The top 5 individual/take your breath away/wow performances in this great sport

Dancing Brave's Arc

Pebbles in the Breeders' Cup

Desert Orchid's Gold Cup

Frankel - any of his races, but it was the 2000 that made me gasp - what a stride

Sprinter Sacre 2013 QMCC - that's the way to remember him. I hope and pray that they don't kill him. Maybe he'll be OK and win it this year.

Sea-Bird in the 1965 English Derby.
Montjeu in the 2000 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Choisir in the 2003 King's Stand.
Ribot in the 1956 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Treve in the 2013 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Who was reading the racingpost 50 stunning moments

I just watched Secretariat Belmont Stakes. Utterly stunning. I don't like the flat, but enjoyed that and Frakels 2000gns

Crisp failing to give all that weight to Red Run in the National. Blinding performance. Every time I watch it I still hope he'll get home... he never does :(

Kauto Star showing the level he could achieve round Kempton when a grade 1 winner Nacarat goes off too quick to get home, it allowed Kauto to go a pace he liked. His jumping was perfection.

Sprinter Sacre, Tingle Creek. "Well well, what kind of ridiculous unthinkable monster is this". Only horse over jumps who has made a total mockery of the sport. 

Denmans 2nd Hennessy, simply because it's the all time best race I've ever seen. Goosebumps.

Does anyone have the full RP list? Or has it not been revealed yet?

Only started yesterday. So will run for another couple of weeks I think

Arkle made a mockery cv

Secretariat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCMtaNiMDM

Trying to make all and give Red Rum 23lbs. Crisp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxYPKcJM9vE

King Kauto 36l mashing of King George field

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh0BKgmx0VM

Spellbinding Sprinter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QtHB53iRA

and Denman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkZIUiasUqs


Enjoy

Arkle made a mockery cv

Yeah. They do say he was good

Not many on here remember him now, I suppose. You'd need to be at least 65+ really.

Frankel's 2000 Guineas

I was there that day and everyone thought he'd gone off way too fast. Then they got to half way and everything else was rowing away like the boat race with Queally sat like a statue on Frankel about 10 lengths clear and the hairs on the back of your neck suddenly went up and you thought 'These buggers aren't going to catch him!'

Master Minded's first QM Champion Chase

What the OP said. Just destroyed the 'not-too-shabby' field

Persian Punch Jockey Club Stakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Dpessb3m-nA

Fourth (and beaten) in the Dip - a nose in front on the line. People crack on about the Cheltenham Roar but the loudest noise I've ever heard on a racecourse was when the judge called him the winner after the photo finish. Pure guts!

One Man QM Champion Chase Win

Because of the molten horsesh1t that was spoken and written about what this horse could and couldn't do at Cheltenham. Took it all and stuffed it right back down his critics throats that day.

Denman's Gold Cup

Sam Thomas let out a couple of inches of rein going out into the second circuit and within about a half a furlong he was 6 lengths clear and cruising and you just knew.....


Was there for all five of them! What a great sport this is!!

Bubbling under.....

Long Run's Gold Cup, purely for the way it developed like everyone wanted. The best 3 (and some of the greatest ever) 3 m chasers going at it hammer and tongs over the final three flights, everything else beaten.

Harbingers King George must get a look in

Frankel - 2011  2000 Guineas
Badsworth Boy - 1983 Champion Chase
Bula - 1971 Champion Hurdle
Tied Cottage - 1980 Gold Cup
Kauto Star - 2009 King George

Nice thread.

Agree with the Belmont Stakes and Frankel.

I remember the great chaser Pendil very fondly. He was the most fluent jumper I ever saw, incredibly quick over a fenece. Most footage is lost seemingly - http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrRAojZIAc is still nice to watch.

Mill Reef's win in the Gimcrack is quite astonishing -    www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH1hn8aBDJY

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYwWxp-eMPA Is the link to the best ever performance by steeplechaser probably ever, not many course récords stand for half a century or so.

Of course the amazing  win in the Chevely Park Stakes by the great 2yo filly, Cry of Truth is still pretty memorable.

Most goose pimpling commentary- still gets to me all these many years later.

"This is it now, this is the big 2.....and its Arkle's if he jumps it.....and Arkle's going away......this is the champion....this is the best we've seen for a long time".     http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYwWxp-eMPA

While the three Gold Cups will always head his list of achievements - as well as demand direct comparisons with Best Mate - a proper measure of Arkle's supremacy is better found in his efforts in handicaps, when he regularly conceded huge amounts of weight to his opponents and still galloped them into the ground. His greatest performance was in the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup, a handicap chase run at Sandown Park 40 years ago tomorrow.

His principal opponent in a field of seven was his old rival Mill House, who had seemed to be on the decline since losing to Arkle in the fabled 1964 Gold Cup but was reported back to his best for their fifth meeting. Mill House had won the first after Arkle had slipped, but although the score was now 3-1 in the Irishman's favour, Mill House was carrying 16lb less weight than Arkle and seemed to have a real chance of getting one back.

Then, for spectators to applaud before a race was as unheard of as applauding in church. But the sight of Arkle and Mill House about to take each other on in the crisp autumnal sunshine around one of the sport's finest arenas was simply too much. As the two principals left the Sandown Park paddock - nowadays the pre-parade ring on the Esher course - a few could no longer contain themselves.

Their clapping encouraged others, and as the runners turned near the final fence to canter back to the three-mile start the whole stand erupted in a crescendo of cheering. Nothing like this had ever been experienced on a British racecourse, and in those few minutes the racegoing community threw off its stays - and, more or less, has left them off ever since.

Mill House went into the lead, and as the pair attacked the fences down the back straight the crowd went into further raptures. Round the far turn Mill House still led but, on the approach to the stands, with another whole circuit to race, Arkle pulled his way to the front - a manoeuvre which had John Lawrence (now Lord Oaksey) observing: "I can't remember a more obvious display of understanding in a racehorse. No one had told Arkle the distance of the Gallaher Gold Cup, but he knew Sandown - and would tolerate no leader up the well remembered hill."

Having realised that there was more running to do, Arkle let Mill House regain the lead. The key stage of a steeplechase at Sandown Park is the succession of three closely positioned Railway Fences at the end of the back straight and, as Mill House hurled himself over each one, Arkle, scampering along in his wake, looked out of it.

Round the far turn Mill House maintained his gallop and his advantage over Arkle. Now surely the weight concession would bite - but instead Arkle produced the most staggering display of sheer class ever seen in a steeplechase.

Whoosh! Without any apparent effort or any visible pressure from his jockey Pat Taaffe, Arkle engaged another gear and swept past Mill House in about five strides. It was ridiculously easy, and it added a new dimension to its sport.

It was Arkle's defining moment.

The surge of power sent Arkle swinging merrily over the last three fences to win by 20 lengths from Rondetto, who had passed the toiling Mill House in the closing stages. The time of the race underlined the quality of Arkle's performance: he had beaten the course record by 17 seconds. No one was in any doubt that they had witnessed something very special.

The Sporting Life Guide declared that "there never was such a day and no one present will ever forget the experience", while the Sporting Chronicle went further: "Races may come and go, but the Gallaher Gold Cup of 1965 will be talked about as long as the men and women of this country take pleasure from the spectacle of great horses battling it out over fences on a winter's day." Lord Oaksey still recalls "the overwhelming sense of greatness" that day.

Every Sandown racegoer felt the same. In the unsaddling enclosure, the rapturous reception accorded to Arkle mixed awe and affection, an emotional cocktail which by then was served up every time he ran. But within 14 months of that extraordinary afternoon he had run his last race, hobbling over the Kempton line after being caught in the dying strides of the King George by Dormant, a horse whom a fit Arkle would have picked up and carried.

As it turned out, not even the handicapper could limit Arkle’s brilliance, a fact perhaps best demonstrated by reference to his performance in the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup at Sandown. Having added that year’s Gold Cup to his portfolio, he now faced his stiffest task yet, once more carrying 12-7 but this time conceding 16 lb to Mill House, the biggest pull in the weights that that rival ever received. Arkle surged to a twenty-length victory, securing the lead from Mill House at the Pond fence before storming clear. At the death he had lowered the course record by some eleven seconds, establishing a time which has to this day not been bettered over the trip at Sandown. Precious few horses could even get into the handicap proper against Arkle, such was his superiority. Instead they were forced to carry the fixed minimum weight of 10-0, in effect giving them no hope of challenging him. The few that could race in handicaps against him off their properly allotted weight still fared little better. For instance Rondetto, the second home in the Gallaher off 10-9, would clearly have needed far more than 9 lb off his back to give him an equal chance with Arkle. It is in performances such as this that Arkle’s legacy is most clearly cemented. Runs in big handicaps conceding lumps of weight to most of his rivals allowed Arkle to establish, and then confirm, a level of form unmatched by any other staying chaser in history. Such events offer more potential than weight-for-age championship races to find out how good the top horses really are. With a few notable exceptions, the top chasers of the modern era are generally kept to non-handicaps and as such are less likely to achieve stratospheric ratings. In light of this, the outstanding merit of Kauto Star is brought into sharp focus, given that he achieved his rating of 191 racing outside of handicap company.

Arkle continued his dominance both in and out of handicaps as his career progressed, adding a second Hennessy to his record along with a King George in which he had no trouble keeping up with a searing pace set by champion two-miler Dunkirk, coming home in splendid isolation after that rival’s fatal fall. A third Gold Cup followed, this time by thirty lengths at 1/10. Arkle would race only three more times after that. In the 1966 Hennessy he suffered a half-length defeat to Stalbridge Colonist, who was receiving 35 lb. Incidentally, Stalbridge Colonist’s jockey, Stan Mellor, once said that Arkle ‘could have won the race by twenty-five lengths’ and put his defeat down to the fact that he delivered Stalbridge Colonist fast, late and unseen by Arkle’s jockey Pat Taaffe, denying him the chance to get his horse balanced as he seemed to be ‘happily winning the race in a canter’. Stalbridge Colonist went on to be beaten only three quarters of a length in the next spring’s Gold Cup, whilst What A Myth, beaten a length and a half in the Hennessy in receipt of 33 lb, went on to win the 1969 Gold Cup. It is worth noting also that Mill House, so utterly dominated by Arkle in all but their first meeting, came back to win the 1967 Whitbread Gold Cup under top weight, adding further substance, as if it were needed, to Arkle’s form. Arkle made his final racecourse appearance in the 1966 King George in which he suffered a career-ending injury. He was still in his prime at the time, just nine years old and looking as if he could go on to equal, or even surpass, the mighty Golden Miller’s record five victories in the Gold Cup. All told he had been beaten only four times in twenty-six steeplechases, including that ill-fated final appearance, boasting an unmatched record that included three Cheltenham Gold Cups, three Leopardstown Handicap Chases (under 12-0 and 12-7 twice), two Hennessy Gold Cups (under 12-7), the King George IV Chase, the Irish Grand National (12-0), the Gallaher Gold Cup (12-7) and the SGB Handicap Chase (12-7). Arkle’s form stands up to the closest scrutiny substantiating the impression of a phenomenon, ‘as close to unbeatable as any horse is ever likely to be.’

What a Myth .....Gold Cup 1969 , as a 12 year old given the most glorious ride by Paul Kellaway ,probably due to the winter's hunting prescribed by the genius that was Ryan price . Was at college and threw my lighter at the tv in celebration .                                                                   

One Man .......Champion Chase 1998 for coming back and burying the doubters , not to mention the 1999 race where I was the only spectator at the start (allowed then ) as wanted to see Or Royal's start (or not) and still cant believe the pace that they started at , Call Equiname's year.

Big Bucks .....World Hurdle 2009 , for proving what a great decision it was putting him back over hurdles , and giving me my best Cheltemham ever .

Arkle ........Any ....I was there for the Dunkirk race and have had the signed ' Writings on the wall ' print on mine for yonks .Can you believe that his owner rode him bareback in the summer holidays.

Frankel .....2000gns 2011 .... Just for the acceleration .

Zenyatta winning the Breeders Cup

Arazi winning the juvenile.

Fantastic Light vs Galileo in Irish Champion.

Danoli winning the Sun Alliance Hurdle.

Frankel in the Queen Anne.

Harbinger winning at Ascot(12f) blew me away,Treve(12f) winning the 2013 Arc from a poor draw in such style was fantastic but a predictable result,Frankel over the mile ,yes excellent, Secretariat winning races like that is just hard too do in the states,and Brigadier  maybe not the stylish victories,but quality rivals.


All fantastic, Harbinger an improver, we probably never witnessed the best?,Frankel did have three trips and I think 12f would have just been within range? but some questions about those behind?. Brigadier no questions about those behind(they were class) the only question would be horse population at that time? of which I am unaware?. Secretariat my gut feeling was he was beating dogs,but American racing just not that easy? Who was the best(I don't know)

haven't read all the posts so forgive me if this one has been posted! if not then watch it on youtoob and enjoy .......golden cygnets supreme anhihilation and other races ! if only !

Sea the Stars' win in the Arc certainly up there for me.

I'd add Kauto's last King George win too. His last betfair chase was pretty good too

My favourite Frankel victory is definitely the guineas. I don't think I could put it better than Rogerthebutler. "He can't keep this up" after about 3 furlongs then realising the race was over in a matter of seconds when the camera pans to the other runners

Ravens Pass in the classic another of my favourites.

Notnowcato in the Eclipse probably the best of the lot though!

Sprinter Sacre QMCC 2 years ago (you could put any of his first 9 runs up really, but that one and Aintree stand out)

Kauto's 2nd Gold Cup, ina tie with his last King George - that was amazing, when everyone had written him off the year before.

Desert Orchid in the Racing Post Chase, hosing up under 12 st 3, conceding 31lb to the horse that was 2nd in the previous Martell Cup

Rooster Booster winning the Champion Hurdle. It was a weak renewal, but I backed him at 16-1 AP and I've never seen a horse pulling for his head like that on the home turn in a Championship race in my 30+ years of loving the sport.

Carvills Hill in the Welsh National

Can I have 6? Mr Frisk in the National, just because I told everyone I knew to back him @33-1 and got a round of applause when I got in to work on Monday.

It's turning into The top 5 individual/take your breath away/wow aftertimes

The one above you Peter if you have not nabbed him already.

Frankel- Guineas
Crisp- jumping the National fences
Red Rum's third National

Five when I was present, and still spine-tingling to me.

OUR CONOR - Triumph Hurdle

MASTER MINDED - Queen Mother No 1

EL GRAN SENOR - 2000 Guineas

FRANKEL - 2000 Guineas

ZAFONIC - Dewhurst

It's interesting (to me, at least) that so many pick Frankel's 2000gns and not one of his other amazing wins.

The realisation that he was brilliant, not just good.

That the classics mean more than other group 1 races.

The raw talent and exuberance making your hair prickle.

Great stuff. I just love knowing that other people feel it too :)

I'd have to stick in Red Marauder's national simply for the theatrical attritional nature of how it played out.

Well Chief winning the rearranged Victor Chandler at Cheltenham as a 6yo under 11-12. Gave some very smart horses a sound beating. There were plenty of non-believers as it started around 5/1.

dancing brave     arc
dayjur            nunthorpe
frankel           2000
mill reef         derby
sea bird          '65 arc

Some great calls above that I can't argue with, but I'd add
Edredon Bleu champion chase 3 way photo over Direct Route and Edredon Bleu
Morley Street 4th Aintree hurdle. Proberley the coolest ride ever seen
Blazing Walker annihilation in the Melling Chase.

Sorry over Flagship Uberalles

For sheer "wow" effect, ie instant explosive acceleration, these 2 still are vivid in my memory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7vl0jx0L2k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUfkhUYd2Sk

Just watched Arazi in the BC Juvenile. Amazing, brilliant win.

Twonky, three way photo?????
Think your memory is playing tricks on you mate

I'll put in three wow "looking" performances from horses who we thought may be at the start of something good but ultimately weren't..relative to what we thought at the time after these particular performances.

1. Tatatiano... Maghull Novice Chase Aintree

2.Celtic Son..novice chase at Wincanton

3. Mon Parrain...handicap chase Sandown

Brandy, you are correct. It was a 2 way photo, had to check up on that. Memorable for me because that was my first tricast win, paid about 21 quid ims. I think the memory tends to exaggerate as we get older and reminisce.

Just watched a YouTube of the champ chase and tried to freeze it on the line. The best I could get was a dead heat, a split second after the line Direct Route was in front, but the official photo showed different. Williamsons reaction after the line and the camera panning on Direct Route suggested he'd won...great finish.

Incidently, Simon Holt was expecting a course record from that race. How times and watering policies have changed.

Twonkey, had forgot about Blazing Walker, was awesome that day

Denman & Frankel for me just pure wow.

Both Denman's Hennessy wins were extraordinary rounds of jumping as just took lengths out of the field with each jump. But his 2nd win when i've never seen a horse look so good and healthy in the paddock and the way he was hammered in the betting from 4/1 into 11/4 just sticks in the memory. PFN had him so good that day.

Frankel's Guineas stands out as when he went to the front and set a scorching pace I actually thought it was the other Abdullah runner playing pacemaker duties. When I realised it was Frankel my jaw dropped. His 11 length demolition of Excellebration in the Queen Anne was exceptional too. Pure smash up job. Like the school bully who gets away with beating a nerd to shreds. Unfair, but hard not to watch.

sintonian
     18 Jan 15 19:51   


Frankel's Guineas stands out as when he went to the front and set a scorching pace I actually thought it was the other Abdullah runner playing pacemaker duties. When I realised it was Frankel my jaw dropped. His 11 length demolition of Excellebration in the Queen Anne was exceptional too. Pure smash up job. Like the school bully who gets away with beating a nerd to shreds. Unfair, but hard not to watch

Talking of Frankel being a bully, I remember the Sussex Stakes in 2011.

Frankel was running around a bend for the first time and on Goodwood's undulating course and was up against defending champion Canford Cliffs, about whom the Hannon's were very bullish (which, lets face it, they can get to a boorish degree about their inmates).

We all know what happened.

Canford Cliffs got beaten all ends up, sustained a leg injury and never ran again. The Hannons said he wasn't right in the race but I think it was because Frankel just beat him up physically, mentally.....totally.

For sheer acceleration I forgot the 1975 Arc , when Star Appeal seemed to jump past horses in the final furlong .
I also forgot the ' first year of the statistics book ' horse .....Rule Supreme's RSA in 2004 , not only did he jump right all the way , but also jumped the odd horse on the ground , and still tanked up the hill.

dessie 1990 king george

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgp4h9QVwCA

goode at his absolute best

Agree Roger, F took CC to breaking point.

Another Wow performance which was pretty memorable was Workforce in his Derby. Looked a brute that day.

Frankel's 2000g
Celtic Swing RP Trophy
Istabraq's 1st CH
Gloria Victis RP Chase
Morley Street 1993 Martell Hurdle

Races I've been lucky enough to see live;

One Man - champ chase
Snow Fairy HK Cup
Able Friend - HK Mile, the reaction to the replay from the camera inside the rail in the final furlong from the crowd was something else,80k people gasped
Persian Punch _ Goodwood
Generous - Derby

Time Charter - 1982 Champion Stakes
Mtoto   - 1987 Prince of Wales
Dancing Brave - 1986 King George
Our Conor - 2013 Triumph Hurdle
Crisp - 1973 National

Frankel of course is top. Denman's second Hennessy was impressive. Treve first win in the Arc. Oh So Risky in the Triumph.

Astonished that Strong flow hasn't been mentioned yet. Won the hennessy as a novice by the small margin of 14 lengths.

Sluiced through the mud and won going away despite nearly demolishing a fence on the first circuit.

He was a Denman or a Kauto star but his career was cut short because of injury. I'm positive he would have on a gold cup or two if he had stayed fit.

Has anyone mentioned Shergar's Derby, without trawling back through every post?

Wow races
Hmm
How about any of the last half dozen grand nationals after that pr1ck Phil smith made it his life's mission to ruin it
As in
Wow
How on earth can anyone pick the winner of this cluster fluck of a horse race?

Great thread. Can't believe Pebbles 1985 Champion Stakes demolition of Slip Anchor, Commanche Run, Palace Music etc. hasn't had a mention. The way Eddery swept by them motionless was breathtaking. Strongly recommend checking it out.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=FlBKdFFaSfk

Mill Reef in the Arc will always be a special memory. He was good in the Derby, but at Longchamp he was in a different class.

As the Author of this thread its been a real thrill and pleasure to see so many responses and great pieces...god, you forget how many wonderful horses there have been and great performances....so many on here I agree with and Ive enjoyed re watching on youtube.

As we all punt and with the side issues as in the politics of racing, jockey standards etc its good to remember why we love it.....THE HORSES,and performances we still recall years and years later......I was there moments.

Id like to add to the likes of dancing brave, shergar, mill reef, sea bird, harbinger, pebbles, golden cygnet and so many more but my personal 2 to add to my original five are two Arc winners I was lucky enough to see in Paris and im shocked ( I believe ) haven't been mentioned as yet or very rarely

Zarkava...Pure, pure class, the French crowd that day loved her and rightly so. Brillant show and brilliant filly, very classy and ive a great photo of her coming back in to the paddock with her head cocked, a habit I believe she had all her life.I know it sound nuts but she was so French......beautiful, elegant, classy and quirky

Sea the Stars....really surprised this still underated horse doesn't get more credit. Mick kinnane has seen and riden so many good horses including the great Galileo but im informed from a friend that privately he has never sat on a horse within 7 or 8 ibs of sea the stars and thats some statement. His arc win ( I opposed him for some reason )was a moment you just have to say well that's fair play.....some tool.

Good luck everyone

Sea The Stars certainly worthy of a place but for some reason, he was usually expected to win and never went 10 lengths clear which removes the Wow factor that you asked for.

I'm sure somebody above mentioned Sea the Stars. I know he didn't win by 10 but his acceleration to get out of a hole and through the gap was electric. In the words of McGrath " the horse of a lifetime".

I thought Sakhee was destructive in the Arc too.

Cape Verdi winning the 1000 guineas.

The wow factor from the crowd when they realised Dessie was getting back up in 89.

Hawk Wing's Lockinge was pretty special, and even more so for me as I'm not a Flat fan at all.

And for pure emotion, Denman's second Hennessy off a ludicrously high handicap mark and after his heart troubles was pretty incredible.

the superstar of Dubai millennium winning the Dubai world cup has to be up there lads that was a wow race!!!!

I rarely feel the emotion of a flat race as I do the NH.

1 Desert Orchid 1989 Gold Cup. So pleased that he had won only then to be gutted about Ten Plus dying. The amazing highs and lows of racing.

2 Denman 2008 Gold Cup. A brute that day and credit to Kauto Star for coming back to win it the following year. Also that 2011 GC turning for home.

3 Frankel 2000 Guineas. Best flat horse ever.

4 Dayjur Breeders Cup Sprint. They don't all have to be winners do they.

5 Make A Stand CHdl ok a poor race but what a training performance to get that horse to do that.

I have a more personal one from New Years Day this year but will write about it in the next few weeks when the horse is retired.

Hardy Eustace's 2nd Champion Hurdle....a pretty solid line up...brave inca, Harchibald, macs joy, back in front, inter sky, rooster, Essex, Al eile....fought them all off then brave inca laid it down but he turned him away and then IT happened.....that epic moment with Paul Carberry bringing Harchibald there hard the bridle....seemingly p*ssing all over Hardy Eustace....after the last you thought...Yep any moment now....any moment Paul will let him go and wooooosh he'd win by 4 or 5 but he found ZILCH....epic finish imo....hardy all heart....proper champion to gut it out like that.

One other thing I remember about the race was the crowd...after the last....the gasps all around as Paul brought Harchibald there....and then the OHHHH MY GOD HE DIDNt!! And then all the swearing and then the applause for Hardy as he came back down the walkway.

-

I'll only go with ones that I've seen live.
1) Arazi's Breeders Cup Juvenile. A fantastic performance especially the way he did it from the back. He didn't do much afterwards but then who cares after this race!
2) Celtic Swing's Racing Post Trophy win. Perhaps the form didn't work out as well as we hoped (though he did win a French Derby). I remember Big Mac kicking off the next year that Timeform had rated him the best two year old by some distance and he hadn't shown the same domination as a three year old. Well he was the best three year old on the form shown. It was difficult to tell how good Pennekamp was as he won his Dewhurst late on in the race.
3) Make A Stand's win in the Champion Hurdle. Blitzed off in front, given a breather and then kicked on again in the home straight.
4) Master Minded's first Champion Chase win. I won't include Sprinter Sacre as he was expected to win as he did. Four horses close in the betting and he destroyed them all.
5) Cyfor Malta's win in the John Hughes. Cruised home as a five year old. AP's ...even from a distance) was of a man in sheer delight.

Yeah ELG - accentuated by Simon Holt's brilliant commentary!

Frankel's Guineas win was just absolutely stunning.

I've been racing for 30 years and you just couldn't believe what you were seeing - everyone breaking out in applause about 2f out just made it even more special. One of the few times I've had tears in my eyes watching a horse race.


Arazi 2nd for me, another case of "did I really just see that?"

3rd, Denman's Henessey wim under top weight.

4th, Dancing Brave's Arc win.

5th is Sean Fox jumping off Ice Saint - I went to a shop to watch the race almost expecting something to happen due to the dramatic drift ( odds on to about 3/1 I think )

I will limit this to races I saw live and not on TV, at the time I wouldn't have realised the significant of them.

Best Mate's last Gold Cup,unbelievable reception as he walked into the winners enclosure.
Frankels last race at Ascot, Tom Quelly did him proud riding him front of the crowds before being lead in.
Rodrigo De Triano, Lesters last British Classic win. Rodrigo birth date was the same as my birthday which meant he was still a 2 yr old so I backed Alnasr Alwasheek.
A rainy Saturday night at Leicester I saw Dimenuindo win a 2 yr old maiden by the longest looking 10 lengths I have seen. It won next years Oaks.
A selfish one for personal reasons and to this day the most I have won on one horse, Mystiko 2000 Guineas what a ride by Muis Roberts. He kept Mistiko's head over the rail  all the way to the start so that he didn't bolt.

montjeu in the king george.............end of discussion..............what a beast

Interesting read lads

My five would be (no money involved, well not on the winner) and in no particular order

Silver Buck Gold Cup
Frankel Guineas - hairs on the back of the neck stuff indeed
Denman Gold Cup
Gloria Victis RP Trophy
Shergar Derby

1. Desert Orchid's Gold Cup - the occasion, the sheer guts and slog.  Absolute drama of the highest order.
2. Red Rum and Crisp - greatest National ever.
3. Arazi - just couldn't believe what I had seen.  I thought I had seen the greatest horse of all time, but it didn't quite work out like that.
4. Royal Academy/Lester Piggott - Breeders Cup Mile 1990 - yes, 1990!! Genius.
5. Golden Pheasant beats Nashwan in the Prix Neil Arc trial.  Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, King George, winner looked nailed on for the Arc and a possible showdown with Old Vic.  Who was the best? We would never know.  Nashwan didn't make the Arc after losing to Golden Pheasant in a lifeless performance and was subsequently retired to stud.  I loved that horse and was so shocked when he lost that trial.

Hasnt been mentioned on here yet and the race is only on youtube for around 30 odd seconds, but Captain Christy's absolute demoltion job of Bula in the 75 King George had to be seen to be believed.. Gerry Newman just fired him into a few fences and for once, The horse jumped as well as he could possibly without the customary whacking one.

I was prompted by paulo47 to look at Star Appeal's Arc. Brilliant win, though German isn't the best language for
commentary...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8DnXIsX-E