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It will always be the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup to me, but another race which has dwindled over the years.
I’m old enough to remember top-class chasers taking part; Arkle coming a close third to the 32lb receiving Flying Wild (a week after winning the Hennessy), Leap Frog and Crisp both carrying over 12st, the former winning with 1 stone receiving The Dikler in 2nd. Most impressive of all, Pendil, who was no giant, carried 12-7 to beat Helmsman, a few weeks before strolling to a King George.
Flyingbolt ended that season winning the Irish National under 12-7, the only time he carried less the 12st that whole season was at Ascot when he carried 11-11 in the Black & White Whisky Gold Cup, the race before Cheltenham.
Not that you see much of him winning from this clip and looking at ground conditions, the race (and the meeting) wouldn’t have taken place these days.
Carried 12-7 in a handicap then two weeks later wins the King George. Can you imagine, crazy
The more I know the less I understand.
And one of my minor grievances, Pendil beat Tingle Creek easily at Sandown, giving him weight, yet every year Tingle Creek gets the star treatment.
Trying to google Pendil’s racing record, can’t find it. Juut recall an endless succession of effortless victories
Yes, I can recall Pendil beating Tingle Creek. Raceform Notebook comment was that Pendil was never off the bridle if I remember correctly.
Although Tingle Creek “gets the star treatment” at Sandown, there is the Pendil Novice Chase at Kempton, a course where the great horse excelled (and, sadly, ran his last race).
“And one of my minor grievances, Pendil beat Tingle Creek easily at Sandown, giving him weight, yet every year Tingle Creek gets the star treatment.”
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
Thanks++ for this, closer than I remember, tho I’m sure Pendil was giving him weight
Pendil 12st 0lb
Tingle Creek 11st 13lb....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
And, slightly off-topic, while we’re reminiscing about great performances of the post-Arkle era, Captain Christ’s demolition of the 1975 King George field (including Bula) stands out for me.
The comments re Tingle Creek/Pendil could just as easily apply to Arkle and Flyingbolt – Flyingbolt was easily the more versatile of the two and doing a deep dive into his form he arguably put up the better weight carrying performances, yet Arkle gets all the love/headlines/plaudits (rightly so) but Flyingbolt barely gets an after thought to many…..even though he is only rated 2lb below Arkle with Timeform.
Back then the Massey-Ferguson (December) Gold Cup was a much bigger race, attracting better horses, than the Mackeson (Paddy Power), despite it’s proximity to Christmas and the King George.
Why the reversal of fortunes?
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