Sea Pigeon - Dual Champion Hurdler

[historyscoper]

Like horseracing? Scope the history of the sport free with moi, see my profile for url.

[malcs0]

Sea Pigeon was a son of Sea Bird II who won a number of races on softish going. Sea Pigeon was getting better as he got older. I remember Francome's exaggerated waiting tactics well in 81; as I said in my previous post, he was taking on a lot of youngsters, and in Daring Run was defeating the supposed Irish successor to Monksfield. I believe Sea Pigeon would have won the 82 race with similar tactics.

[malcs0]

They changed the distance in 1980 from 2 miles 220 yds (2 miles 1 furlong) to 2miles 110yards (2 miles 1/2 furlong). Jonjo later admitted it was the extra 110 yards that was Sea Pigeon's undoing in 79. However, Sea Pigeon was one of the most consistent performers of his generation. Please note that most of those competing from 76 until 80 had gone by 81, so Sea Pigeon was taking on a lot of youngsters, and still beating them.

[pglogofilms]

My favourite piece of Peter O'Sullevan commentary - a classic race with words to match.

[lesblakeman]

Sea Pigeon should have won 4 Champion Hurdles , the ground was barely raceable when Monksfield beat him.

[NMHENDERS0N]

Sea Pigeon & Francombe, the best conbination ever!

[tarqogan]

Great to see this son of the legendary Sea Bird II lifting the Champion Hurdle. Certainly deserved it after his titanic battles with that pocket dynamo Monksfield.

[martinh103]

francome taking the piss hahaha

[tigerboy1966]

Love Bird's Nest at 0.35- he's like "can I be bothered to win this, naaaah, not really"- must have driven his connections mad.

[Cheesebody]

yes your right great horse but a bit of a rogue.

[december2364]

Bird's Nest was a nutter, but on his day he could beat anything - he just never done it here when it really mattered.

[Cheesebody]

you are right but to be fair to the horse andy turnell rode really short and gave the impression that this horse together with tree tangle and beacon light etc were going better than they really were and to be honerst in a truly run race he was not good enough on most occasions.the great days of hurdling appear to be over and i am sure sea pigeon would wipe the floor with every horse since he ritired and had he not got the virus he would have won another 2 champion hurdles

[quick46]

Ted Walsh's whip action on Daring Run would have got him a six month ban these days... Cut rashers off the poor horse.

[vidsee]

There's never been a better horseman/jockey than Francomb

[royimsickofit]

@vidsee terrible tipster tho!!