Tranquil Sea, who finished seventh in last year’s Grand National, will be competing in eventing this year with Clemmie Shipp, who owns him with her mother Jean.
“He had a long break after the Grand National and we brought him back in early this winter,” said Clemmie, who has already been placed in unaffiliated and affiliated dressage with the son of Sea Raven.
“Michael Wynne has been helping me with him and overseeing his progress — he’s such a famous horse I didn’t want to mess him up.”
Clemmie says “Tank” has taken to jumping coloured poles brilliantly.
“He’s been jumping fillers and doubles and he’s very careful, which isn’t the case with all ex-racehorses — I suppose if you can get round the Grand National you can get round most things,” she said.
Clemmie, who has ridden at two-star level, will aim to start eventing Tank in June and she says the 14-year-old “wants to win a one-star before he retires”.
Clemmie currently has five ex-racehorses at a yard in Longcross, Surrey.
“My mother and I love racing. I bought her her first racehorse for her 70th birthday about five years ago and it’s snowballed from there,” she said. “We still have that first horse — Oscar’s Secret. Her dream was to have a horse in the Grand National so Tank is pretty special.”
Jean and Clemmie have three horse in training with Warren Greatrex and it was through him that they acquired Tank before his final season racing.
“I followed him through his racing career as he reminded me of Sharky [Clemmie’s former two-star ride Park Keeper II],” said Clemmie. “Warren wanted him to have a good home when he retired and he knew how much I loved him.”
Clemmie is also looking forward to taking Tranquil Sea to parade at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, 15 March, where he will appear alongside Denman, Comply Or Die and Sizing Europe.
