Dido Harding has been thrust into the media spotlight in Britain having been announced as the Chief Executive of the NHS Test and Trace programme, and the Baroness of Winscombe has a notable connection with racing and point-to-pointing in particular.
In 1998 her colours were carried to success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, when Cool Dawn, a horse that she purchased from the Irish point-to-point circuit, sprung a 25/1 shock under Andrew Thornton.
The former Chief Executive of telecommunications company TalkTalk, has written extensively on the Cool Dawn story, publishing a book in 1999 titled “Cool Dawn – My National Velvet”, in which she explains how she borrowed £7,000 from the bank to purchase the Over The River gelding from Irish point-to-points, with the hope of riding him herself in ladies point-to-point races in Britain.
Cool Dawn had run five times as a five-year-old for the Costello’s between the flags in Ireland during the 1993 season, placing twice on his final two outings at Friarstown and Sligo, before being bought to cross the Irish Sea.
From here, he developed into a prolific performer for Harding, winning five races in UK points throughout the 1994 and 1995 season, before recording his first success under rules in a Novice Hunter Chase at Ascot in April 1995 with his owner once again in the saddle.
The following year the pair would finish second in the Christies Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival, coming undone to Enda Bolger’s star Elegant Lord. The then eight-year-old finished third in that season’s Irish National with Conor O’Dwyer taking over from Dido Harding on riding duties.
After finishing tailed off in the Badger Ales at Wincanton in November 1997, Harding handed over the riding duties to Andrew Thornton, which immediately brought a turn of fortunes, as Cool Dawn won three races on the bounce at Ascot, but having pulled up in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown on his preparation for the Gold Cup, the pair were largely unconsidered outsiders at 25/1 when arriving at Cheltenham.
Making all from the front and avoiding the in-running drama which saw the King George winner See More Business carried out, Cool Dawn powered up the hill to defeat Strong Promise by a length and three quarters, with the favourite, Dorans Pride, a further head back in third.
Following his retirement from racing, Cool Dawn returned to Harding’s home where she continued to hunt him, as she had throughout his racing career, before he died at the age of 30 in 2018.
Following his death, Harding told the Racing Post:
“When I spoke to Andrew (Thornton) about him I said there aren't many horses that give you 17 consecutive seasons hunting. He was an awesome hunter, it was a bit like taking a Formula One car for a tootle on the motorway.
"I actually took him out three weeks before the Gold Cup and he jumped a barbed-wire fence. Robert wasn't very happy with me and I was sent home pretty soon afterwards, but Dawn just loved it.
"He was a bit of an alpha male, loved being the head of the pack, but he was a quirky horse and he might not have taken so well to the routine of a conventional big yard."
She added: "I used to get called 'the passenger' in MacKenzie and Selby when I pointed him and it's true I couldn't hold on to him. Maybe that's why he was so headstrong.
"What Dawn gave me in my 20s and 30s was proof that no dream is too big. You have to take the chance in life and I still sometimes emphasise that when I give business talks: dreams can come true, because they did for me."
