- This topic has 26 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 7 months ago by
.
- Posts
As Rory says Ten Up was eventually transferred across to the Captain where he competed with distinction in Hunter Chase company. Indeed he landed the Grand Military Chase at Sandown in 1979 by 12l under Capt J Hodges at odds of 8/15 fav.
James Hodges was the Duchess’ godson which explains the switch. He was a captain in the King’s Troop which allowed the pair to compete in the military races at Sandown. He was trained by Mick McNeill when winning his second Royal Artillery at the age of 15, ironically beating De Pluvinel, who himself won the race as a veteran in 1989 and 1990. He was 17 on the latter occasion.
My first visit to Cheltenham by memory they lost one day and the final day was abandined. Lanzarote won the Champion Hurdle, Royal Epic the triumph beating Phyliminsky in a photo, Harry Bell won with Quick Reply when Rag Trade miles clear fell at the last and because I had gone there with Don Nolan I backed him……young and daft only time I ever cheered a faller
Got some real dirty looks from horse lovers and punters ……..Great, and accurate detail, but Comedy Of Errors actually won the Champion Hurdle! Quick Reply was ridden by a young Mr Ridley Lamb. The first day was abandoned and four of the races scheduled to take place on the Tuesday were transferred to the following day. In the end a decision was made after the Gold Cup to abandon the last three races, the first of which would have seen Brown Lad a short priced favourite to be the only horse to win the Stayers Hurdle and Sun Alliance Chase in consecutive days!
Ten Up
plodded through the mud in the Arkle colours and Soothsayer and Bula chased him home…..Brown Lad won as he liked but the best race for me was the last……Andy Turnell down to ride Cuckolder switched to Summerville late on..they backed from 12 /1 to 4/1 and hacked up……….unfortunately he broke down when cantering 2 out and clear with the Gold Cup at his mercy 2 years later.
…that should give someone something to do if they want to check my memory ………1st race Aldaniti finished 4th in the hurdle can be added.Summerville won the last race on Wednesday, the Mildmay of Flete (at 4/1 indeed) although Turnell didn’t need to switch from Cuckolder who he rode in the National Hunt Chase on the following day. Aldaniti was 4th in the Sun Alliance Hurdle behind Davy Lad as you say (it was the 3rd race mind). You’re also doubtless correct that Summerville was robbed by injury of an unlikely Gold Cup win.
Ten Up was an awsome looking horse and the Irish support he had that day was unreal. Never seen so many people lose their hats at a meeting even seen flying umbrellas……Best meeting I was ever at. Doubt if there will be any video of Ten Up winning as the weather was like Ireland on a bad day and visability wasn’t great
I’ve seen Ten Up described as resembling "an undernourished greyhound" when fully fit (not my words) ~ he had plenty of size about him but apparently couldn’t hold condition well and was never the most robust. Jim Dreaper felt that he gave his absolute that day and possibly left a permanent mark which is hardly surprising given how desperate the conditions were. There is certainly footage of the race though and I have the finish on video somewhere; Ten Up made his only serious error at the second last and looked vulnerable but met the last on a stride and plugged on gamely, whereas both Bula and Soothsayer were so tired when challenging at the last that they barely rose at the fence and only the fact that they were going so slowly stopped them both turning over. Bula, in particular was running on memory for the last few furlongs, eventually repassed by his stablemate close home. Fred Winter was outspoken even before the race in saying that the meeting should have been abandoned.
Perhaps Fred should have taken Bula out if he felt that way?!
Colin
Bit late for that criticism Colin!
………….some say "never too late", Rory.
I don’t really know why they say that or why I have just said what I have but hey!…what the hell.
Colin
I recall Captain Christy started favourite but was pulled up in that Gold Cup. He was frighteningly brilliant on his day, one of the best ever, but maddeningly inconsistent
- Total Posts 17716
My first visit to Cheltenham by memory they lost one day and the final day was abandined. Lanzarote won the Champion Hurdle, Royal Epic the triumph beating Phyliminsky in a photo, Harry Bell won with Quick Reply when Rag Trade miles clear fell at the last and because I had gone there with Don Nolan I backed him……young and daft only time I ever cheered a faller
Got some real dirty looks from horse lovers and punters ……..Great, and accurate detail, but Comedy Of Errors actually won the Champion Hurdle! Quick Reply was ridden by a young Mr Ridley Lamb. The first day was abandoned and four of the races scheduled to take place on the Tuesday were transferred to the following day. In the end a decision was made after the Gold Cup to abandon the last three races, the first of which would have seen Brown Lad a short priced favourite to be the only horse to win the Stayers Hurdle and Sun Alliance Chase in consecutive days!
Ten Up
plodded through the mud in the Arkle colours and Soothsayer and Bula chased him home…..Brown Lad won as he liked but the best race for me was the last……Andy Turnell down to ride Cuckolder switched to Summerville late on..they backed from 12 /1 to 4/1 and hacked up……….unfortunately he broke down when cantering 2 out and clear with the Gold Cup at his mercy 2 years later.
…that should give someone something to do if they want to check my memory ………1st race Aldaniti finished 4th in the hurdle can be added.Summerville won the last race on Wednesday, the Mildmay of Flete (at 4/1 indeed) although Turnell didn’t need to switch from Cuckolder who he rode in the National Hunt Chase on the following day. Aldaniti was 4th in the Sun Alliance Hurdle behind Davy Lad as you say (it was the 3rd race mind). You’re also doubtless correct that Summerville was robbed by injury of an unlikely Gold Cup win.
Ten Up was an awsome looking horse and the Irish support he had that day was unreal. Never seen so many people lose their hats at a meeting even seen flying umbrellas……Best meeting I was ever at. Doubt if there will be any video of Ten Up winning as the weather was like Ireland on a bad day and visability wasn’t great
I’ve seen Ten Up described as resembling "an undernourished greyhound" when fully fit (not my words) ~ he had plenty of size about him but apparently couldn’t hold condition well and was never the most robust. Jim Dreaper felt that he gave his absolute that day and possibly left a permanent mark which is hardly surprising given how desperate the conditions were. There is certainly footage of the race though and I have the finish on video somewhere; Ten Up made his only serious error at the second last and looked vulnerable but met the last on a stride and plugged on gamely, whereas both Bula and Soothsayer were so tired when challenging at the last that they barely rose at the fence and only the fact that they were going so slowly stopped them both turning over. Bula, in particular was running on memory for the last few furlongs, eventually repassed by his stablemate close home. Fred Winter was outspoken even before the race in saying that the meeting should have been abandoned.
Thanks bundkes for that Rory and Aldianiti was the first race……for me that is. I was with Donal Nolan and we were so drunk the night before we slept late…I remember running to the tote and backing him for a place..paid out for 4th…….I somehow dug out Royal Epic which was great but it was very ambarrassing when Donal who’s a complete prankster kept telling everyone on the Queens hotel I was Fred McKenna who rode the horse
Comedy beat Lanzarote new it was one way or the other……I remember watching Bula struggle up the hill which was very sad for me, having seen him produce all those blistering turns of speed over hurdles…….I’m certain about Summerville though and was down to ride Cuckolder……..I think you’ll find Cukolder was withdrawn which means it was the first day Summerville ran and not the second….cheers though for helping me with my fading memory
Got some real dirty looks from horse lovers and punters ……..
………1st race Aldaniti finished 4th in the hurdle can be added.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.