The £1.4 Million Purchase Palladium Earns £4k on Debut Victory at Huntingdon

Thursday saw the eagerly awaited National Hunt debut of the most expensive jump horse of all time, as the Nicky Henderson-trained Palladium set out over hurdles at Huntingdon. Good enough to land the German Derby during his time on the flat, how would the son of Gleneagles fare when faced with obstacles?

Initially expected to be way too good for his Class 4 rivals, Palladium was as short as 1/6 overnight. However, doubts began to seep into the market as the race approached. Priced at 1/4 on Thursday morning, a continual drift saw the four-year-old start at odds of 8/15 for the 2m affair.

Palladium Good Enough

In the end, Palladium defied that drift relatively comfortably without really oozing star potential. Prominent throughout, his inexperience told at a couple of obstacles, but once pushed into the lead, he never looked like being passed on his way to a 2l success.

Nicky Henderson expressed his satisfaction with the display when stating:

“There’s a sense of relief, I suppose, but he was big and bold at some of his hurdles, and he just enjoyed it. He was in front probably longer than we were planning on, but he showed his class, and I’m really pleased.”

The bookies weren’t quite so enamoured by the display, with Palladium drifting to a best price of 16/1 for the Triumph Hurdle, having been no bigger than 12s before the race.

Repayments to Lady Bamford Begin

Cheque and Silver Pen

In claiming this low-grade affair, Palladium handed new owner Lady Bamford her first success over jumps since Torn Silk scored at Musselburgh in 1999. Cause for celebration for connections, but the £4,220.64 in winning prize money made barely a dent in that astronomical sales price.

So, what chance does Lady Bamford have of getting her money back? As a guide, we look back at how the previous holders of “The Most Expensive Jump Horse in History” title have fared.

Royal Rosa

  • Price – £372,000
  • Prize Money Following Purchase – £109,763

Following two impressive Bumper wins, Graham Wylie purchased Royal Rosa as a wedding present for his wife Andrea in 2003. It’s alright for some! The gelding began well, with three wins in his first five hurdle starts, including the Grade 2 Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock. However, he failed to hit the heights over fences, with his only success in 23 chase outings coming in a three-runner novice affair at Wetherby.

Garde Champetre

  • Price – £556,500
  • Prize Money Following Purchase – £206,308

Having mastered Monet’s Garden in the Grade 2 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, Garde Champetre was snapped up on behalf of JP McManus in May 2004. Whilst never achieving superstar status, the son of Garde Royal carried the green and gold to victory on 11 occasions, including the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Interconnected

  • Price – £620,000
  • Prize Money Following Purchase – £4,369.68

By Network, out of a Robin Des Champs mare and an impressive 20-length winner in the Point to Point sphere, there was much to like about Interconnected when he headed to the sales in 2019. Darren Yates certainly thought so when shelling out a record-breaking £620,000 to secure his services. Four starts and four defeats preceded retirement following a Class 3 novice contest at Uttoxeter in 2021.

Caldwell Potter

  • Price – £633,000
  • Prize Money Following Purchase – £28,980.5 (as of January 2025)

Formerly based with Gordon Elliott in Ireland, Caldwell Potter was the star attraction at the Tattersalls Ireland A & G Brown Dispersal Sale in February 2024. Having easily landed a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on his final start for Elliott, many expected him to fetch a pretty penny. And that he did, with Highflyer Bloodstock striking the winning bid at a record-setting £633,000.

Immediately transferred to the Paul Nicholls operation, Caldwell Potter kicked off with a smooth success at Carlisle but was well beaten in his two subsequent outings. On the plus side for connections, Caldwell Potter is only seven years old and may have his best years ahead of him.

More Chance in the Breeding Sheds

Triumph Hurdle 2025 Betting
Palladium is currently 16/1 for the Triumph Hurdle and could still return to flat racing and a subsequent stud career

Unlike the previous record holders, Palladium remains a colt. As such, a potentially lucrative career at stud remains a possibility, which is probably just as well for Lady Bamford. If the previous record holders are any guide, his prospects of making his fee back at the track appear slim, and slim is a generous assessment!