Pedigree

                                                                Diesis
                                        Weldnaas
                                                                Bank on Love
Sam Patch
2003 chesnut gelding
                                                                Silver Season
                                         Youandi
                                                                Private Path

The family

Bred by owner-breeder Allan Gilchrist and the 3rd son of the mare Youandi to come to Donald. He is a half brother to the stable’s 7-time winner Harry Flashman. His half brother Hawaii Klass & younger half-sister Mia Matriarch are also in training at Dodlands Steading.

The dam, Youandi, is a full sister to winning hurdler Linngate who produced Linn’s Heir (a triple bumper winner for Len Lungo). Linn’s Heir has come to recent prominence as the dam of Lancashire Oaks winner Turbo Linn, Grade 2 winning hurdler Ignotus and bumper winner & winning hurdler Bishop’s Heir.

About the sire

Weldnaas (chesnut horse, born 1986) was campaigned at 2yr & 3yr by Ben Hanbury and won 2 races, one in each of these seasons.
In addition, he was third in the Group 2 Gimcrack stakes.

He was retired to stud in 1990.

Having showed precocious racing ability, it comes a no surprise that the best of his stock are shown by 2yr olds over sprint trips. He has, though, sired around a dozen individual jumps winners, with the useful chaser Argento among those winners.

Form Summary

Sam Patch is named after the American adventurer of the early 19th century, of that name (aka “The Yankee Leaper”). He sought fame and, er, fortune initially by jumping from bridges, factory walls, and ship's masts. He progressed to famous landmarks such as Niagra Falls where 10,000 gathered to watch him. He died before his 30th birthday as a result of an unsuccessful leap from the High Falls of the Genessee River near New York.

Back to our own Sam, another nice gelding from the string of breeder Allan Gilchrist.
He joined his older brothers at Dodlands in the Spring of 2007, and Sam ran well in 3 bumper races in early summer of 2008, showing a good consistent level of form, although just outside the places on each occasion.
It was much the same story when he was sent novice hurdling a year later, although he did reach the frame at Perth in April 09 when 4th to Quincy des Pictons. He missed all of season 2009-10, and then underwent a wind operation. (Paul Nicholls is very keen on these, apparently).
2011 brought much improvement in Sam Patch's form, probably down to him racing on soft ground. Sam broke his maiden in style in a handicap hurdle, by spread-eagling a field over 2m 6f at Newcastle and followed this up with another fine race when finishing a close third at Perth over 3 miles.
Over the previous couple of seasons, Sam has been competitive in handicap chases, jumping well and going close on several occasions.
Sam is clearly suited by soft ground and staying trips, and he'll be competitive again this season in these conditions.

Season		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other
2008-09	NH Flat					3
2008-09	hurdles				1	2
2009-10	hurdles					2
2010-11	hurdles	1		1	2	4
2011-12	hurdles			1		1
2011-12	chases		2		2	1
2012-13	chases		2	1	1	3
2013-14	chases		1		1	2

Current Season Form

13 March 14 Hexham : 3m 1f hdcp chase (Class 5 0-100) OR 73 soft. 10 ran. (C Whillans(5)) - fell

Held up, headway to close in on leading group 13th, ridden and lost touch 4 out, beaten when fell 2 out

With first time blinkers fitted, this looked a good opportunity, but it wasn't meant to be. Maybe it was the trip (and extended 3 miles) or that he is best with a longer spell between races,.

20 February 14 Sedgefield : 2m 4f hdcp chase (Class 5 0-100) OR 69 heavy. 7 ran. (C Whillans(5)) - 2nd

In touch, pressed winner from 3 out (normal 4 out), kept on but always just held

Sam ran his usual fine race, not lacking in effort and just failing to catch the winner. He did show signs of bleeding (from the nose), and ultimately this does hamper him.

27 January 14 Ayr : 3m 1f hdcp chase (Class 5 0-100) OR 74 heavy. 12 ran. (C Whillans(5)) - 4th

Held up in midfield, steady headway to chase leaders halfway, driven and outpaced after 4 out (usual 6 out), beaten final 2

He's not the biggest, but what a fantastic jumper Sam Patch is. The ground was probably too testing for him over 3 miles, but we're very much heartened by this performance. Should strip fitter next time!

8 May 13 Kelso : 2m 7½f sell hdcp chase (Class 5 0-95) OR 73 good. 14 ran. (E Whillans(3)) - p.u.

Not fluent in rear, struggling final circuit, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, broke blood vessel

He's not been the easiest to train over the years, but is such a lovely horse. He'll be given time to recover from this setback.