MAKE A STAND RETIRED Former champion hurdler Make A Stand has run his last race, it was reported today. The 10-year-old, who made all to land the Champion Hurdle by five lengths in course-record time under Tony McCoy in 1997, has been retired by Martin Pipe. 'He just seems to have lost his enthusiasm,' his trainer told the Racing Post. 'He`s still only 10 and he looks wonderful.' Owner Peter Deal added: 'Make A Stand gave me and my family a most fantastic time and I can`t thank the horse enough or those who looked after him. 'I just loved his style of racing. He was so enthusiastic and was a natural over hurdles from day one. He`s not unsound now and he will have a lovely retirement.' Make A Stand won six of his nine races in the 1996/7 season, landing the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown (ridden by Glenn Tormey) and Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury (Chris Maude) before Cheltenham. He returned lame when third at Aintree on his final start that season and ran only once subsequently, finishing third in the Champion Hurdle last year. But such was his - and his trainer`s - reputation that the gelding was quoted at just 40-1 for this year`s Champion by Ladbrokes at the time of his retirement. Make A Stand earned nearly Stg£300,000 in prize money - having joined Pipe for just Stg£8,000 after winning a claimer on the Flat for Henry Candy in 1995.
