Pedigree

                                                               Slip Anchor
                                        Posidonas
                                                               Tamassos
Leith Walk
2003 chesnut mare
                                                                Mandalus
                                        Gothic Shadow
                                                                Gothic Arch

The family

To date, Leith Walk is the only progeny of the unraced Gothic Shadow to register a success on the racecourse. However, the dam has several unraced youngsters still to appear, including another couple of geldings by Posidonas.
The grand dam, Gothic Arch was a prolific winner over jumps at up to 2m 5f, and has bred 3 NH winners. The best of these was Antrim County who won 4 times in Ireland when trained by Paddy Mullins.
A closer look at the family reveals some smart performers in Corskeagh Royale, Corskeagh Shadow and Shadow Eile. They are the progeny of Ruby's Shadow, a half sister to Leith Walk by Supreme Leader. All black-type performers by Beneficial - with both Shadow Eile and Corskeagh Royal winners of Grade 2 races.

About the sire

Posidonas (bay horse, born 1992) was a tough, high class middle distance horse trained by Paul Cole. He raced a total of 27 times between 2 and 7 years winning 8 times. He was successful at Group 1 level in Italy, has 3 other Group wins to his credit, as well as numerous Group and Listed placings.

He retired to stud in 2000, but had not really made an impression when he died suddenly in 2008.
Posidonas has only sired a handful of individual winners (all over jumps), the best of which have been Rey Nacarado (half-brother to Florida Pearl), and Arumun a fairly useful handicap chaser trained by Michael Scudamore.

Form Summary

Leith Walk was acquired by his (original) owner Dave McComb as a foal in 2003 at the DBS NH sales. She was carefully nurtured by Dave at his home in Hawick where he has a stable and small pasture adjacent.

Leith Walk joined Dodlands as a 3 year old and made her debut in a Perth bumper just over a year later. She finished 4th on that occasion and also ran fourth in one of her 3 subsequent bumper races.
However, as soon as she was sent hurdling, Leith Walk embarked on a very consistent level of form over a number of years.
In the February of 2010, and she surprised us a bit by running a tremendous race, to win a competitive hurdle at Musselburgh. In doing so, she provided Callum with his first ever winner under Rules.

In the 2010-11 season, it was Leith Walk's consistency that didn't see her winning a race, yet the mare was placed 3 times in 5 handicap hurdles.
Last season, she ran a cracking race to win a 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Ayr by 25 lengths, and nearly triumphed again at Hexham in early May, being just touched off by the minimum margin. She will continue in handicap hurdles this season, is well suited by 2m 4f, jumps well and goes well fresh.

Season		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other
2007-08	NH Flat				2	1
2008-09	NH Flat					1
2008-09	hurdles				2	1
2009-10	hurdles	1		1		3
2010-11	hurdles		1	2		4
2011-12	hurdles	1		2	1	1
2012-13	hurdles		1			4

Current Season Form

21 February 13 Sedgefield : 2m 4f hdcp hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 107 good to soft 9 ran. (C Whillans (5)) - 5th

Midfield, pushed along from 5th, weakened approaching 2 out

She's trying hard in her races, but the sparkling form of recent seasons has departed our mare. Still, form is temporary, class is permanent and we're confident this fine mare will recapture her form before the season is out.

3 Jan 13 Ayr : 2m 4f hdcp hurdle (Class 3 0-135) OR 110 heavy 6 ran. (C Whillans (5)) - 5th

Held up in touch, steady headway 7th, driven and weakened before 3 out, tailed off

Not one of her better runs, and the 10yr old mare seems to have lost the consistency which has marked her race career to date. Needs a bit of respite from the handicapper.

9 Dec 12 Kelso : 2m ½f hdcp hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 110 soft. 11 ran. (C Whillans (5)) - fell last

Tracked leading group, outpaced and driven 3 out, no impression when 4th and fell last.

She ran a fine enough race, beaten when falling at the last, and probably could do with dropping a few pounds in the handicap.

20 Oct 12 Kelso : 2m ½f hdcp hurdle (Class 4 0-115) OR 110 heavy. 9 ran. (C Whillans (5)) - 6th (beaten 30l)

Disputed lead jumping well, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last.

A better run by Leith Walk than the official result may show. She was the first autumn runner from our yard, and we didn't really have any other horse by which to gauge just how far forward our string were. It's only October, after all! Anyway, Leith Walk is in fine heart.

5 May 12 Hexham : 2m ½f hdcp hurdle (Class 4 0-115) OR 110 soft. 6 ran. (C Whillans (7)) - 2nd (beaten a nose)

Tracked leaders, but always chasing, outpaced 2 out, stayed on well from flat but just failed to catch idling winner

She really wanted the ground a bit wetter to be effective over this trip even at Hexham. Callum never felt that she was travelling well - just not going the pace - but she fairly flew up that run-in. She's had a tremendous last few months.