Late Cheveley Park boss spent big money on Wexford horses
DAVID THOMPSON, who along with his wife Patricia built up one of Britain’s most important breeding and ownership operations in Cheveley Park Stud, has died suddenly at the age of 84.
There are good reasons why he will be remembered fondly here in Co. Wexford.
Their famous red and white and blue colours have in the past been mostly associated with the flat but they have been expanding into the jumps scene in recent years, thanks largely to their big money purchases of Wexford point-to-point graduates, notably buying Envoi Allen after his maiden win for Colin Bowe at Ballinaboola for £410,000.
That has really paid off, with the horse running up ten wins on the trot under the care of Gordon Elliott, the first four of them bumpers when ridden by Jamie Codd, culminating with the 2018 Cheltenham Champion Bumper.
Envoi Allen followed up in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last year and is the even-money favourite to complete a Festival hat-trick in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at this year’s festival, while Cheveley Park’s Ballyadam and Sir Gerhard are also at the top of the betting for their races.
Thompson made a very rare personal appearance at the sales ring in early December which indicated serious business was afoot, and so it proved with two more Wexford horses being the targets in one of his last public appearances.
He went to £430,000 to buy Grangeclare West, the son of Presenting, which won a four-year-old maiden at the recent Lingstown meeting, handled by Denis Murphy, ridden by Jamie Codd, and owned by Edel Logan.
He also forked out the second highest price of the day as he went to £310,000 to buy Donnchadh Doyle’s Guily Billy, an impressive winner under Rob James at Tinahely in mid-November.
It was an expensive purchase for Doyle last year at €80,000, but it worked out well for him. Both will also be trained by Elliott.
Just a day before Thompson’s death he had a great final racing thrill as the Henry de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard snatched the Savills Chase at Leopardstown with a stirring late burst under young Darragh O’Keeffe to put him firmly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup picture.
Although a very wealthy man, Thompson and his wife not only made a major contribution to racing at every level, they also gave away over £70m to various good causes over the years and both of them were honoured by the Queen for their charitable work. R.I.P.