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One of three Grand National-winning sons of Ascetic, Cloister carried the heaviest winning weight to that time (1893), 12 stone, 7 pounds. The game Irish-bred gelding won several top steeplechases, including the Irish Grand Military Chase and the Aintree Hunt Steeplechase; in all he won 18 of his 34 races over jumps. He ran second twice in the Grand National before his 40 length win at top weight; in 1892 he had been beaten by another Hermit grandson, Father O'Flynn, to whom he had given 26 pounds. In 1894 and 1895 he was withdrawn from the Grand National days before the race, both times as a favorite, leading to suspicions of bookmaking chicanery. His dam, who showed no ability either on the track or in the hunt field, traced back in tail-female to Brutandorf, seen in sire-line descent of four Grand National winners. |
