STPublishing yes a U.S. challenge did chame to UK and ran in the 1987 champion hurdle and hes name was flatra a great race only to finsh second more did in 2002 festival
That's American champion Soothsayer finishing second in a game (if exhausted) performance. Be nice to see another U.S. challenge at the Festival. Someday.
Richard Burridge recalled walking the course for the 89 Gold Cup and he nearly slipped in the mud on the hill at the back of the course. Due to the diversity of Cheltenham and Kempton, it has always been considered the mark of a great 'chaser if they could win both King George and Gold Cup, preferrably in the same season.
yes the ground that year was very soft. I think they abandoned several race such as the sun alliance chase. 1989 was pretty soft too. I dont think there is a trend that races back then were run on softer going than today (though some courses have better drainage now to ensure some racing). Big races tend to get run on any going then and now.
I've always wondered whether the reason they abandoned 78 was due to the post-race reaction to this running. The rest of the meeting was abandoned. It was a tough race on a very tough course.
Poor Bula on any other ground he would have won never seemed the same horse again and so tragically killed 2 yrs later at the same meeting as Lanzarote. If 2 such high prolfile stars would ahve met that fate at Cheltenham nowadays god only knows what the press / animal rights would have made of it.
In Ireland they would call this good jumping ground. The sort of ground that great Irish chasers like Brown Lad, Carvills Hill and L`Escargot would relish.
STPublishing yes a U.S. challenge did chame to UK and ran in the 1987 champion hurdle and hes name was flatra a great race only to finsh second more did in 2002 festival
waqarkhan25 2 months ago
That's American champion Soothsayer finishing second in a game (if exhausted) performance. Be nice to see another U.S. challenge at the Festival. Someday.
STPublishing 1 year ago
Richard Burridge recalled walking the course for the 89 Gold Cup and he nearly slipped in the mud on the hill at the back of the course. Due to the diversity of Cheltenham and Kempton, it has always been considered the mark of a great 'chaser if they could win both King George and Gold Cup, preferrably in the same season.
malcs0 1 year ago
yes the ground that year was very soft. I think they abandoned several race such as the sun alliance chase. 1989 was pretty soft too. I dont think there is a trend that races back then were run on softer going than today (though some courses have better drainage now to ensure some racing). Big races tend to get run on any going then and now.
grincher2006 1 year ago
I've always wondered whether the reason they abandoned 78 was due to the post-race reaction to this running. The rest of the meeting was abandoned. It was a tough race on a very tough course.
malcs0 1 year ago
Is it just me, or was this kind of going a lot more common in those days than it is now?
december2364 2 years ago
but not Captain Christie, who was pulled up in this race i recall.
pjjclarke 3 years ago
Poor Bula on any other ground he would have won never seemed the same horse again and so tragically killed 2 yrs later at the same meeting as Lanzarote. If 2 such high prolfile stars would ahve met that fate at Cheltenham nowadays god only knows what the press / animal rights would have made of it.
bluemanc43 3 years ago
In Ireland they would call this good jumping ground. The sort of ground that great Irish chasers like Brown Lad, Carvills Hill and L`Escargot would relish.
mervyncharter 3 years ago
Not the sort of ground that would have been considered raceable on an ordinary Wednesday at Plumpton - I'd guess the slowest-run Gold Cup.
RobinCarmody 3 years ago