Blue Hussar will return at Ripon on Thursday in the 2.50.pm, over two miles, with P J McDonald who won on him in 2017 at York, taking the ride. Blue Hussar was in top form over jumps when last seen at Market Rasen back in February, when unfortunately striking in to himself, and having to have an enforced break.He also won at Market Rasen in January, from a very handy mark of 109. Unfortunately the flat handicapper has not been as generous, and Blue Hussar must still race off 77 as a nine year old. He normally runs well after a break, without hitting top form,and last winter's efforts show there are still more races to be won with him.
Good luck to the connections, Richard Howard & Ben Howard.
BLUE HUSSAR 26 February 2011 Montjeu-Metaphor Owner-Richard Howard & Ben Howard.
Blue Hussar started out life being trained in Ireland by Aiden O'Brien. He was a late developing two year old, and didn't make his racecourse debut until November at Leopardstown, where he made no mistake, winning first time out over seven furlongs. He returned at three in the Lingfield Derby Trial in May, over the extended one mile, and three furlongs, finishing forth, but doing all his best work late on. He was then sent for a Group 3 at the Curragh, but the drop back to one mile, and two furlongs, proved to be on the sharp side.He would have four more runs for Aiden O'Brien, all over longer distances, including two handicaps from a mark of 105. Unfortunately for Blue Hussar, he fell in to that category of a horse who is not quite good enough to win a Group 3 race,but is also two high in the handicap, to win one of those as well.
Blue Hussar was purchased by Micky at the Newmarket horses in training sale in the Autumn of 2014, and given a break before making his yard debut at Ripon the following May.A mark of 104 was always going to prove tough, but by September the handicapper had relented enough,and back at Ripon over one mile, and four furlongs, from a mark of 82, he stayed on strongly under jockey Steve Drowne, to win by two lengths.He didn't win again that season, but remained competitive off marks in the high 80's.
His attentions were next turned to the winter game, and after pulling up at Market Rasen on his hurdles debut, he went to Doncaster for a novice hurdle, and finished a very encouraging second. This was followed by two quick wins at Wetherby, and Kelso, where he went off at 1/1, and then it was back to Wetherby in April, where he finished second under his penalty.He returned to the flat for his last race before a break, finishing third at York's 'Dante' meeting in the two miles race.
His return was also at York, in September, over the two miles again, with P.J.McDonald doing the steering, and this time he made no mistake staying on strongly to win by three lengths.He had four runs over hurdles that winter, but failed to fire.
A break until the following May, when returning again at York, appeared to freshen him up, being beaten only three lengths in to sixth place.At the age of seven he was finding it more and more difficult to get competitive off marks in the 80's on the flat, and from 115 over hurdles. He had a 10 month break before returning over hurdles at Wetherby in November of 2019, finishing a very respectable third to Sakhee's City, before dropping in to a grade four race, over two miles and seven furlongs at Market Rasen, off an all time low mark of 109, this did the trick, and Blue Hussar was once again back in the winners enclosure.He has raced once since, over the same course and distance, just coming up short, by being beaten three lengths. It was discovered after the race that he had struck in to himself, and would need six months to recover. Well at least for Blue Hussar his enforced break had come at just the right time.