‘He’s been a great horse’: Dan Skelton’s stable star retires
Al Ferof, who ran in the famous yellow silks of owner John Hales, has been retired from the racecourse after picking up a leg injury.
The 11-year-old gelding won more than £500,000 in prize-money during his career and defeated Cue Card and Sprinter Sacre in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011.
The popular grey was trained by Paul Nicholls before moving to the trainer’s former assistant Dan Skelton last year.
Having won the 2015 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, Al Ferof was being targeted at the race again this year before sustaining a minor tendon injury.
“Today was a sad day as the yard star Al Ferof has been retired. He unfortunately sustained a minor injury which given his age means he has run his last race. It was highly likely his run to defend the Peterborough Chase was to be his last but it was not to be,” Dan posted on Facebook on Wednesday (12 October).
“The injury is a small tear to his flexor tendon, otherwise known as a ‘leg’, but it’s a very small tear and he’s not in any pain or has been lame at all.
“He’s been a great horse for the Hales family over the years, for Nicholls’ team and last year for us — he’s certainly going to be missed. We consider ourselves lucky to have had such a horse and we all wish him well for the future, he’s got plenty more fun days ahead of him.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Continued below…
Related stories:
Who’s your King George VI Chase hero? [PICTURES]
Neptune Collonges trots into Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Grand National runner-up Balthazar King retires
Al Ferof will begin his retirement at the home of Lisa Hales alongside Grand National victor Neptune Collonges — he’ll enjoy a rest until spring before his ‘next chapter’ is decided.
As well as his victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he also won two Amlin Chases at Ascot and the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 2012.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
