The Thinker 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup

[joiganja]

poor old cybrandian, the same thing happened in the natiional. i still think he,s a great horse .

[SheffieldSteel1000]

Cybrandian actually drifted right across the track as they came up the run-in, and carried The Thinker with him! - Not that it matters though, the result would have been the same whatever.

[thewelly1973]

had 50/1 for cybrandian in this race. Backed it every race. Very unlucky not to win.

[bernadettestewart]

my first ever cheltenham festival the gold cup was in danger of being abandoned due to the heavy snowfall the stewards and jockeys walked the course and decided it was safe to run I am sure the race went off about 5pm

[tommyfatwallet007]

jkelly01 your right mate not 1 of these socalled commentators could or will ever match him , that win by the thinker was true guts and it showed by his voice wish he was still doing it now miss him so much theVOICE

[jkelly01]

O SULLIVAN IS CLASS

[jonnybeeston]

I think Richard Rowe was door latches rider.

[ViveLaRock]

I did back Forgive N fORGET EVERYTIME HE RAN. mY FAVOURITE nh HORSE OF ALL TIME. i BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE WON THIS BUT FOR THE CONDITIONS.

[Newworldman66]

I agree, the conditions made the race a real stamina test favouring the GN types in the lineup. Given an even share of luck Forgive 'n' Forget would probably have won 4 GCs and would now be revered as an all time great rather than as just another past GC winner. I'd certainly rate him above the likes of Best Mate but below the likes of Denman or Kauto.

[21shergar]

Where do you stand on Blazing Walker, NWM?

[Newworldman66]

I never saw him run 21shergar. Forgive 'n' Forget's death in the 88 GC sickened me to such an extent that I lost interest in NH racing for quite a long time.

[tigerboy1966]

@21shergar Blazing Walker was a fin legend. I thought that no-one else remembered him.

[21shergar]

Someone posted an article about BW on the BBC's 606 racing pages the other day. The best chaser never to have won the Gold Cup (that's saying something, but the comment has merit) is not forgotten. Watch his H and T Walker and Melling Chase victories here on YT. You probably have already!

Stephenson trained only a couple of miles from where I now sit and I remember BW every time I drive past WAS' former yard.

[tigerboy1966]

The Melling Chase is the one that sticks in my mind, BW galloped all over Katabatic and Waterloo Boy who were brilliant horse. Can't agree about "best chaser never to have won the GC" as 2& a half was his trip. I remember that he had a lot of injury problems after the 90/91 season, so we'll probably never know how good he really was.

[21shergar]

I daresay I have trouble with BW coloured spectacles! He did win over more than 2.5miles in his career and I contend to this day that he was certainly capable of winning a CGC. Shame that injury denied us his best years.

He did, in the end, take his chance in the CGC, but only following Mr Stephenson's death when trained by Peter Cheeseborough, but the moment had passed and he pulled up.

[december2364]

Totally agree with your opinion of Forgive 'N' Forget. Great chaser and an all-time favourite of mine.

[julzyboy1973]

I agree Best Mate did not have a lot to beat really. Chasers were a bit substandard. Burrough Hill Lad was very good chaser as was Forgive 'n' Forget. We're very lucky to have two great horses about nowadays Denman & Kauto. Best since Arkle every one says. Wish I had seen Arkle in the flesh. Think Denman would be well suited in the Grand National but would the owners risk him with 12 stone on his back.

[joiganja]

he was my favourite too ,he would have won charter partys g c if he didnt get injured 3 out

[bernadettestewart]

totally agree I was at the festival that year backed Forgive N Forget absolutely cruising then that fatal fall

[ViveLaRock]

One of the few GC winners I backed. Happy days. But what a slog the course was that day.

[Newworldman66]

This race was delayed due to a blizzard and would have been called off if it wasn't the GC. The race was a slog that suited the Grand National horses in the race who went on to dominate the finish.

[21shergar]

The Thinker was great. Arthur Stephenson was so underrated as a trainer: he was the business. His best horse was, of course, Blazing Walker. Had he been tilted by Mr Stephenson at the 1991 Gold Cup, I believe he would have won. Just look at how he destroyed a class field in the Melling Chase that year. Even though 3m2f at left-handed Cheltenham would have been against him, he had the class to win. Shame WA was so circumspect in his ambitions for BW.

[nlm1980]

Hi. i love your video's. is it me or do u think the gold cups were way more exciting and competetive back in the day.