BORIS THE SPIDER. 04 May 2001. Makbul-Try Vickers. Owner-The Adbrokes Partnership.
34 races hurdles- 1 win flat-1 win all weather- 1 win
Boris The Spider is a mud loving middle distance performer, who won under both codes, and also on the All Weather.He is by the sprinter Makbul, out of a mare who had nine representatives on the racecourse, including Late Arrival, who was a four time winner for us between 2002, to 2005.
Boris The Spider ran four times as a two year old, all over six furlongs, with his best effort coming on his third start at Ripon, when beaten four and a quarter lengths into seventh, of the 19 runners, and earning a BHA mark of 66.
He began his three year old career at Pontefract over six furlongs, but crucially on the heavy ground, with a very respectable second in a maiden.His next six starts were all on a faster surface, stepping up in trip bit by bit, he struggled to get competitive, and his mark plummeted to 48, which allowed him to take his chance in a 'Banded' event up at Ayr, where he made no mistake on his first try at one mile, and five furlongs, on soft ground, with Darren Williams in the saddle.His next race was his All Weather debut at Wolverhampton, but he probably found the surface too fast, but two weeks later at Southwell, the underfoot conditions were much more to his liking, as he won the 14 furlongs handicap off 48, by an impressive five lengths, in the hands of Paul Hanagan.
He probably needed his first run back in April 2005, but was a solid second on his next start back at Southwell two weeks later, under Darrel Holland, with a five length gap back to the third horse. Unfortunately the remainder of that flat season proved to be a none event, and his attentions were turned to the winter game.
His first three attempts over the jumps saw him beaten a total of 163 lengths, but at Sedgefield in February 2006, he got his act back together again, when finishing third beaten 11 lengths, under Wilson Renwick. He then made his handicap debut at Ayr in March from a mark of 95, and made no mistake beating Bollin Thomas by 3/4 length at 4/1.He pulled up at Newcastle eight days later, with Graham Lee reporting that the horse had a breathing problem, and on his final start that season on faster ground he made no show.
Boris The Spider would race on just five more occasions during 2006-2007,with his best effort coming at Kelso, when finishing forth, beaten just four lengths, but tellingly hanging under pressure.His final racecourse appearance was at Hexham on May 5th, 2007, when it was agreed retirement was the best option.Boris The Spider was found a loving home with a friend of the owners in Northumberland.