Horse Racing 1990 Irish Grand National Desert Orchid

[terryeggett1]

A warrior of an horse

[ComteLafon]

I was a bit put off at the time by the Dessie hype - it was good for publicity - but as time goes on, his achievements are really standing up in the pantheon and, personally, I'm baffled how Timeform have put Kauto so high on the basis of one level-weights race when their ratings of DO, Arkle, Carvills Hill and most others are based on handicaps. I'm a fan of all great horses, but I'd find it hard to say that Kauto is better than Desert Orchid on form. Greatness is more subjective, of course.

[Laytonia1977]

A true champion - that jump at the second last - thank you for uploading. Dessie, never, ever forgotten x

[malcs0]

I remember this race. He was knackered by the last, but made Ireland's best staying chasers look ordinary. John Francome was totally spot on. He did an Arkle that day. He got in front and just burned everything off. You notice how many horses start hitting fences and falling on the second circuit. Dessie was just taking the michael at the last. What a horse he was. For versatility, he's probably been the best horse since the early seventies when Pendil used to be campaigned similarly.

[Laytonia1977]

@malcs0 nicely put :)  I adored that horse.

[littlebay75]

kauto is a great horse but i think denman is better kauto only beat denman because he had been ill he won and came third in two hennessy,s under top weight but dessie would have burnt off kauto his whitbread win was incredible my grandad said he was the best since arkle !!

[sleeplessinsale]

It has nothing to do with him being grey or whatever that I have the highest opinion of the horse. He won this race with top weight with Dunwoody not needing his whip. In his mega 88-89 season, he gave 22lb to Panto Prince over HIS favoured distance when HE was at his most confident in the Victor Chandler, and beat him. He gave a stone and a half to Pegwell Bay in the Agfa Diamond Chase when HE was at HIS most confident and beat him. These are indisputible facts. Untouchable performances since.

[Jamie2462A]

I just cant see anything beating a peak Kauto Star around Kempton over 3 miles. In my opinion Dessie will always have the backing of fans due to him being Grey and because he won a gold cup in what you could say was against all odds, due to ther ground etc.

Kautos two gold cup wins have been a sprint finish. However, his King George wins and in particular 2009, were some of the best ever. He destroyed a field who were top notch and did it in style. I like both horses but think Kauto is classy

[Jamie2462A]

Lets not be harsh on Kauto. As much as Dessie was a great...Well Kauto is simply... better. At the very least on par!

Kauto did what Dessie never did...2 gold cups and 4 king Georges...in a row!

But i still admire what Dessie did. A fabulous horse!

[bluemanc43]

@Jamie2462A not knocking Kauto he is the best of his generation but Dessie was hampered in that he could only truly perform away from Cheltenham. He would have won 5 King Georges in a row but for a crazy ride in the 1987 running when along with Beau Ranger he set a total suicidal pace that no horse could ever sustain. He would have also won a stack of Tingle Creeks / Victor Chandlers were they not run as a handicaps.

[ALmyster947]

@Jamie2462A How can u say that. Dessie won every COULD give weight away.... lumps of it, 2 to good horses. Kauto CANT give weight away to average performers. As bluemanc says, he should have won a 5th King George but for a silly silly ride. To this day I dont know what he was doing. He won the King George at 11, Kauto didnt. Dessie would give Kauto a stone and a beating if you ask me

[Jamie2462A]

@ALmyster947 - you wrote off Kauto before he did win it at 11yrs of age. You still think Dessie gives him a stone and a beating? 5 King Georges and a 3rd now, when arguable not at his best. How many records does Kauto hold on his own? Probably more than Dessie. How many Gold cups? More than Dessie, how many King georges? More than Dessie. They are the MAIN two races on the NH calendar.

[stevven69]

@Jamie2462A sorry but i dnt agree kauto has only eva once tryed to win a decent handicap and that was against monets garden at aintree and was firmly put in hes place , desert orchid did it time and time again , WHIBREAD GOLD CUP , RACING POST CHASE , IRISH NATIONAL , VICTOR CHANDLER , AND WON WON THEM THEM ALL , IN MY OPPINION DESERT ORCHID WAS BETTER KAUTO DOES EXACTLY WHAT BEST MATE DID RUNS THREE TIMES A YEAR IN RACE CONDITIONS TO SUIT NOT NOT HANDICAPS TO SUIT

[Jamie2462A]

@stevven69 Monets Graden was a Aintree specialist and it was over a shorter than ideal trip for Kauto, who was closing in at then end. I doubt Dessie would give weight a a 2mile specialist like Masterminded and a beating over 2 miles. Common sense troops.

[tobin2]

None of todays top chasers would be capable of doing anything near that performance in a top handicap like Dessie does here.

Brilliant

[XLadyClaireX]

Lest we forget.....

[LovesJumps]

@XLadyClaireX Here, here