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There’s lots of discussion about the well known horses but what about the horses that some of us have maybe never even noticed.<br>One particular favourite of mine is The Castilian who will probably never win a race because he doesn’t want to!<br>He just brings a smile to my face everytime he runs.<br>Has anyone else got a favourite that might not mean anything to anyone else?
Palawan – got me out of trouble more than once at lingfield and won a few other races as well. i followed it blindly after it’s first rescue win for me and even went to lingfield more than once just because he was running there. i knew it hadn’t run for a year now and thought it might be retired so checked on the rp db before this reply and it says he died as a 9yo – i didn’t know that till just now and will raise a glass to it next time i have a drink.
At last years stable open day I took a liking to Trisons Star from the Lucy Normile string. Only because it took some persuasion to get him over for a carrot. He looked a handsome chap who would pop up at a good price but been a bit of a let down so far this season. Still plan to follow him with his local Perth festival coming up its only 10 mins up the road so no long miles to get a race which may help. Has won twice at Perth  – last win was at 33/1 21 April 05.
Very good setup at Duncrievie Click Here to view
(Edited by Scotia at 11:31 pm on April 10, 2006)
Good idea for a thread this Raffingora, I hope there are more contributions to it.
Not really my favourite horse but one I was taken with…
At Hamilton park on the 3rd June 2003 I had an each way bet on a horse called Noble Mount, he finished what I thought was a slightly unlucky 3rd at 8/1 but that was neither here nor there, it was what followed in the winners enclosure after the race that got to me, I went over with my camera to take a pic of Noble Mount who was in the place reserved for the third, as I lifted my camera to take a side on pic he suddenly turned round to look at me as if to say “who are you and who gave you permission to take my picâ€ÂÂ
I don’t have one now I back off the top of my head, (though I keep falling for Starcross Maid for some insane and expensive reason), but I used to love Bayin and a short runner of J Bridger’s called Logie Pert Lad.. I get all teary eyed and misty at their mention.
And so did my bank manager.
The former used to come from miles behind and won once – no, I wasnt on – and the latter invariably tore off in front for 4 furlongs at Lingfield before stopping still.
He’d have been a certainty at Charlestown in West Virginia where 4f races often start the card.;)
Never forgotten a horse named Nos na gaoithe. I don’t think he ever got famous but I loved to see and hear about him because I found out his name meant ‘Like the Wind’.
Also was fond of Strong Promise because he was such a big, beautiful dark horse. Was so upset when he died (at Aintree I believe?).
Finally, more famous, I loved Gloria Victis. Won’t ever forget him, he was just so exciting to watch. I backed him in the Gold Cup each way but didn’t see the race till that night. It was horrific to see him fall and I couldn’t believe they couldn’t save him.
Does anyone else remember a bay filly or mare called Aude la Belle?
She was a little scrawny thing with a roman nose, probably the least good looking TB I’ve seen in a long time, I think her name meant something like Oh what a beauty! I remember her cos the commentators sorta laughed at her and I felt sorry for her. At least the poor gal had character!
Dai Burchell’s Cartmel specialist Flahives First who’s been responsible for promoting the Whit and August meetings from enjoyable to great on several occasions.
Sue Bradburne’s late-lamented Chergan who was a superb, straight jumper of fences and did me a favour at Wetherby and Donny on the two occasions I saw him in the flesh.
Barmy old Robbo who ran his usual race at Kelso the other day – tailed off then staying on to be placed.
Edit: Better add Walcot Lad as well cos he keeps getting the better of me; I’ll be opposing him again this aft!
(Edited by Drone at 8:40 am on April 11, 2006)
Lord Chamberlain never runs a bad race and still going strong at 13 (and no I didn’t back him yesterday).
The gutsy one eyed Material World who ran another very brave race at Aintree on Saturday and was unfortunate to come up against a very well handicapped horse in Refinement.
Arabesque,certainly remember Aude La Belle.<br>Pretty sure I backed her one day when I was at Chester where she ran creditably without winning.
Well as soon as Alex (let’s tip an odds on shot for Sky that usually get stuffed) Hammond tipped it up then there was only going to be one result.
Thanks for some very interesting replies.<br>I’ve been following racing ever since the days of Raffingora ( 1969 / 70 ) and there’s usually been a horse most seasons that I’ve taken a shine to. It’s generally a jumper or a flat handicapper because they’re around for longer.<br>Saratoga Skiddy, Celcius, Pridwell, Vodkatini, Harwell Lad etc might not mean alot to some of you but they’ve given me lots of pleasure!
I backed Pridwell in the Supreme when he finished second,only consolation being that my dad was on the winner Arctic Kinsman.<br>Of course two days later Pridwell ran in the Triumph before going onto a very succesful career best remembered for the race at Aintree in which he beat Istabraq.
Kings Mistral
Galloped them into submission time after time at Sandown. Always something exciting about a front runner at that particular track and he just seemed to fly whenever he sniffed the Esher air. Lovely jumper too. Gave impression he just loved the game and relished those Railway fences
And won me a few bob.. ;)
Quote: from Arabesque on 7:35 am on April 11, 2006[br]
Also was fond of Strong Promise because he was such a big, beautiful dark horse. Was so upset when he died (at Aintree I believe?).
<br>Indeed yes, one of two fatalities from the four who lined up for the 2000 Martell Cup – SP got killed when falling upsides See More Business, whilst Lake Kariba had a heart attack after trailing See More and Mulligan home a distant third.
I always had a very soft spot for STATELY HOME and EI Ei, not least for their raising the profile of summer jumping and their never less than gutsy performances in the face of scant respite from the handicapper. And, of course, XAIPETE and one Q Crossett, for reasons expounded at length on these pages previously.
gc<br>
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Quote: from Grey Desire on 8:45 am on April 11, 2006[br]
The gutsy one eyed Material World who ran another very brave race at Aintree on Saturday and was unfortunate to come up against a very well handicapped horse in Refinement.
<br>Material World is an absolute credit to her connections.
I’ve not seen any time or form figures yet to substantiate the claim, but I’d have had Saturday’s run as her best yet if for no other reason than she was going the "wrong way round" – connections have always been dubious about her relative effectiveness anticlockwise due to the blindness in her left eye.
gc<br>
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Quote: from Drone on 8:27 am on April 11, 2006[br]
Dai Burchell’s Cartmel specialist Flahives First who’s been responsible for promoting the Whit and August meetings from enjoyable to great on several occasions.
Edit: Better add Walcot Lad as well cos he keeps getting the better of me; I’ll be opposing him again this aft!
(Edited by Drone at 8:40 am on April 11, 2006)<br>
<br>Course specialists in general appeal to me, especially those who, like you say, help raise the profile / interest levels at smaller tracks.
Flahive’s First, Green Go and Britannia Mills would spring to mind as such candidates at Cartmel; Walcot Lad and Come Bye at Fontwell; Teme Valley and Fatehalkhair at Sedgefield; and Prince Carlton and Perroquet at Fakenham. There’s doubtless dozens more you can all think of.
gc<br>
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Quote: from thedarkknight on 9:48 am on April 11, 2006[br]Ah – you love those quirky old dogs…
Harwell Lad was a great horse. That race he won at Wincanton will always stick in my mind. He was basically hacking up – miles clear of his only remaining rival, before virtually pulling himself up. Once he had been headed and he was a sufficient distance behind the leader to make it interesting, he started racing again, made up the ground and ended up winning easily.
Sheer class.<br>
<br>The other horse was Ottowa, who I backed. What a hideous ten minutes that turned out to be ~ the in running prices on betfair would have been interesting had they existed :biggrin: <br>1 Harwell Lad <br>prominent, led 3rd, left alone 11th, reluctant to race and ran wide on bend after next, headed approaching 14th, soon well behind, rapid headway to regain lead 3 out, soon clear <br> <br> 2 Ottowa <br>not fluent, led until headed 3rd, chased winner after until fell 11th, remounted, regained lead approaching 14th, soon clear, weakened and headed 3 out
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