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| Aintree News 6th - 8th April 2006 |
Heros Collonges a Peake Purchase
03/04/06
Heros
Collonges, eighth in last year’s John Smith’s Grand National,
will be the first-ever runner for Andy Peake in the National, after the
Haydock businessman bought the horse from John Hales for an undisclosed
fee.
"The plan was hatched in the parade ring at Cheltenham and the bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer negotiated the deal. I’ve never actually met John Hales, who sold us the horse, but I’m really grateful that he gave us the opportunity to have a runner in the race," said Peake, whose best-known horse is the chaser Colourful Life, also trained by Paul Nicholls.
Heros Collonges will not run in Peake’s own colours, but will become the first horse to carry the colours of Merchant Rentals, a company he set up in 2002, which leases Chip ‘n Pin terminals. "The blue chevron and sleeves on a grey background represent the ‘M’ of Merchant," said Peake
Peake’s two companies - UK Hygiene is the second - have around 15,000 customers so there will be plenty of potential interest in the horse’s running on Saturday.
The new owner has managed to find a last-minute hospitality box at Aintree to share, for a few of his most important customers, and can rest assured that the weather can’t ruin the great day: "It doesn’t matter if the rain comes or if it doesn’t, the horse goes on anything from good to heavy. For us, it just about the horse getting round, that would be mission accomplished," he said.
Peake won’t be backing his new acquisition, though. "I’m a failed gambler, being level was the best I ever did, so I don’t bother anymore," he said.
