See You Then

The three-time Champion Hurdle winner, nicknamed “See You When” due to racing so sparingly, was brilliant just when it mattered most. Kate Johnson discovers this fragile superstar’s story

- Kate Johnson

IT’S fair to say that See You Then’s stable manners left a lot to be desired.

“You’d go into his box and he’d grab you, and while you were turning to get out of his way, he’d kick you!” National Hunt champion trainer Nicky Henderson OBE remembers.

Outside his box, however, he was “putty in your hands, an absolute gent”. And on the racecourse, he was nothing short of spectacular.

The four-year-old had arrived at Nicky’s Lambourn training yard, Windsor House, in 1984, en route to his owners in Italy, having won half of his eight Flat races and both hurdling starts in Ireland. He was bred for the Flat, having been sired by Royal Palace, winner of the 1967 Epsom Derby and the 2000 Guineas among others, but his temper was so ferocious that he was gelded early on, and his Flat career was derailed.

His debut for Nicky was the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival, a few weeks after he arrived. He was beaten two lengths by Northern Game in a field of 30. After a stint in Italy, the horse returned to take up permanent residence at Windsor House. His mood had not improved; stable lad Glyn Foster was the only person who could get on with him and used to tie stable rubbers to his headcollar to distract him.

Nicky remembers, “The horse got me every which way. I treated him with huge respect, but I couldn’t go into the box on my own with him. I loved him and he hated me. It didn’t matter, I could live with it, as long as Glyn was there.”