'Every time you got the leg-up on him you got a shock as to how big he was' - Allaho retired aged ten

Allaho, awesome at his best and a dual winner of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, has been retired at the age of ten and will now try his hand at dressage.

The strapping son of No Risk At All was last seen winning the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase by 13 lengths from stablemate Stattler at Thurles in January and was installed as favourite for a third Ryanair Chase afterwards.

But Allaho picked up an injury winning that Thurles contest, a strained hock, and he missed the Cheltenham Festival for a second year in a row. He had finished third to Hewick in the King George earlier in the season.

Willie Mullins hailed Allaho as a "great servant", having won ten of his 20 career outings and won the best part of €1 million in prize-money.

Mullins said: "Allaho has been a great servant to Closutton and I am delighted that he retired sound. We wish him well in his new career."

Allaho: devastating winner of the 2022 Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That new career will be at his owner's Cheveley Park Stud where he will be retrained before he begins to enter dressage competitions with Emma Vine, who is based near Taunton.

Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park's managing director, said: "Patricia Thompson and her son Richard have thoroughly enjoyed embracing David Thompson’s legacy associated with the National Hunt horses. For Allaho to have won the Ryanair Chase in successive years, and contributed to Cheveley Park Stud being leading owner at the Cheltenham Festival in both 2021 and 2022, is a huge achievement."

While Allaho will be best known for his devastating displays in winning his two Ryanair Chases by a combined total by 26 lengths, it was his relentless performance in the Punchestown Gold Cup of 2022 that earned him his highest Racing Post Rating of 180.

On that occasion he made every yard of the running and crossed the line 14 lengths in front of King George winner Clan Des Obeaux, with a length and a half back to dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo in third.

Allaho: won the second of his two Ryanair Chases under Paul Townend in 2022Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Jockey Paul Townend said: "He was a massive, massive horse and every time you got the leg-up on him you got a shock as to how big he was. He was absolutely huge and just had so much size and scope.

"He demolished two decent Ryanair fields, but I suppose it was the day he won the Punchestown Gold Cup up in trip that was probably his best performance. He was able to cover so much ground at his ease and gave us so many brilliant days. He will be sorely missed."

Allaho also won the 2021 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown under Patrick Mullins, but it was Townend who was on board for seven of his ten victories.

Rachael Blackmore did the steering when he won his first Ryanair at the Covid-affected Cheltenham Festival of 2021, with Townend electing to ride previous winner Min on that occasion.

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