiff home straight into 4th, not beaten far. Some expensive types in this contest, and our lad again shaped like a stayer so no doubt will be seen to greater effect over 3 miles in time.

25 March 23 Kelso 2m NH Flat (Class 2) soft 14 ran (Craig Nichol) - 3rd (beaten 3l)

Always close up, slight lead 3f out, headed over 2f out but battled on gamely, just lost out for 2nd place near line.

Final of the Go North Jodami bumper series and Both Barrels is such a tough horse, racing with the leaders all the way. He had no chance with the comfortable winner Bertie's Ballet but was just edged out by a nose for second place by old rival Idem (3rd in his Ayr race last time). Promising stayer.

1 February 23 Ayr 2m NH Flat (Class 5) soft 11 ran (Craig Nichol) - 4th (beaten 10¼l)

Mid-division, raced freely, lost ground over 4f out, stayed on again from 2f out.

Another promising effort from Ann Marshall's gelding. He ran as if he was still needing the experience and will surely need a staying trip when sent hurdling.

29 November 22 Ayr 2m Conditional Jockeys NH Flat (Class 5) soft (good to soft places) 7 ran (L Dobb (7)) - 3rd (beaten 3l)

Held up in rear off very slow pace, good headway to chase leaders 2f out, not clear run, kept on till no extra near finish

The extremely slow pace would not have been to the liking of Both Barrels but these races principally provide racecourse education and experience so it defeats the purpose to make the running on debut. So, a fine run nonetheless but probably not the strongest of bumpers. Very promising.