Cheltenham nightmare!!

for none stop falling at the last

imp commander bleeding nose

peddlers just failing, lots of singles..had him at 16s in a yankee with Imp Com 5s Big Bucks 11/10 and Sizing Europe 8s

oscars Well messing up the last...big double with S.E.

Baby Run falling 2 out when in the lead

Amazingly enough I still had a profitable Chelt

i backed merchants friend at 33s i was stood at the last fence roaring ithome with it stillbeing 10 lengths clear over the last  only for it to be mugged on the line by a pipe horse gutted was not the worse

maljimar,enough said!!

Wayward Lad 1986 Gold Cup, just made it worse that the world and his wife had backed Dawn Run.

hill society in the arkle looked like he got up in a photo, counting me money but mcoy got it onon  the nod  one of pipes ,knocked the bollax out of me for the rest of the day !

Benasalem take 1 was pretty gut wrenching. Thankfully he made sure the year after.

Maljimar....defo enough said Bud

Maljimar for me though I do feel for the poster earlier who reminded me of Merchant Friends race, he was literally 10 clear after the last and got swallowed, that would do it for me...

how about a horse that came from way back,took the lead with 50 yars to go and got beat!! - Refinement

Actually that was worse than Maljimar.

Oscars well last year would have gone close

The Package... still think he,s getting up    Unfortunately pocket talk as had him to beat chief dan george in the exacta

Another one, the bumper horse that got carried across the course by Jamie Spencers mount and beaten a head, 55000 assumed the stewards would reverse the places but they somehow sided with the flat jockey, astonishing.
Probably 10 years ago ?

Actually anotehr one that's semi amusing:
Had a match bet in the bumper 5 years ago maybe, Nina Carbery was on one who reared up at the tapes and unshipped her, happy hards for me because in a 2m flat race all mine had to do was poodle around and I'd collect, travelling just behind the leading group coming down the hill he clipped the heels of those in front and to my horror Dickie Johnson was on the floor - not many people can fail to win a match bet in a flat race where the oppo are on the deck....

Ping Pong Sivola!

Baby Run

I had had a £25 treble, Zarkander (7/1), Long Run (7/2) and BABY RUN (7/2).

Was mortified it has to be said!

Also in 2010, I had spent 2 hours on the phone convincing a  mate that Chief Dan George was the bet of the festival in the William Hill at 33's. Sold the case so well that he piled on, so as I had decided I would have a hefty bet on him on course... I got court up in the moment and said the wrong freeking number.

So there I was delighted I had just lumped on a 33/1 shot to then look down in dispear that I was holding the wrong ticket.

horse9 - Rhinestone Cowboy not being awarded that race still hurts me now!

In those days I was a far less disciplined punter and after having some well-fancied runners get stuffed I chased with the other 54,999 people who plunged on the supposed good thing.

And worst of all - I think it was a good thing! Criminal how he didn't get that race - was bumped twice in the last furlong, still went down by a tiny margin and was finishing the stronger.

Another one for me was having a placepot perm still going into the final leg a few years ago (it was the old Cathcart I recall but don't remember who was in it). Anyway, the pot paid a big sum but I missed out having covered three runners in what could only have been an 8 or 9-runner race.

And Big Zeb putting in a clear round of jumping and beating Forpadydeplasterer, Had Forpady in a fairly substantial bet, e/w doubles and treble.  Didn't know til after the Gold Cup but Big Zeb not falling over cost me £168,000.

Thanks Tom - Rhinestone Cowboy it was.

The two fallers in the bumper were Karanja and the Mick Weston (2005).
One of lifes more painful experiences...

Win only accumulator - Sanctuaire bolts up to win the fred winter i think it was. Then Spirit river smashes them in the coral cup. Baby run batters the field in the foxhunters but...... ALFIE SHERRIN runs like a total blackpool donkey (which he has subsequently shown again and again since to be his true form.) Something near 7000/1 i believe it was. Bad times

Had £10 on Barizan at 210pts on here......lost my voice in that Triumph hurdle race when he was miles ahead to be caught by Soldatino!!.....was at the course on the day so had no chance to trade it!!! grrrr!

Native Dara Cooral Cuo 2000  5 or 6 clear on the run in and just got caught on the line by Whats up Boys.Had 2 decent priced winners with it in an E/W lucky 15

Anzum was another,who came from a mile back to collar Le Cordray close home

Mine was celestial halo 10/1 in champion hurdle beaten a head for a few grand. The bet was a £5 win antepost yankee on Dunguib 7/1 in the bumper, Well chief to finish 2nd in the Champion chase 9/2 and Zaynar in the Triumph 5/1. The year 2009. I reckon it was for about £20k if i remember rightly.

I know a few on hear have also mentioned the infamous Maljimar, me too.

Maljimar was my nap of the day, so loaded in to win £3k.

I liked Witcheta so had a tenna saver on it and did the forecast.

So there i am jumping up and down shouting Maljimar over the last and then i get greedy!!

Yeah Maljimar has it in the bag, so there I am, looking for the forecast.

I see Witcheta and start screaming all the way up the hill at him to stay on for second!!

Obviously I screamed at him too loud!!

I of course stopped shouting for Witcheta about two strides out, but the damage was done!!

Fortunately it was a reverse exacta, but I still felt gutted.... lol!

I love Cheltenham for giving me so much joy and pain!! ... simply LOVE it!

2007 Arkle leaves me cold. Two big ante post e/w bets on Twist Magic and Don't Push it. Absolutely convinced Don't Push it would have won. Whether Twist would have gone past MWDS hard to say given how soft he proved in following year. But a winner and a place at good odds to f all in a few secs was hard to take. Reckon the second last cost me 9.5k that race. Why couldn't they move it earlier?

Aye Ping Pong Sivola, and I made a special case of betting with Freddie's Daughter too.

After reading these hard luck stories hardened flat supporters will ask "how doesn't that happening to you put you off the jumping game and Cheltenham?" I think it makes me like it even more! BRING IT ON!!!

A pony at 40/1 Celestial Gold in the 4miler, overhauled by Native Emperor and a little Widger. Looked home for all money freewheeling down the hill and turning in.
Turned out to be a classy operator the following season.

Maljimar for me too. Felt like I was the only person on the whole racecourse not celebrating. Nice to know I actually wasn't alone in that moment

Barizan and Bensalem are my two. Bensalem was particularly annoying as I didn't back him the next year!

I have had some good Cheltenhams but I have also had my worst day betting ever there. It was 1974 Gold Cup day and by the time the Gold Cup came I was already well down but Pendil surely only had to get around to win but he was ridden by Richard Pitman who didn't have good record in big races. Anyway I had £200 (£2000 in today value) on. Still going very well Pitman managed to get him brought down by outsider High Ken on the downhill fence on last circuit.
Come the last race I was £800 down and tried to get out with £200 on L'Escargot at 4/1 in the Cathcart (Ryanair) but beaten into second by Soothsayer ridden by Richard Pitman(!). At least that how I recall it  but now I think what I was doing backing L'Escargot (competing in National by then) over that distance.
Whatever I remember the day cost me a grand which was a lot of money though I do remember handling it quite well with youthful optimism of getting it back.

Distant Thunder in the 2007(?) Billy Mountains H'Cap Chase

Bollox to Joes Edge, Juveigneur, Ferdy Murphy and his entire phooking bloodline!!!

Get me out of here last year; still convinced he won

Me too bluebird, cost me dear

i need to stop looking at this thread,keep getting nasty reminders!!
That was one of mine as well.

get me out of here.yep im sure it won to.cost me huuuuuge

needed moon over miami to bail me out a couple years back in the granannual.....OH CRICK!!!!

Expect I won't be the last to say (eight monkeys) Harchibald

Good old Harchibald!

He will go down in history as the only horse to still be on the bridle half way up the run in, and not win!!

Cant see that ever being bettered, or should I say worsened!!

Still loved the horse!!

1998. Was on course all three days and didn't get a winner, my mates had to feed me on the way home. Compounded by then failing to back a winner in the first two days of 1999, that's 33 consecutive races

I went on to back every winner bar Anzum (who nobody backed) the next day, funnily enough I'll never forget the feeling I had that Friday, whereas the pain of what preceded it is now only a dull ache.

On the converse side 05 Hardy Eustace was one I particularly enjoyed but Harchi fans its really time to get over that one. He was only so close cos HE set a false pace and Harchis stamina didn't get exposed till very late. Looked very unlucky but in truth everything fell in place for Harchi that day and still couldn't beat the warrior.

09,08 races strong pace stuffed and 04 couldn't win off 138 in the county says it all.

beat Brave Inca though,so he stayed alright,just could'nt quicken off a pace that beat a winner of the race and failed by a whisker to beat another winner of the race.

too soft in the other races,needed good ground.

I backed Valiramix to win over £120,000

started backing it in the May before and had it doubled, trebled and Lucky 15ed with everything. Was a heavy cash punter in them days and I had stacks of tickets with all kinds of money running on from biggish prices and ended up having 4 grand in cash on it on the day at the track - was in the Martin Pipe marquee as I had a share in a runner and the atmosphere in there was dreadful

it was worse than a nightmare I can tell ya

and as for the poor owner 93 years old sweet old guy was distraught

Racing Guru - in defence of my favourite ever horse Harchibald...although he was clearly flawed, his preparation was nothing but troubled before THAT Champion Hurdle, and if memory serves, the rumours of his well-being were that bad, that I think he'd drifted to 8/1, when at Xmas he was 2/1 after thrashing Rooster Booster!

I know the County Hurdle (the previous year) looks bad, but he was nowhere near the finished article at that time, and being in front an eternity from home most certainly didn't suit.

As for his defeats in the other Champion Hurdles...I do think that a relentless pace on softer ground emptied him, as he wasn't the strongest of stayers like his Nemesis Brave Inca or Hardy Eustace.

I think it's clear he handled soft ground well enough, and also didn't have stamina issues, but a combination of ease in the ground and a relentless pace always seemed to catch him out.
AND of course the fortitude that Brave Inca showed in spades, which I think broke his heart

I've never seen a horse on the flat or over jumps with so much character, and it's tragic he'll always be remembered for being a rogue & a loser

I've never thought of Harchi as a rogue or loser just needed a really fast 2m. If there 1m4f hurdle races he'd have been unbeatable hence his wins at Kempton. A combination of his stamina limitations and the way Carberry rode him may have given that impression but to me a honest horse but just needed races not to test his stamina.

2 photos cost me dear. Stormez in the 4 miler when it was the Pipe festival banker and Rocky on Ruby in the Neptune last year. Very costly. I still can't watch last year's Neptune.

RG - I happen to believe that on good ground and a frenzied gallop he'd have beaten up anything he faced - on any track!

He got 2M well enough, but as I mentioned, I think the combination of softer ground AND relentless pace up front, always seemed to sort him out.

The much softer going he won on certainly never stopped him against quality opposition, but it was invariably in small fields with a moderate gallop.

That Rooster Booster beating in the Xmas Hurdle was one of the most eye-catching performances I've ever seen, though maybe not the best on face value form.

I believe if he'd have been 100% on the day, he'd have won that 2005 Champion Hurdle and it was an interrupted preparation that stopped him...as well as tremendous guts from Hardy Eustace & a canny ride from O'Dwyer.

I'm still gutted about it now!

The 'what-ifs' in this game never go away do they?
Wayward Lad still hurts as well, and as one poster mentioned earlier regarding Maljimar, the pain is aggravated by everyone else's hysteria about the winner.

I happen to believe that on good ground and a frenzied gallop he'd have beaten up anything he faced - on any track!

so do i.

Beating Brave Inca up the Cheltenham hill aint too bad,and just losing out to Hardy Eustace,one of the toughest horses in the same race aint too bad either.Rooster Booster one of the easiest CH winners and most impressive could not do that.

The more I think of it...did Harchibald drift to around 14/1 when doubts surrounded his participation, before coming in to 8/1 - I'm sure someone on here could confirm that.

Buddeliea - I'm astonished someone agrees with me in my exalted assessment of Harchibald...I really do believe he was that good!

I've often imagined how he would have fared against the greats of former days like Istabraq, See You Then, Sea Pigeon et al, and I'm convinced he'd have been the last off the bridle!

For me, he's a Champion Hurdler in all but name, and there was only the 2005 race when he had the opportunity to show it.

not just me mate,me bruv reckons hes the most talented hurdler hes ever seen,and he goes back to the early 80's.

My take on him is that his natural pace was so quick he could not go quicker.You look at THAT CHurdle,Hardy and Brave Inca were given some fair treatment up the hill and still one of them lost to Harchi and the other only just beat him.

such a shame Valiramix died

you would have seen something special

massive loss to the history of the sport and would have ruined best mates 3 gold cups - possibly a 185+ chaser and he would have that champion hurdle by 10 lengths

Budd - many others are so quick to put the boot in on Harchi, and it's nice to know that even though I was incredibly biased with him, there are some that agree with my views.

We never seem to hear about the interrupted preparation do we?
It was just like Wayward Lad all over again

People prefer to see him as a dodge-pot/rogue, and he did let himself down on the odd occasion, like with the defeat to Straw Bear

That era was like a poor man's version of the great hurdlers of the late 70's, and that triumvirate are so under-rated!
They're greats of the game to me

yep,agree with that,he was going to be a great imo.

One of the most tragic events ive seen on a racetrack.

Valiramix that is,not Harchi!!

Judorick - Valiramix was a big loss to the sport but I've always thought those aspirations were a bit premature.

You're certainly not alone with that opinion, but I just think for all his huge potential, he still had lots to prove.

FWIW, I think Gloria Victis was a bigger loss, but each to their own I suppose.

cost me a hundred grand plus budd

but i would have waived that just to have live

could have won it all back in the rest of his career

ever watched his Bula hurdle win? simply ludicrous

"drew clear, hard held"

i will always fight his corner Hugh.

what you on about? he was two freaking hurdles from proving it! he was gonna gag up by 10 lengths on the bridle

and I was in the Martin Pipe tent that day and heard first hand - he was a total monster, 6 years old and with the world at his feet

you wouldn't wanna say anything like that to my face - I would go all Chewbacca on ya (and I am about the same size)

Thing is Hugh,he was going to p!ss that race,he was tanking along all over them when the accident happened.
He would have won that easily imo,and the size of him he would have made some chaser i would think.
We will never know,tragically,but like Judo im pretty sure he would have been a top top chaser.

Judo - I completely agree regarding Valiramix.

There was something doubly tragic about the fact that he lost his life in a race that saw Istabraq bow out with grace, and it was a heartwarming moment to be a part of as the red-hot jolly pulled up after two or three flights received an ovation from those who really love the sport. It was the perfect way to hand the baton to the new king, and I have no doubt he was going to be spectacular. Can't imagine what the atmosphere was like in that tent.

I always remember the comment in the race analysis for the Champion too, which, unusually was poetic and poignant. It went something like "It is often unwise to be sure of a horse's chances when they are fully four furlongs (or two flights?) from home, but he looked for all the world like a champion waiting to be crowned."

JR
You've reminded us before of just how big you are

It's called an opinion buddy, and even though I too believe he'd have waltzed it, the opposition was as poor as it gets for a Champion Hurdle.

I reiterate, that from what we saw, Gloria Victis was an even bigger loss, but still, both were travesties for the sport and their connections

ACStafford     09 Feb 12 11:42 
Barizan and Bensalem are my two. Bensalem was particularly annoying as I didn't back him the next year!


Snap on Bensalem

Psycho just failing to get up a few years ago, did my knackers on it,Carberry never forgave the guy and never backed anything he was on ever again,yes Psycho my festival nightmare aaarrrgghh !

This isn't a Cheltenham nightmare; but still a shocking shocking nightmare

2000 G*****s day in 2011, did a £10 place pot, with only 6 lines (1 horse each race), and again my lack of attention span hit me for 6! Instead of FRANKEL I ended up ticking FURY by mistake. Think the placepot paid £125 a unit... Couldn't believe it!

really enjoyed reading all this guys - some great stuff.

racingguru mentioned Harchi's mark of 138 in the county - i remember talking to Meade in a pub in winchcombe the night before the race and he was adamant the horse had been fecked by the english handicapper! certainly went up through the gears after that - agree with the view above that it was a pity he didnt land one before he was done.

Gold Cup day 2003:

Spectroscope
Baracouda
Best Mate
Kingscliff
Golden Alpha
La Landiere

JACKPOT paid £21,614.00 to a £1 stake I had £2 - GA fell 3 out when in front and won next time out by 10L at Aintree

It was however a very good antepost day

i was on son of flicka as well giggsy .
i share your pain .

Had plenty on Trabolgan for the bumper @ 100/1+. Tony Dobbin got injured in the preceding race and Seamus Durak took the ride. Anyway the favourite Liberman was given a McCoy ride that would see him banned for weeks these days and got up by 1/2L

Also Juveigneur getting beaten by Joe's Edge was another 'kick the cat' moment - must be something about Henderson and Hemmings horses

remember it well uncle (re Trabolgan) - I backed him on the Tote (ew thank god) and last show was paying 200 odd for the win