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No worries TDK; I’d argue that he’s been badly campaigned, given that he needs both a trip and goodish ground to be at his best. Should he not be the most impressive winner to date of the Ryanair next month, then I’ll happily change my opinion. It is, of course, a hugely subjective argument.
Well, he clearly goes well enough on testing ground and I’d like to have seen a better performance in the King George – he certainly didn’t look out of the top drawer that day and it didn’t look like he failed through a lack of stamina either. There are far too many average performances in his record (Kalca Mome anyone?) for him to be considered alongside the likes of Kauto Star, Master Minded and Denman. The sign of a top horse is surely that they can win when conditions aren’t entirely in their favour? Voy Por has come up short time and again (for all that he is still a good Grade 1 horse)
I think people are mixing up over or under rated with getting adulation. Best Mate got a lot of adulation but in my opinion was slightly over rated. Yes he had longevity and a shed load of pots, but that was based on a very poor set of rivals at the time. That’s not his fault, but thats why handicappers tend not to rate him as high as others who on the face of it did not achieve as much.
New Approach in my opinion was over rated last year by the international handicappers. Yes he won the Derby and both Champion Stakes, but the Derby form does not stand up to much scrutiny yet and what did he beatin either Champion Stakes? He was slammed by Duke of Marmalade fair and square and well stuffed by Henry twice.Flyingbolt
: I think Blunkett is spot on. What this horse achieved was phenomenal yet he is never mentioned anymore.
Of recent years I thought Ghostzapper was an incredible horse.
I wonder if any horse will ever do what Flyingbolt did in 1965. Won the Champion Two Miler and then the following day, finished third in the Champion Hurdle. But for illness (brucellosis, I think, he ended up at Hawick with Ken Oliver) he would have run up a sequence in the two mile champion chase. A true great who also won an Irish National.
Golden Fleece
Great shout. Pat Eddery reckons he was the best horse he rode. Coming from a man who rode Dancing Brave and El Gran Senor that is some statement.
Reference Point anyone?
There’s a wonderful photo in Sean Magees brilliant book about Arkle where the author as a young man got to meet Flyingbolt in retirement; he pointed out that the horse had somewhat mellowed with age and he lived to tell the tale…..
Zilzal
I always thought that those of us with any memory have always thought the world of Zilzal? I take your point though.
Of the NH, I think Harchibald is one of the best 2mile hurdlers I have seen even if he perhaps is better on flatter tracks. Would have the toe for any other horse even the mighty istabraq IMO if thinks were in his favour.
SHL
Shamardal
And how.
I’m backing every 2YO by him at the moment, since all the One Cool Cats are skinny runts.
Waterloo Boy gets underrated, probably due to the fact that he never won a Champion Chase but he won every other top race in the 2m division. He was only prevented from winning the CC because he came up against three top class chasers in Barnbrook Again, Katabatic & Remittance Man.
Seven Towers – a true four mile champion chaser. He looked unstoppable over the distance in 1996-97, much like Rummy did during the 1973-74 season.
Lammtarra – unbeaten, won his maiden then won the Derby in record time (which still stands today) next he won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and finally the Arc. Definitely underrated.
Les Arcs springs to mind.
An incredible story for one thing- i’m sure we all know the basics – egg and spoon hurdle races to Group 1 sprints.
He then wins the Golden Jubilee and the July Cup in the same season and is not even crowned Chapion Sprinter, because Reverence ran amok in the mud after he left for the far east.
Maybe not the biggest travesty of all time, but an interesting little tale i reckon.
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