the course commentator said when they jumped the hurdle at the top of the hill "Istabraq has started his move" the crowd started to roar and did'nt stop 'til he left the winners enclosure. I've never seen or heard anything like it, still get goosebumps watching it.
Poor Jim McGrath; he gets told off by the director for pointing out Pridwell at the start ("Hang on, we follow the pictures, make your mind up", and he was right, the camera did go to Pridwell ), but then he memorably declares this as being one of the most open renewals of the race in years. He was right there too ! because we now know that this was the most open Champion Hurdle ever, as long as you are talking about the gap between first and second !
Bit of a camera cock-up by the director here - cuts away from Istabraq before he crosses the line, then cuts away from the chasers before they've finished too, so we don't see the winning post at all!
@azertyuiop32 I thought that F&M was terribly unlucky at the time too, but I heard some time afterwards that if they had raced the going would have been heavy at Prestbury Park that week. If you then remember how Istabraq struggled when Leopardstown was muddy, winning with a slog and twice(or was it just once?) falling, there is quite a question mark over whether he would have won that 4th Champion. I would have so loved it , though, and he so deserved it.
Such a shame he lost the chance to win a fourth Champion Hurdle due to foot and mouth (which also prevented a second French win in the Gold Cup, you sort of suspect).
the course commentator said when they jumped the hurdle at the top of the hill "Istabraq has started his move" the crowd started to roar and did'nt stop 'til he left the winners enclosure. I've never seen or heard anything like it, still get goosebumps watching it.
denisgerard 1 week ago
OH the match between the hurricane and istabraq. two legends of hurdling.!!!!
rollernick49 1 week ago
Bozlike. Willie mullins won't even back hurricane fly. Cop on will ye!!
SuperClogher 1 month ago
the camrea man was sacked the next day his name was mr andrew bels he went to work at the dust in swindon shame
vania1013 1 month ago
agreed, hurricane fly and istabraq, 2 horses of a generation! get on the fly while u can, willie's just after an ante-post price
bozlike 2 months ago
Poor Jim McGrath; he gets told off by the director for pointing out Pridwell at the start ("Hang on, we follow the pictures, make your mind up", and he was right, the camera did go to Pridwell ), but then he memorably declares this as being one of the most open renewals of the race in years. He was right there too ! because we now know that this was the most open Champion Hurdle ever, as long as you are talking about the gap between first and second !
alipitogen 3 months ago
hurricane fly will achieve the same!
oiuslag12 7 months ago
@oiuslag12 hurricane fly is the biggest thing to happen to national hunt since istabraq
liamobrien06 3 months ago
i love the way this horse moves he's so fluent perfect balance.
Damotf 7 months ago
dato star?
4743stephenf 7 months ago
Bit of a camera cock-up by the director here - cuts away from Istabraq before he crosses the line, then cuts away from the chasers before they've finished too, so we don't see the winning post at all!
MercifulZeus 10 months ago 2
"i think its a very very open race".jim mcgrath.....ha ha ha little did he know the greatest of them all was about to shine
Ryan94Mc 11 months ago
tennis???? are you mad?? tony mcoy is only bettered by a certain mr walsh round cheltenham
tmc1881 1 year ago
total awesome display of speed and jumping me fav istabraq champion hurdle win
chrisnufc24 1 year ago
what a horse he was. just a pity foot and mouth robbed him of what would have been a likely fourth champion hurdle.
azertyuiop32 1 year ago
@azertyuiop32 I thought that F&M was terribly unlucky at the time too, but I heard some time afterwards that if they had raced the going would have been heavy at Prestbury Park that week. If you then remember how Istabraq struggled when Leopardstown was muddy, winning with a slog and twice(or was it just once?) falling, there is quite a question mark over whether he would have won that 4th Champion. I would have so loved it , though, and he so deserved it.
alipitogen 3 months ago
@Fishkie0ov0Ringland I look up to him and I want to be as good as him one day.
ClerksChoice 1 year ago
Comment removed
daisydooker 1 year ago
A fantastic horse-Charlie swan rides cheltenham much better than AP i'm sorry to say
tennisball2121 1 year ago
@tennisball2121 Swan was great over hurdles at Cheltenham though plenty better over the bigger obstacles.
foriamonlyahorse11 1 year ago
bless him my pride and joy is my picture above my fireplace of him jumping last fence at chelt,but he looks like a baby in this vid
Kizzle50 1 year ago
THE GREATEST
istabrauq 1 year ago
Best Hurdler Ever ..... !
ProfessorMuscles 1 year ago
Such a shame he lost the chance to win a fourth Champion Hurdle due to foot and mouth (which also prevented a second French win in the Gold Cup, you sort of suspect).
RobinCarmody 1 year ago