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Aces Four, foaled on March 30, 1999 in Ireland, is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Fourstars Allstar and dam, Special Trix.〔(Aces Four Pedigree ), pedigreequery.com〕 He is owned by the DPRP Aces Partnership, trained by Ferdy Murphy, and his primary jockey was Graham Lee.〔(Aces Four Profile ), racingpost.com.〕 Aces Four started racing as a four-year-old in January 2004.〔 In his early years, he was trained by Billy McKeown. In 2005, Ferdy Murphy took over duties and trained Aces Four to six wins in their first 10 races together.〔(Mildmay winner Aces Four retired after injury ). racingpost.com, 9 December 2009, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 He won his first race, the Lugg Maiden Hurdle in February 2006 at Ludlow Racecourse located near Ludlow, Shropshire, England by 7 lengths.〔(Andreas impresses in Cheltenham prep ), sportinglife.com, 22 February 2006, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 He went on to win a number of other novice races, including the Cleanevent Novices' Chase, EBF Future Champions "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and the Now Live At WBX Novices' Chase.〔 The final win in Aces Four’s career was arguably his most significant. At the 2007 Grand National meeting, Aces Four won the John Smith’s Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. Entering the race as a 5-2 favourite, he beat Fassel by a remarkable 8 lengths〔(Murphy’s Ace is spot on ), rte.ie, 13 April 2007, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 despite a mistake made by Graham Lee’s mount at the onset of the race.〔(Aintree 2007 – Day two ), news.bbc.co.uk, 13 April 2007, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 After the win at Aintree, Aces Four was on his way to a win in the Punchestown Champion Novice Chase in Punchestown, Ireland, but crashed at the last hurdle, ending hopes for his first Grade 1 race win. While Aces Four was slightly concussed, jockey Graham Lee suffered a broken elbow from the fall.〔(Murphy’s fortunes turn as Aces Four is last-fence faller ), timesonline.co.uk, 25 April 2007, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 Afterward, Aces Four was never the same, missing a number of races〔(Aces Four ruled out ), independent.ie, 9 December 2007, accessed 1 April 2010.〕 and disappointing in those he did compete.〔 Although a star novice horse, he failed to reach the lofty expectations placed on him after his win in at Aintree.〔 Murphy once said of his prized horse: ''"He is a horse that I thought could go right to the top."''〔(Ruby Walsh back in action ), telegraph.co.uk, 10 December 2008 accessed 1 April 2010.〕 Aces Four was officially retired in December 2009 as a result of lingering injuries. Speaking on the retirement of his horse, Murphy said: ''"He was a grand horse and the day he won at Aintree he looked very good. I spoke to the owners earlier this month and we agreed it was better to send him to a quiet retirement than possibly break him down trying to bring him back."''〔 His career record finished with 6 wins, 4 places and 3 show. His wins were split with three each coming in hurdling and flat races. In total, he accumulated £89,190 in lifetime earnings.〔 ==References== ja:ウェルアームド 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Aces Four」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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