DONTDELAY 15 June 2010 Indian Danehill-Garden Heaven Owner-The Golden Cookoo
Dontdelay was bred in Ireland by the Casey family, and like his mother Garden Heaven, was put in to training with County Tipperary trainer Liam Casey, who had already trained Dontdelay's half brother by Cloudings, Betterthanalright, who achieved a best Racing Post Rating of 130 at his peak.
Dontdelay didn't see a racecourse until he was five years old, taking in the three compulsory runs to get his first handicap mark. He was allotted a rating of 87 for never getting within 40 lengths of the winner, and his handicap debut at Tipperary saw him tail off. He would race a further seven times over hurdles in the next year for Liam Casey, with his best effort probably being his 16 lengths ninth of 13 at Cork in heavy ground.
It would be a further 581 days until Dontdelay would see a racecourse again. He arrived at Oakwood Stables in the Autumn of 2018, and made his debut for us at Hexham on December 20th in a three miles hurdle in heavy ground, and from a mark of 84 His first start was a winning one at 20/1, needing every yard of the trip to get up on the line to win by a head under our very talented conditional Emma Smith-Chaston. In order to run before his new mark kicked in,he turned out again just six days later at Wetherby, this was also his first run over fences.He made a couple of blunders, but once again over three miles, he was staying on again at the finish.It was back to hurdles at Sedgefield in February, finishing runner up over three miles and three furlongs, before a return to Hexham in March, saw him stay on strongly for a six lengths win.
After his Summer break he returned in November at Hexham, running well until the second last, after looking in need of the run. At the same track 12 days later he had the unenviable task of running four miles in heavy ground over fences, but that is the combination that brings out the best in Dontdelay, as he came home a very brave two lengths winner, his third win at the track from only four appearances, and only his second ever run over fences. He was given a five weeks break, and returned at Wetherby to finish a creditable third over hurdles again. He has run twice since, on both occasions at Sedgefield over fences, finishing second and fifth, but it appears that track is too sharp for him.
Dontdelay doesn't do anything quickly, he is an out and out stayer, and stiff tracks, and heavy ground will bring out the best in him, so when you see this combination in place, that is the time to back him.