Cheltenham Festival
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Dear Race Fans
Just so you know, ISTABRAQ is the greatest National Hunt horse in history, not Arkle.
Also, I read the Official Handicapper, Mr Smith thinks Arkle was roughly 10 pounds better than Kauto Star's last King George victory?... Err, don't think so!
Just so you know, ISTABRAQ is the greatest National Hunt horse in history, not Arkle.
Also, I read the Official Handicapper, Mr Smith thinks Arkle was roughly 10 pounds better than Kauto Star's last King George victory?... Err, don't think so!
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Istabraq was a superstar but he was not (IMO) even the best champion hurdler ever..
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Hells teeth, here we go
 Duck! run for cover!! |
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Istabraq was by far the best hurdler I've seen. Can't comment on Arkle as it was ages before my time but he was obviously very good.
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R Carver - Err, yes he was! Istabraq was the greatest Champion Hurdler in history so get your facts right. He would have def won 4 Champions Hurdle's if it wasn't for Foot And Mouth.
You need to understand sonny! |
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Who the blue hell are these people saying Istabraq isn't the best hurdler of all time? He is easily the greatest of all time. No disrespect to Arkle as a National Hunt horse but I got the DVD of his races and watched it a couple of times and I tell you now, there is no way he would have beaten Kauto Star in the King George on Kauto's performance last year. Whoever, thinks that needs their head testing.
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Opinion masquerading as 'facts'! Check
Tilting at heroes! Check A belligerent attitude! Check Patronising! Check It's going to get messy, don't say I didn't warn you. |
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what are you going on about? lol Who is this, Roger Rabbit?
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We're comparing 2m hurdlers to staying chasers. That's a first.
Ok, Federer is better than tiger woods and Pele |
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Mayweather you sound shrewd. Can I have your 3 best bets for Cheltenham so far?
P.S Arkle is far more than 10lb superior horse to Kauto Star. That was never a 190+ performance last year. |
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Different sport. Next question!
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Istabraq is just about the best hurdler I've seen.
Whilst there is little point trying to compare hurdlers with chasers Arkle's best performances were about 2 stone better than anything Istabraq achieved. You are right to disagree with Mr Smith. Arkle was at least 20lb superior to Kauto Star. |
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EC he fancies the favs in all the races, Ghizao, TFR, Master Minded.....
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Any other opinions for us to debate into the night Mayweather?!
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early hallmarks of a classic thread...
[smiley:crazy] |
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the irony...road to knowhere just comes on the radio...lol
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Flyingbolt - not according to times he isn't. Did you grandad tell you that rubbish! Istabraq is/was the best so be quiet.
Arkle was not 20lb better than Kauto Star round Kempton, Kauto would have hammered him! How many King George's did Arkle win lol. CVByrne - shut your mouth, I follow the best horse, big deal. I make profit unlike you, you silly clown. |
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My suspicions have been confirmed CV, he is shrewd.
Now we know the best pound for pound NH horse, who's the best Flat one? 1/4 - Sea The Stars 6/4 - Harbinger 5/1 - Anything else that raced since 2009 33/1 - Bar In my book. |
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Harbinger would have hammered Sea The Stars over a mile and a half.
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STS owner was scared to race Zenaytta in the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic.
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when are you back to school?
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Calm down Mayweather, I said you fancied the favs was I lying? No so what you having a go at me for.
You were asking for trouble with this thread. I doubt anyone will take it too seriously though. Like istabraq was a hurdler. Also comparisons between horses from the 60's and now are impossible. |
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What was your previous username you attention seeking twaat ?
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1.01 ADHD
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Bolty - I'm surprised at such a strong comment from you about Istabraq being the best hurdler you've seen - mainly because you've been privileged to witness the glorious hurdlers of the 70's. One thing that always niggled away at me with Istabraq was that the opposition was as bad as it could have been! I'm sure he could have competed with that golden generation (as maybe could See You Then) but for me, his greatness is exaggerated. It's all about opinions of course, and we all have our favourites but for me, Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse & Monksfield aren't easily forgotten. Ponder over this quandary.....which (not necessarily the best) hurdler do you think would be last off the bridle?
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Harchibald (nap)!
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Floyd - how far back does your interest in racing go? Who were the first top-class horses you witnessed?
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EC -
interesting thought though? |
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sea pigeon for me with francome in the plate although why does no-one ever mention comedy of errors ?
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Good question, Harchy.
Istabraq or Sea Pigeon I'd have thought. The Pigeon wouldn't have found as much as the others you mention. I was privileged to see Persian War on many occasions too as well as the three you mention but was always of the opinion that in the right conditions i.e. 2m, Good ground,fast pace and Cheltenham, See You Then would have beaten them all. Then along came Istabraq and whilst I agree his wasn't a great era he had everything. The only times he was beaten there was always a reason.(Heavy ground,longer distance, fell) |
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FB - I was a big fan of both See You Then & Istabraq but their opposition was very poor. They probably get a raw deal as all they could do was beat up the opposition in style. I think when Gaye Brief was right he looked exceptional too.
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PS - sadly for GB, he's probably remembered for 'emptying out' all too quickly.
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Longevity has to come into it in these discussions though. Gaye Brief had one great year and was never the same horse again.All the others we have mentioned were at their peak for at least 3 seasons.
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Does anyone remember the bookiebasher?Mayweather and basher appear to think along the same lines me thinks
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I know he won three Champion Hurdles but you could hardly accuse See You When of having longevity
 As you're aware, it's very difficult to weigh up the greats of the game (as with the flat too) but the imperious way SYT bounded up the hill (twice) reminded me of Troy in his Derby. It's difficult to imagine an opponent (on those days) holding off such a strong finishing blasts. |
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Quite a strange compairison there harchy
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The trouble with See You Then was that he ideally needed fast ground but because of his leg problems the only time they dared risk him on it was in the Champion Hurdle.
His first two Champions were the only time he had his optimum conditions. In his third there had been a lot of rain in the week before and the ground was good to soft so he struggled a bit to see off Flatterer.. |
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MC - yes I know it is but don't you ever compare how races under different codes pan out? Maybe it's just me. If you watch SYT's first two wins and Troy's Derby, you'll see what I mean. FWIW, I recently made a comparison (which nobody responded to) on another thread about Menorah's recent Bula victory being reminiscent of Best Mate's third Gold Cup win.
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morley street wouldnt have been too far behind anything i can recall,albeit im only 36 .
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