Best hurdler ever?

theres plenty of very good hurdlers from yesteryear that would wipe the floor
with the poor quality whats on show now, decent hudlers competing against decent hurdlers

Gizmo Pasha, Pantile, El Tenor, Arfur daley,

Ayone remeber the Missing Spark v Pendys Park race at Rommers? the one when Barry Dennis said MS would fall at the third (?) hurdle laying laying and laying more money on the fav.

He did

Sherrys Prince was the best ive seen

It was only when I got sky that I managed to follow the hurdlers in the UK and dogs such as Strideaway Teddy would have been some of the first that I remember.

I recall that Palace Issue was the son of a hurdler. How good was Deerpark Jim?

Sherrys Prince for me was unbelieveable in a golden era of hurdlers he was best

Shyan Trader

there was so so many good hurdlers halfpenny king derry palm tonys friend adamstown valley and many more i cant say who was the best they were all champions

Shyan Bouncer very big white dog not as good as trader but good.  Neither were the best but they needed a shout.

Shyan Bouncer very big white dog not as good as trader but good.  Neither were the best but they needed a shout.

Good hurdle race at Hove on Sunday

Sherrys Prince without a doubt.

the best dog i see over jumps was stuart captian j coleman great sprinter fast and very low

arfur daly

If memory serves Irish, Arfur was hot on the heels of Kildare Slippy's Grand National but about half a second slower at Hall Green?

Mad Dog...as you say all Champions.. and what an era for Hurdlers.

Toomaline Jack

of recent times would be unfair to not mention Platinumlancelot

absolutely, did me a few huge turns and one mahoosive one

wood lane sherrys prince your right just to many good hurdlers to say who was the best they were all champions

any dog that beats the flat clock when having to jump hurdles rates highly in my book

No databases in those days. Compiled personal comprehensive records, which still got to this day.

Looked up Kildare Slippy and Arfur Daley. Slippy, evens fav, won the '92 Grand National over 474m Hall Green by nearly 10 lengths in 28.52(+30), that was an actual time that was quicker than Phantom Flash ran on the flat the year before!

Daley won the '93 National by 2 1/2 lengths in 28.89 (+30), at 5/4 fav, with Kildare Slippy, 2/1, missed break, hampered 2nd hurdle, last, beaten about 10 lengths. Couldnt remember Slippy running but i was there last night! Starting to realize through the haze now

Castlelyons Cash was a good dog. Topofthetide was a great dog...

Toomaline Jack cost me a fortune, but quids in with Plantinumlancelot. Swings and roundabouts

try it blackie won a few in his time ,bansha pride was decent ..

joe bananas

Sherrys Prince.. by a country mile !!

Mad Dog.. all those dogs that you mentioned were all Top Class.. but Sherrys always beat them regularly .. but as was said earlier it really was a Purple Patch era for great hurdlers.

Barrowside won Grand National over real hurdles at White City and was second in the Derby.  He was simply the best.

Sherrys Prince was the best I have seen.

another vote for sherrys here

As soon as I saw the thread topic I straight away thought of Kildare Slippy, Sherrys Prince was before my time.

Toomaline Jack was a great favourite of mine and the losing of money aside it was heartbreaking how his career went and ended. He lit up Plough Lane when he was flying, a bit upsetting at the time for me that he never won the Derby but it just wasn't meant to be sadly

Had a mind of his own Toomaline. Should have won the Derby but wouldnt go past. Grand National still a mystery?

Wasnt Druids Mickey Jo a smart hurdler?

toomaline and george for me should have won the derby. both were kknackered at the end. george got compensation of course.

Toomaline Jack was a very very fast dog...

Remember Toomaline Jack running some blinders against on-fire Thurlesbeg Joker at Dublin, a versatile a flying machine. Wasnt really eligible for the English Derby coz was disqualified during the Irish Grand National. What baffled me was not leading hurdlers up in the English National after leading most for dead in the Derby, probably a tired and confused dog. I felt tired and confused after it anyway!

should have been but was not disqualified just got fed up in final

Not one of the best over the sticks but anyone remember Bye Bye Garry at the Don in the early 90s? Black dog, used to love watching him run when I lived in London.

My understanding about Toomaline in the Irish Grand National was it got disqualified, didnt run in the final and the reserve came in and won, didnt it?

Toomaline Jack did not get DQ'd in Harolds Cross


Joe Joe Joe Bananas and Druids Mickey Jo where my favourite hurdlers. Although i do cheer on Oli and surely ER and Valueman win biggest roar at HRX last year when he led

Bobcol

You would know better than me PF. So, Toomaline must have been withdrawn injured from the Irish Grand National final then? Think Toomaline had been disaqualified earlier in its career but its card wasnt marked. Incidentally,  i believe the reserve that came in and won Irish Grand National that year had prevously been unlucky not to win the English equivalent too, think it was called Distant Legend

I have no idea why he didn't run in the final. In the semi Bigstrongpup and Toomaline Jack where not chasing it imo and more interested with each other. Whether he was injured or felt an accident waiting to happen so withdrawn i don't know. There was talk that his card went missing etc... after getting marked but who knows? Powers dog won the final 2 years running.

I just hope the Mercury Queen's running now stay genuine and don't go like Jack. Shine already has shown some wayward tendancies so hopefully Bert, Pedro and John don't go that way.

From a breeding perspective I wouldn't touch the Mercury Queen line with a barch pole. Toomaline Jack and Coolavanny Shine. With straws available on Coolavanny Bert after Juvenile via Mr Livesey according to Greyhound Data.

Not for me. Very fast dog but two generations of kinks.....a very wide berth i think the people who know what they are talking about will give it a miss imho

Got to put a mention in for a dog called Seamans Star,
any old Catford afficienado's will remember better than me.
was owned by Catford regular Steve Glazier, would have been top grade over Catfords 555 flat,open class flat pace, but got Dq'd, bit of a lunatic ! so only option send over timber, big brute of a dog, and liked a 'rumble'!had it right off in the Grand National,the first year it was moved to Hall Green in 85 ? anyone else remember or better see this dog run.

good memories from a long time ago.

'85? That was a long time ago. You must be talking Ballyregan Bob or so Three-Greats. Funnily enough, i used to do the tissue and spotlights for Catford as my specialist track. Probably mid-90's but seem to recall hurdler Roger. Fast and fluent, tailor-made for the tight circuit.

Nobody's mentioned Sir Winston.
There's a very ordinary nag called Sir Winston doing the rounds in 3m slogs in the southwest. Gives me nightmares every time I hear him called.
His canine namesake won the last Grand National staged at the Olympic Stadium. Now the site of the Bolshevik Bullsh1tting Collective's soon-to-be vacated London HQ. (Salford and the BBC deserve each other.)
I don't think the bugger lost a race after that. Only won 10 or 12 before retiring.
I walked in a bit skint, only had about £70 on me, intending to have £40 on Pagan Lilac at around 3/1 in the consolation.
Starting with a graded hurdler named Hi Sweep in the second race, I backed seven winners in eight pre-National races. The one loser was a mutt named Philomenas Bijou, owned by Terry Wogan, whose employers were about to vandalise a part of history in a manner that a Vogon Constructor Fleet would have been proud of.
Decent bets on Pagan Lilac and an animal named Winning Black.
Had just over £1,500 by final time. Master Bob was a certainty.
Had £550 at 10/11. Had a monkey at evens. Had another monkey at 11/10.
Master Bob was two-and-a-half clear down the far side but was quite wide on the track. Unlike at Wimbledon you could actually see the track at the real home of the Derby. Uncharacteristically took the third bend wide. Sir Winston sneaked up his inner and held a renewed home stretch surge.
Of course, the natives reckoned they slowed the hare at the third bend.
Seven winners from nine bets.
Walked out skint.
Had just enough shrapnel to buy a copy of a rag some of you may remember called "The News of the World" from the bloke outside White City tube.
To top it all off, there was a graded bitch, I think she was called Spot the Black, I'd been waiting for stuck in as reserve in the last race. She was running in a higher class than she should have been, which would explain why she went of at 20/1.... and won.
Sir Winston definitely deserves a mention.
Not in the class of Sherrys Prince, though.

Grest shout with Bobcol Lance In France, a very talented hurdler and in his era was a standing dish, I remember him well.

Topeofthetide is another dog that was unbeatable on his day.

I'll mention Fenessy's Gold as well, who won the Springbok and was top class on the flat at Catford and nigh on unbeatable round there.

The Best Hurdler ever?  How about a dog that broke 17 track records and amongst many race wins there was 3 Grand Nationals at the Great White City, the only dog ever to do this.  Whilst doing thid, he broke his leg and returned, lost half hs tail when it got caught in the fence at the first bend and he consistently beat better dogs than i've hurdle in 20 years.      yes    There's only one SHERRY'S PRINCE.  As the song says, "Simply The Best" and never been eualled or bettered.

Sherrys sounds impressive but before my time. I remember Fenneseys Gold on the flat, a big favourite of mine along with Guiding Hope, flying round Wembley. It was the era of Ray Peacock and John Honeysett

Thanks Slippy. I was just answering the question literally. Bobcol jumped lower and faster than any other dog I've seen. Sherrys was just before my time. Bobcol wasn't the fasted hurdler ever, just the best jumper for me. When he won his Grand National, Dine out was much faster than him on the flat, its just that every time they came to a hurdle together, Bobcol completely outjumped him and thats where he made his time up.

Think hurdle races are alot about taking off at the right point. Not like horses, where you can see a stride or put in a short one. Coz of the speed, a dog could leap 3 lengths early and still clear the obstacle. Nothing for jumping high. Remember a dog who used to totally disrespect hurdles, hardly taking off and running virtually straight through them, flattened them all. Cant remember its name but think it was a prolific winner at Romford

el tenor

I would say Fennessys Gold was the best hurdler round Catford ever but in my opinion none could compare with Sherrys Prince.I will never forget the roar when he won his third national,the peoples champion.He regularly beat Derry Palm and Adamstown Valley who were both out of the top drawer and another hurdler who would have been a champion in any other era called Irish Hedgehog.Sherrys Prince was an undisputed champ in the strongest era there ever was greyhound racing.

Pantile was the best hurdler I ever saw at Romford, but that's where he specialised
and I know that at the time Gizmo Pasha was always rated faster elsewhere.
Kildare Slippy looked awesome on his day, but I know Unbelievable beat him a few times.
Slaneyview Bank would have been top class, but he got Disq'd too early in his short career.
El Tenor beat a poor crop of hurdlers (but beat them he did) although Potto Storm was 4/4
against him .
I'm only a youngster, Sherrys Prince long before my time.
Pantile for me, as close to a mortgage job that you ever see, so consistant fron the boxes!!!

iris

shyan trader  /  one of my favourite dogs at that time

memory tells me on the flat ?

when was that ?

Im biased

But in recent years Joe Bananas, Druids Mickey Jo and Four Handed three fast hurdlers

I agree with everything Wood Lane said about Sherrys Prince.A most genuine  greyhound who broke a track record on the flat.In 80 years dog racing without doubt the best hurdler I ever saw.

Wood Lane:  With all due respect but the Irish Hedgehog that I remember was an average, run-the mill dog, never in the same league as Sherry's Prince, Derry Palm, Adamstown Valley, Afore Ye Go, Beauty's Wonder, Foreign Currency, Anchor Sound, Morning Cloud, Sir Ginger, Tony's Friend and Ballintore Tiger to mention but a few.

Shery's Prince was the last greyhound I can remember getting a lap of honour around White City the meeting after his retirement had been announced.  The bars were emptied as people came out to applaud a true greyhound racing Great.

Remember well the Sir Winston/Master Bob final. Bob was indeed all the rage in the final after dominating the competition. General consensus on final night was that he waited having hit the front given the way he came back at Sir Winstonn after being passed by him. Bob was fully coursing bred and that would be the likely explanation for his defeat.

Must say this thread is great. All those fantastic hurdlers. Such as shame that those in charge have virtually given up on the jumping game these days. Greyhound racing was such a wonderful sport once upon a time. So sads to see what it has now become.

Just a few more to jog the memory.. Halfpenny King.. Mondays Cannon Parktown Ranger.. Aulton Henri...etc.

Just Got Up...My sentiments entirely.. Heartbreaking !!

Parktown Ranger was a decent hurdler, good shout. I'm struggling though to remember any others with any fondness.
Mountleader View would break 23.80 seconds at Catford over 385 and win well with his flat speed but not the most fluent of jumpers it has to be said.

At the time of Parktown Ranger, Tommy Foster also had 2 other very useful hurdlers in Nifty Kid and Cygnet Man. Emerald Trail won one Derby final night and was very smart

The best hurdler ever was ED Moses after him  SHERRY'S PRINCE.

Think youve just opened a can of warms Frank. What about Istabraq, Night Nurse and Comedy of Errors too!

Worms rather!

Ed Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) AND HE HAD ONLY 2 LEGS M8.

Unfortunatley he couldn't run at 35mph wearing a muzzle.

ed moses had three legs imho

lots of the top hurdlers mentioned here are before my time,its great to read about them.

The best jumper i have seen in my time is druids mickey jo,so low and flat.

Frank Melville trained a hurdler at Harringay, black dog, top class, think his name began with "T".  One of the best bargains of all time at £25 from Hackney Wick sales.  Also he trained a very good hurdler for a bookmaker called Danny McClaren, ran in the Springbok at White City, won many hurdle races.

Was it Try It Blackie ?

Mad Ghost,That dog was Pier Hero he was a blue and white dog your right top class hurdler I think he won a Grand Natoinal he was old when he was still running.

Wood Lane,I make you right,Pier Hero was owned by Danny Mack,a lovely man,had a betting shop in Bermondsey and another at Kidbrooke.He was a regular at Harringay and sponsored races there as well.In the end he was the governor in the book with Sid Sweeney who traded in the name of Ray.He owned Super Duchess and Oriental Darkie amongst others.Pier Hero must of been over forty years ago but from memory he was an early pace middle runner who stayed 525yds well.Done me many a favour good old times.

Whitmarsh/Wood Lane & Tommy The Judge:  You are all absolutely correct.  As sson as I saw the names I knew.  Well done

"Pier Hero" won 1975 Grand National.  "Try It Blackie" multiple open race winner.

Druids Mickey Jo used to beat our dog Liverpool Pride on a regular basis and was as good a hurdle I have ever seen.

Used to love a dog called Another Chap who ran Opens at Reading. Bit of a standing dis,. seemed to know exactly where the finish line was and got up on it almost weekly, looking at the camera flash too!! Obviosuly not in smae league as Jo but a real favourite down at The Shed.

Try it Blackie was a Cracking Dog ,Salerno very fast dog , Stuart captain Brutal Early ,So  many decent Hurdlers back in the 70/80s

A blast from the Past some great Old Names ,Dogs and posters  from another era

My answer is still the same Sherrys Prince as posted earlier on this thread.

... Not the best ever but who Remembers Greenacre George. ??

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8u63DS2adM

   

I Started going the city  After Sherrys Sparrow

Valiant spirit was the best ever for me

Not a great fan of hurdlers case although such races have become a welcome change to the endless diet of 2 and 4 bend sprints. Tonys Friend and Topofthetide were also top jumpers in their day.

remember a couple from white city adamstown valley and tonys friend

sherrys prince the red rum of greyhound racing

Sherry's Prince won three Grand Nationals, heat, semi and Final and was only headed once when adjudged to have come out the boxes second.  He won his third National after breaking a hock.  Skipped over them without breaking stride or lifting his head.  The greatest I've ever seen and the GbGb don't ( and won't ) even give him a mention.

Seems a big shout for Sherrys Prince, but before my time

Don't think it was really until Kildare's Lark and Slippy I took an interest

Of the time Pantile, Nippy Kid, Cygnet Man and Parkstown Ranger were knocking about, too

Seem to remember one Derby night and Emerald Trail winning a red hot hurdle race, too!

Just don't seem the same these days. Inconsistent and beat each other for fun

before my time
lame excuse
as an journalist working in the industry surely your attention was captured by your mentors as to the best they had seen
fecks sake the hound won 3 grand nattionals will never happen again and you profer Kildare slippy
you complete ignaramus

Pantile is a good shout, in trap 1 over 4 bends he was a tough nut to crack.

Great hounds. Remember watching El Tenor win the National at Hall Green. Superb!

pantile im sure was a trap 6 dog