LUMINARIES
🐎 Horse Profile: Luminaries (IRE)
Foaled: 14 March 2017
Sex: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Sire: Leading Light (IRE)
Dam: Pas De Chapeau (IRE)
Owner: Ewan Whillans Racing Club
Trainer: Ewan Whillans
🏇 Racing Overview
Luminaries is an experienced National Hunt hurdler who competes mainly in handicap hurdle races over staying distances, typically from around 2 miles 3 furlongs up to 3 miles. Now eight years old, he has found success in competitive staying hurdle company and is particularly effective when conditions allow him to settle and finish strongly.
In the 2025 season he has recorded several wins in handicap hurdles at tracks like Newcastle and Kelso, showing real consistency and toughness in staying races. While a stint over fences has proved more challenging, his best form remains over hurdles where he can use his stamina and resolute racing style to full effect.
🧬 Pedigree Notes
By Leading Light, Luminaries has a pedigree built for stamina and jumping ability — ideal attributes for staying National Hunt hurdles. His dam, Pas De Chapeau, reinforces this staying influence, supporting his aptitude for extended trips and the physical demands of hurdle racing.
This pedigree combination underpins his performance in long‑distance handicap hurdles.
🏠 In Training
Under the care of Ewan Whillans, Luminaries is campaigned with a clear focus on staying handicap hurdles that play to his strengths. Whillans often places him in races where his stamina, experienced jumping, and grinding finish can be most effective.
Though attempts over fences were less successful, his best achievements have come over hurdles, where his consistency and staying power make him a reliable competitor in his division.
🔎 Key Attributes
Preferred trip: ~2m 3f to 3m
Ground preference: Effective on a range of going, especially good to soft and good
Racing style: Stayer who races prominently or mid‑division and stays on strongly
Profile: Consistent staying handicap hurdler with several wins and a resilient racing style
