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Hi Everybody,
Newbie here with first post.
I’ve been inspired to post by noticing that there’s a chap on here with TRF username of "Runandskip". I’m hoping that he in particular may be able to help, and also maybe some of you anoraks of "a certain age".
The past couple of days, my mother and myself have been reminiscing about my dad who passed away earler this year. He would have particularly enjoyed the past few days racing with some of his old favourites running well.
My very first bet on a horse (outside of the Grand National) was (I think) in the early eighties. I would have been about 12 years old at the time. My dad was a proper "saturday" horses man, and would study the Sporting Life religiously every Saturday morning. (As an aside, he also used to study another smaller (Saturday only) paper, I think it was called "The Sportsman" or "The Specialist" ?). He was not a serious gambler, just the old "ITV 7", EW Yankees and Super Yankees etc for small stakes at big odds in the hope that if all his selections ever won, he’d (nearly) be able to retire.
One day I decided to find out what the fuss was about, and asked my dad to pick me out a horse for me to back. The horse’s name was "Run And Skip", and I had £1 win on it (dad put the bet on for me, as I was way too young). The horse duly led from start to finish, and won at odds of 14-1 ! I can vividly remember the race, and I was very impressed (even mesmerised) with how he led all the way. (I had no knowledge at that time of how different horses had different running styles, ie front runners or hold-up horses).
I was wondering if anybody would be able to tell me anything about the horse ? Unfortunately, at that age I didn’t know the difference between one race and the next so I’m not even sure which race it was that he won. I’m also reasonably sure that he finished placed in a Gold Cup one year. He definitley ran in Dawn Run’s CGC year, but I don’t think he made the frame on that occasion.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Run and Skip has an (albeit small) entry on Wikipedia. According to this page, Run and Skip won the Welsh National in 1985. However, I’m not of the opinion that this was the race he won when I backed him for the following reasons:
1) I don’t remember that "my" race occurred during the festive time of the year.
2) I think 1985 is too late.
3) I have an inkling that the race he won "for me" might have been at Newbury.I could easily be wrong, however. If someone was to tell be that he won the Welsh National at odds of 14-1, then this could be more than just a coincidence.
There is an RP profile of Run and Skip. However, this only goes back to 1988 when I would be more interested in his pre-1988 days. Unfortunately, this information doesn’t seem freely available.
There is also a Youtube link of Galway Blaze winning the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1985, where Run and Skip finished second.
I don’t know if this early exposure had any influence on later life, but I now love to watch these (not necessarily "really top class") chasers who race in a prominent/front running style and seem to really love what they do. I would definitley have been a big fan of this horse if he had happenned along a few years later, as I have been more recently with the likes of Joe Lively (RIP), The Sawyer, Hello Bud etc.
Thanks in advance for any info. Oh, and apologies to "Runandskip" if his username bears no relation to the horse.
BB
P.S. The following Saturday, I asked my dad to pick me another horse out. He gave me a horse called "Delbury", which I also put £1 win on. He finished……. Unplaced
That was my last (non GN) bet for a while. What a lovely interesting first post!
I have some memories of Run And Skip but I’m afraid not alot of detail – I think he had a broad white blaze and I liked him because he was always "up there" trying. He was well-bred for the job being by Deep Run out of an Even Money mare. Well-named by Deep RUN out of SKIPoretta.
My TRF name is because of my liking for Ten Plus so hopefully TRF Runandskip person will know more.
PS Runandskip may not necessarily be a "chap" – I’m not!Hi Bronco, 80s racing is a favourite topic of mine, but there are others here with better memories than me. Hopefully, together we can help!
I can say that Run and Skip was 4th in the gold cup in 86 behind Dawn Run. That season, he had won the Welsh National and the Mildmay Cazalet Chase at Sandown. I don’t know if that is the race you remember though.
He also came 9th in the 1988 Gold Cup and I think fell early in the 1991 National.
Run And Skip won the 1985 Welsh National at odds of 13/1. So very likely Bronco Billy – your father took a price of 14/1 . His price for the Hennessey 2nd was 7/1.
Value Is EverythingRun And Skip is one of my favourites too.
A lot of the information below is taken from 10 editions of Timeform Chasers And Hurdlers (delete if copyright problems)…Run And Skip spent his early days "living almost wild on an island off Cork". Sent to the sales as a yearling and making just 2,300 guineas.
In 1983 his only victory in 15 starts as a hurdler came in a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle. He won just one novice chase in his next season before moving from R. Fisher to J Spearing…
Developed in to a useful staying chaser in the 84/85 season. Run And Skip won 4 handicap chases at Southwell, Taunton, Warwick and Wolverhampton. Latter by 3 lengths from Smiths Man. In his last two races that season finished behind an Aintree hero at Hereford (2nd) and at the Cheltenham Festival – Ritz Club National Hunt Chase (3m1f Handicap Chase) 3rd to subsequent Grand National winner West Tip.
In 85/86 season he ran in 5 races in a 7 week period, winning at Warwick before the 2nd to Galway Blaze where he carried 10-9 at Newbury. Then won the Food Broker Armour Handicap by 7 lengths from Elmboy, with 3 lengths back to previous Hennessey winner, King George and Gold Cup runner up Brown Chamberlin – trying to give Run And Skip 20 lbs. Although according to Timeform R&S would’ve won by further had he been ridden out.
Carrying 10-8 at Chepstow in a handicap where two thirds of the field had the minnimum of 10-0. Top weight was Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up (in the Dickenson 5) Righthand Man on 11-7, who was successful in 1984 with just 2 lbs less. Apart from one carrying 19 lbs overweight, only two horses, West Tip and another subsequent Grand National winner Rhyme And Reason had more weight than Run And Skip. Never headed and won by 6 lengths in stamina sapping conditions from 100/1 Golden Ty, Kumbi and Righthand Man the only others to finish. Just two weeks later victorious in the then valuable Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazlet Memorial at Sandown. Hanging on by 1/2 a length and two from Contradeal and Buckbe. This time giving those two 15 lbs.
Run And Skip finished a good 14 lengths 3rd getting 12 lbs to one of the greats, Burrough Hill Lad in the Gainsborough. Though a touch unlucky, an awful blunder slowing him to a walk 6 out.
I remember the 86 Gold Cup well, having backed Dawn Run ante-post. I say well, some of the mare’s jumping had me hiding behind the sofa. Run And Skip starting 15/2, disputed the lead a for a long way, in front jumping 3 out. Staying on for fourth just 4 1/2 lengths behind Dawn Run, giving her the 5 lbs sex allowance. With King George winner Wayward Lad and previous Gold Cup winner Forgive And Forget between the two. After a long hard season, improving 30 lbs on Timeform ratings, Run And Skip was pulled up in the Irish National.
Not seen in 86/87 season, Run And Skip returned in 87/88 but never recaptured form. Only victory in a small Hereford race. Last in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and modest 5th to Desert Orchid in Whitbread. For which he features on the cover of Timeform Chasers And Hurdlers 87/88.
Again nowhere near his best but still the same fabulous attitude in 88/89. Winning handicaps at Cheltenham from The Langholm Dyer and Haydock. Then runner up again at Cheltenham and splitting Bonanza Boy and previous Gold Cup winner The Thinker in Welsh National. 12 lengths behind the winner under just 10-3. Then leading subsequent Grand National winner Mr Frisk (who gave 3 lbs) most of the way in Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazlet. Favourite Sun Alliance winner Kildimo fell. Run And Skip relegated to second two out by Mr Frisk and with a 1 1/2 deficit at the last, before despite not jumping it as well, fighting back to go down by just 1/2 a length. Finished the season with a fall in the Ritz Club at Cheltenham.
In 89/90 only had one run, runner up to old foe Bonanza Boy in a limited handicap at Chepstow. Came back as a teenage hunter-chaser, falling at the second in the Grand National but winning at Stratford (February) and Cheltenham (a four miler) in May 1991. Slipped up on the flat only subsequent race as a 14 year old.
Value Is EverythingRun And Skip won the 1985 Welsh National at odds of 13/1. So very likely Bronco Billy – your father took a price of 14/1
Clearly Bronco Snr was a shrewd chap then…and a man after your own heart Ginge!
Mike
Very good front running horse who just fell short of beating the very best of his era. I remember him well, especially his run in Dawn Run’s Gold Cup, where I backed one of my favourites, Wayward Lad. Not trained by one of the bigger names in John Spearing, he was a real bargain, costing next to nothing as a yearling.
Thanks a million Bronco Billy for bringing back those wonderful memories and Ginger Tipster for the information about one of my favorite horses. I was fortunate to be at that unforgettable Gold Cup; Run and Skip was a little tiger that day, harrying the mare from the off, never giving her a breather. He even jumped ahead of her 4 fences out but just didn’t have the class to hold on.
Nice to see a thread about chasers in the 80`s Golden Ty second to RAS in the Welsh Natinal i seem to remember was placed in the 85 Aintree Foxhunters ridden by Andy Orkney and without stirrups from Bechers onwards .
What a lovely interesting first post!
I have some memories of Run And Skip but I’m afraid not alot of detail – I think he had a broad white blaze and I liked him because he was always "up there" trying. He was well-bred for the job being by Deep Run out of an Even Money mare. Well-named by Deep RUN out of SKIPoretta.
My TRF name is because of my liking for Ten Plus so hopefully TRF Runandskip person will know more.
PS Runandskip may not necessarily be a "chap" – I’m not!Thanks Ten Plus for pointing out his name. Although his breeding is available online on his RP profile, that fact had completely passed me by.
I remember Ten Plus too. Was very sad what happenned to him in the Gold Cup.
It did occur to me after I posted that I may have made a wrong assumption. Apologies to Runandskip once again, if that is the case.
Hi Bronco, 80s racing is a favourite topic of mine, but there are others here with better memories than me. Hopefully, together we can help!
I can say that Run and Skip was 4th in the gold cup in 86 behind Dawn Run. That season, he had won the Welsh National and the Mildmay Cazalet Chase at Sandown. I don’t know if that is the race you remember though.
He also came 9th in the 1988 Gold Cup and I think fell early in the 1991 National.
Thanks for the reply, Old Applejack !
That name also rings a bell. Wasn’t he another staying chaser from around the same era ?
Run And Skip won the 1985 Welsh National at odds of 13/1. So very likely Bronco Billy – your father took a price of 14/1 . His price for the Hennessey 2nd was 7/1.
Thanks Gingertipster !!
It seems that the Welsh National is looking most likely as being "my" race. That puts me at 14yrs old at the time though, so I’m a little disapponted with myself that I don’t know more about it. (Or didn’t take more interest in it).
I’m pretty sure that it was a left-handed track, which rules out the Mildmay at Sandown.
I’d love to see your library, GT !….. My dad used to subscribe to "Fineform" in the 80’s, and used to have shelves of green/red plastic binders full of race form. I’ve been trying to find them, but so far no luck. I hope they haven’t been thrown out !
Can I ask how you found out that his SP was 13-1 ? Is that information on the web, or from your own private collection ?
Run And Skip won the 1985 Welsh National at odds of 13/1. So very likely Bronco Billy – your father took a price of 14/1
Clearly Bronco Snr was a shrewd chap then…and a man after your own heart Ginge!
Mike
He could be very shrewd when the notion took him, Mike. I remember on this day though, that he was a bit "put out" that I won more than him with my first (proper) bet. Especially on a horse that he gave me after he’d spent all morning studying the form !!
Thanks also to Wyldesyde, Betfair and Honeysdad for replying. I’m finding it very interesting hearing about Run and Skip, and the other horses that were around at the same time. Most of whom I recall, even though it was an era slightly before my time.
Run And Skip won the 1985 Welsh National at odds of 13/1. So very likely Bronco Billy – your father took a price of 14/1 . His price for the Hennessey 2nd was 7/1.
Thanks Gingertipster !!
It seems that the Welsh National is looking most likely as being "my" race. That puts me at 14yrs old at the time though, so I’m a little disapponted with myself that I don’t know more about it. (Or didn’t take more interest in it).
I’m pretty sure that it was a left-handed track, which rules out the Mildmay at Sandown.
I’d love to see your library, GT !….. My dad used to subscribe to "Fineform" in the 80’s, and used to have shelves of green/red plastic binders full of race form. I’ve been trying to find them, but so far no luck. I hope they haven’t been thrown out !
Can I ask how you found out that his SP was 13-1 ? Is that information on the web, or from your own private collection ?
Timeform "Chasers And Hurdlers" annual gives a "Big Race Results" in the back, which gives the betting. The 85/86 edition in particular has an excellent write up of Run And Skip which includes some interesting facts about his earlier years. I wonder Billy, do big public libraries have Timeform annuals?
My library only goes back to 84/85, the flat to 1984. Being hard back they’ve probably lasted a good deal better than Fineform.
It’s still possible it wasn’t the Welsh National Billy. Looked for Delbury and couldn’t find it. But there was a "Dalbury" racing at the same time as Run And Skip. Finished 4th in the L’Oreal Hurdle on Challow Hurdle Day at Newbury… Which would’ve knitted in with being a week (or day or two) after Run And Skip’s Welsh National – but for Dalbury’s 4th (1984) coming a year before Run And Skip’s triumph (1985).
With Dalbury moving to Ireland for the 85/86 season, it’s unlikely he’d have been featured on British TV…Unless your Run And Skip was in 1984. Dalbury had four starts before the Newbury run, one second place and one win immediately before the L’Oreal 4th. But unplaced in the Captain Quist Hurdle at Kempton on 20th October, a 16/1 shot finishing 8th of 10 behind Ra Nova, with fav Desert Orchid in 3rd. Run And Skip’s final victory that season came before the end of December. It was a four timer, so I doubt if he’d have been 14/1 for the second or third win. So the only other possibility is his reappearance, which might (I don’t know) have fitted in with Dalbury’s unplaced effort at Kempton. However, Run And Skip’s first success in the 84/85 season was at Southwell in an ordinary handicap. Again doubtful the race was featured on TV and suspect your dad would’ve selected big races for your first bets. So the Welsh National still seems the most likely
I’ve enjoyed looking back Billy.
Value Is EverythingI wonder Billy, do big public libraries have Timeform annuals?
North Yorkshire County Libraries still had something of a back run in its major archive at the Northallerton headquarters during my time in its pay (1998-2003), but I wouldn’t know whether that run has survived successive capacity management-necessitated reductions of stock (for which read: cull) in the intervening period.
I’d hope not, as the local relevance of the subject matter is obvious.
Northallerton and Scarborough reference libraries do contain decades’ worth of
Times
newspapers on microfilm, at least, and I’ve always found those the most useful of any contemporary daily newspaper for researching old races and racecards (giving the "before" picture as opposed to the "after" that Chaseform or Timeform annuals provide).
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
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