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Personally I can’t see Constitution Hill winning a Gold Cup, and even entering the National would be the biggest shock since Foinavon. I see him as another Pendil, probably win everything up to the King George, but won’t stay 3m2f. I know Astonville managed 10th, 10th and 13th, all in the same year, but I’m struggling to think of any horse even close to L’Escargot.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
The answer, surprisingly, is Pendil. He still had a Timeform rating of 160 after Rummy’s third win. The next closest is Tingle Creek, just a point lower than Red Rum after the 77 National, 156-155. Even in the spring of ’77, aged 12, Pendil was beating the likes of Gold Cup favourite Fort Devon.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Wow ! Thanks. Can I assume from your name you are the same espmadrid with all those videos of old races on YouTube ?
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Well, I was reliably informed at the time that was the horse’s name. My father knew a lot of trainers and jockeys in those days (he bought our house with winnings!), and as a family we would holiday staying on farms or near stables. On this occasion we’d stayed somewhere, can’t remember where, but it was owned by a Mr & Mrs Sipthorpe, who I was told “summered” jump horses. They had a field with various horses, and even at the age of 9 I could tell these weren’t pony club hacks, they were big muscley animals, looked liked the ones I watched on TV. Their daughter took me to see them, and I was stroking the face of this grey horse when it decided my shoulder obviously looked like a sugar cube. I am basing my anecdote, admittedly on information given to a 9 year old by adults, but my father’s racing connections, and the look of the horses, I have never really had reason to doubt it. Have occasionally thought about doing some research but never got round to it. I’m not sure if David Gandolfo is still with us, I think he moved to Somerset when he retired, but he’d be the one to tell me. Maybe this is incentive enough to make some enquiries. If anyone has information about Mr Gandolfo’s status or whereabouts, let me know.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
My claim to fame is that, age 9, I was bitten on the shoulder by Grey Sombrero !!!
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
I miss the days when races had proper names, like the Whitbread Gold Cup, or the Brooke Bond Oxo National, the SGB Chase, or the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup. The names aren’t as poetic or romantic now.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
That’s some field !!!!!
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
For anyone interested :
9th Nov 1974, 2.45 Newcastle, 2m 60y, £844.60, going Good
1 Sea Pigeon 4-11-0, R Barry, 10-11fav
2 Dutch Sam 4-11-0, D Nolan, 5-2, beaten 3 lengths
3 Archetto 4-11-7, S Holland, 12-1, 15 lengths behind Dutch Sam
4 Craig Prince 4-11-0, M Blackshaw, 16-1, 12 lengths behind Archetto
5 Panmure 4-11-0, G Old, 12-1, 8 lengths behind Craig Prince
6 Bobbie Gordon 4-11-0, D Munro, 16-1, 10 lengths behind Panmure
7 Hatachi Belle 4-10-7, J Mooney, 20-1, tailed off
Fell Good Judge 4-11-0, Mr R Lamb, 14-1, fell 2 out
G W Richards (P Muldoon) Time 4m 02.60My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
It wasn’t unknown in past years for a trainer to enter a top class horse, with no intention of running him, just to keep the weights down for other horses. I’m pretty sure that’s why Fred Winter entered Bula in 1977.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
The answer’s C, Mill House was entered that year which would explain such a low weight, although the answer could nearly have been B, Little Moppet was the last 6 year old entered for nearly 40 years. She did hold the record for the slowest times at Carlisle and Hexham I believe, according to an interview in Horse and Hound in 1970, which is where I found her in the first place. The slowest Grand National time is lost in the mists of time, most early runnings never recorded times but several horses spent a considerable amount of time completing given the cross country nature of the event. Not sure about the most times entered without running, although Border Mask, from the early 70s, entered 5 times without running, which must be close to the record.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
I would love to have seen Esban try, but again, she didn’t want to risk the horse.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Thanks for that. Oddly I’ve got Freddie just ahead of Merryman, and then Different Class. I tend to look at other factors as well, not just the weight/lengths, as the National is an entirely unique race. I always had the suspicion that Mill House would have been similar to Miller and put in one good performance before deciding it wasn’t for him! I’d agree it wasn’t a classic decade for the National, although my favourite horse of all time ran in the 60s, can you guess him? You clearly know your stuff, and this isn’t an obvious choice for a favourite horse- he lined up in the National against both Foinavon and Red Rum!
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Graham
Sorry, been hard at work for last week or so,busy period for weddings etc, will post up 80’s weights etc next week after National over.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
This weekend, when you’re in the pub, or just sat in front of the box watching channel 4, raise a glass to the man who epitomises the spirit of the National,…The Duke of Alberquerque, not forgetting his horse Nereo. It’s not about the money, or the TV rights, or the commercialism, it’s man and beast against 30 spruce covered obstacles, the cavalry charge to the first, fairytale endings, memories of epic finishes, horses and incidents. It’s the only sporting event on the planet that makes housewives get their 10 bob out for a bet, office workers organise a sweepstake…
I won’t be around in 2112 but I hope the National still is.
Die-hard romantic
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Years ago I was looking for the weights pre 1990, and decided easiest way was just to trawl through Times microfiches at local library, they always published weights. Have most of them back to 1950. missing 1959 and 1961.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
Not so sure either Synchronised or According To Pete are that scopey and According To Pete’s best form is with some cut in the ground.
Another thing I like about Synchronised is his ability to run any ground. I really think we could have another L’Escargot in the making.
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma
I have narrowed it down to these few horses
According to Pete 40’1
Seabass 14’1
Rare Bob 33’1
Mon Mome 40’1
The Midnight Club 22’1
Sunnyhill Boy 33’1
Killyglen 16’1
Always Waining 40’1
The Package 25’1The four in no particular order that I will look more closely at are
Seabass
The Midnight Club
Killyglen
The PackageThe trouble with The Package is that he alwys canters along at the back, not a very safe proposition at Aintree, and he may remember his time two years go which he didn’t seem to enjoy
My favourite horses - Red Rum, Spanish Steps, Proud Tarquin, Esban, Go-Pontinental, Barona, Charles Dickens, The Dikler, Astbury, Black Secret, Vulgan Town, Huperade, Well To Do, Crisp, Quintus, Argent, Colebridge, Pearl Of Montreal, Nereo, Sonny Somers, Tubs VI, Tartan Ace, Red Candle, L'Escargot, Bula, Beau Bob, Rouge Autumn, Rough Silk, Frodo, Deblin's Green, Prince Tino, Eyecatcher, The Pilgarlic, Captain Christy, Mr Midland, Interview II, Credit Call, My Virginian, Flush Of Diamonds, Scout, Money Ma