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Almost certain it was Able Albert's year when i was asked by the regional manager of a large high street company to form a quiz team for the western meeting weekend , i was working for that same company at the time and was given 6 weeks to put together a team to compete against the supposed top journalists and media and had 480 betting shops to choose my team of myself and 4 others , decided to look for an expert for each of the last 5 decades to hope we had all bases covered , hell of a task which involved plenty of travelling and conversation.
On to the Friday night eve of the Ayr Gold Cup , there were 8 teams consisting of 4 players with one reserve , other teams included Guardian , Racing journalists , sporting life , channel 4 but honestly can't remember the others.
We played a newspaper in the QF ( think it was Guardian ) and won , next were the Sporting Life whom we beat in the SF and so to the final against Channel 4 consisting of John Francome , Big Mac and two backroom boys.
We won the final which wasn't played in the best of spirit particularly when Francome gave Cottage Rake as an answer which was 10 years out , so had to cool a team mate who got over excited especially as we had it sewn up at that point , Big Mac didn't see the funny side and refused to shake hands at the final whistle.
Trophy was presented by none other than Nick Rust was was heirarchy for the company in Scotland back then , the following day we were treated like royalty around the racecourse and introduced to bundles of named faces.
Great memory and remember it vividly
Almost certain it was Able Albert's year when i was asked by the regional manager of a large high street company to form a quiz team for the western meeting weekend , i was working for that same company at the time and was given 6 weeks to put together a team to compete against the supposed top journalists and media and had 480 betting shops to choose my team of myself and 4 others , decided to look for an expert for each of the last 5 decades to hope we had all bases covered , hell of a task which involved plenty of travelling and conversation.
On to the Friday night eve of the Ayr Gold Cup , there were 8 teams consisting of 4 players with one reserve , other teams included Guardian , Racing journalists , sporting life , channel 4 but honestly can't remember the others.
We played a newspaper in the QF ( think it was Guardian ) and won , next were the Sporting Life whom we beat in the SF and so to the final against Channel 4 consisting of John Francome , Big Mac and two backroom boys.
We won the final which wasn't played in the best of spirit particularly when Francome gave Cottage Rake as an answer which was 10 years out , so had to cool a team mate who got over excited especially as we had it sewn up at that point , Big Mac didn't see the funny side and refused to shake hands at the final whistle.
Trophy was presented by none other than Nick Rust was was heirarchy for the company in Scotland back then , the following day we were treated like royalty around the racecourse and introduced to bundles of named faces.
Great memory and remember it vividly
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Remeber backing the fav for the race in the 80s seeing the jockey collapsed in the flight deck of the Caladonian Hotel did not do much for my confidence the next day.
Nit picking hayden but memory not quite spot on by the Friday evening able Albert had already won the Ayr gold cup.
Good few years back I was on a horse called Lago Di Varano E/W 66/1,was 2nd.
Same day backed a horse E/W 25/1 also came 2nd just btn,didn't get a clear
run on the rails if I'm right.Think R.Mullen was on as an apprentice?
Never did the E/W double for some reason.
Sure that Newbury horse was done by a Harris rnr?
Same day backed a horse E/W 25/1 also came 2nd just btn,didn't get a clear
run on the rails if I'm right.Think R.Mullen was on as an apprentice?
Never did the E/W double for some reason.
Sure that Newbury horse was done by a Harris rnr?
Jimmy Fortune riding for Mike O'Neils nearby Lathom yard, rode a few for Eric Alston as well. Word in the village was it had a great chance. Got 66/1 in the morning and result never in doubt. Fortune only a young kid then and lodging in a house in the next village. He was a top apprentice, well worth every pound of his claim.
Happy times.
Happy times.
Can't remember the racing as well as the occasion jimnast , was Cup not run on Saturday then ?
not sure when they changed it from Friday to Saturdays probably mid to late 80s?
Might even have been early 90s went a couple of times early 80s on a Friday afternoon.
First one I can remember though was the 1977 running had a quid ew on Jon George
looked at race night before in local paper picked JJ in a minute or so
gave cash to my Dad to put on for me all and it seemed so easy back then,
not sure I've had that many winners of race since in race mind you
and normally a race I swerve as it falls into the too difficult dept.
Might even have been early 90s went a couple of times early 80s on a Friday afternoon.
First one I can remember though was the 1977 running had a quid ew on Jon George
looked at race night before in local paper picked JJ in a minute or so
gave cash to my Dad to put on for me all and it seemed so easy back then,
not sure I've had that many winners of race since in race mind you
and normally a race I swerve as it falls into the too difficult dept.
Thanks NEC , so at the quiz i'd already seen Able Albert winning the Cup instead of watching it win the day after the quiz ( by the looks of it )
Just shows what a 39 year gap can do to your memory bank
Just shows what a 39 year gap can do to your memory bank
The good thing would often win the first on the Wednesday Amateur riders non hcap.
Sparkling Boy in the rain John Lowe doing the necessary….
Of course, jimnast.
How silly of me not to name the horse.
How silly of me not to name the horse.
Barstool it was my biggest win in the Ayr gold cup quite amazing how many I’ve met in the years after backed that horse how on earth it was returned 50/1 I do not know.
Hayden
I do but have to be honest I checked up on the penzance one.
I do but have to be honest I checked up on the penzance one.
Yeh,that's sounds like the name.
Cheers.
Pretty sure he was on the rails in that race.
Cheers.
Pretty sure he was on the rails in that race.
My memory of able Albert hayden was nobody including commentary saw him coming up the stands rail it was only after the race finished people said what was that on the near side.
Penzance
In was in the courage handicap a great Cambridgeshire trial hopefully that will return like the autumn cup is returning on Saturday
In was in the courage handicap a great Cambridgeshire trial hopefully that will return like the autumn cup is returning on Saturday
Don't remember it being 9/1 jf either
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys0Lb4SL_OI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys0Lb4SL_OI
Joveworth for me, caught a once in a life time double with Towny Boy, both ridden by Jimmy Fortune.
jimnast, the going was very soft that year and it was thought at the time it would need a horse that stayed 7f to win it. Joveworth fitted the bill and Fortune,s 5lb claim must have been worth a few pounds more on top.
The choker was for me that got beat by a Nicholls horse @33s.
That went on to win a GP1 in time.
That went on to win a GP1 in time.
The last Friday gold cup was 91 sarcita the first Saturday gold cup was won by its most famous winner
Barstool
That was the angle 7 furlong horse doesn’t seem to work anymore but on Saturday northern express a 7 furlong horse is an interesting runner he seems incapable of running a bad race.
That was the angle 7 furlong horse doesn’t seem to work anymore but on Saturday northern express a 7 furlong horse is an interesting runner he seems incapable of running a bad race.
Hayden
In 1982 Able Alberts year, Francome was still riding & years before he started working for Channel 4.
In 1982 Able Alberts year, Francome was still riding & years before he started working for Channel 4.
Thought Able Albert was 1984 Saxon , Francome was in the team so must have had links with Channel 4 in some way.
The year Fonthill Road won on the far side…I didn’t see him.
Basically I absolutely lumped on good ol’ Borderlesscott who was drawn in the middle.
Was watching the race with my dad and I was going crazy.
Sensational ride on BLS…broke smartly then switched all the way over to the stand side rail and just kept pouring it on the front.
Very easy to get carried away and I was celebrating big time when he crossed the line.
When I calmed down my dad looked at my said - you lost
Then he pointed at at freeze frame of Fonthill Road over on the far side and then looked at me and said -
You must feel like an idiot.
-
Valuable life lessons were learnt that day imo.
Basically I absolutely lumped on good ol’ Borderlesscott who was drawn in the middle.
Was watching the race with my dad and I was going crazy.
Sensational ride on BLS…broke smartly then switched all the way over to the stand side rail and just kept pouring it on the front.
Very easy to get carried away and I was celebrating big time when he crossed the line.
When I calmed down my dad looked at my said - you lost
Then he pointed at at freeze frame of Fonthill Road over on the far side and then looked at me and said -
You must feel like an idiot.
-
Valuable life lessons were learnt that day imo.
Hayden, I stand corrected 1984 was indeed Able Alberts year.
First Saturday winner was Lochsong in 1992
First Saturday winner was Lochsong in 1992
It's possible Saxon that if Francome was otherwise engaged on Able Albert's weekend then i could have the wrong winner and it wasn't AA , Big mac and Johnny definitely there.
I’ve lots of good memories from the Ayr gold cup it’s been a lucky race but if I had to pick one it would be pollys brother
Around a month or so before the Ayr gold cup we a good word for the horse and backed it anti post ,back then anti post betting although of course with its usual hazards was good,well a week before pollys brother went and won the Portland at Doncaster so that was it we had backed him for the wrong race,
So when still declared for Ayr we still had a chance ,now I had been to Huntingdon the day before at least I think it was Huntingdon and had stayed over,the journey back to Manchester was horrendous and I ended up coming through Buxton I realised there was no chance of getting home to watch the race so called in a pub in Buxton and asked if he could put the racing on ,probably bbc then but not sure,well the landlord said we dont have a tv but I do have a small portable upstairs I will bring it down,it was very small black and white with one of those Ariel’s you had to f..k about with to get a picture,he finally got a picture just as they were off it looked like they were running in a snow storm and completely pointless watching it,to be fair the landlord did his best ,the sound wasn’t much better either but I did here the words pollys brother had won.
Around a month or so before the Ayr gold cup we a good word for the horse and backed it anti post ,back then anti post betting although of course with its usual hazards was good,well a week before pollys brother went and won the Portland at Doncaster so that was it we had backed him for the wrong race,
So when still declared for Ayr we still had a chance ,now I had been to Huntingdon the day before at least I think it was Huntingdon and had stayed over,the journey back to Manchester was horrendous and I ended up coming through Buxton I realised there was no chance of getting home to watch the race so called in a pub in Buxton and asked if he could put the racing on ,probably bbc then but not sure,well the landlord said we dont have a tv but I do have a small portable upstairs I will bring it down,it was very small black and white with one of those Ariel’s you had to f..k about with to get a picture,he finally got a picture just as they were off it looked like they were running in a snow storm and completely pointless watching it,to be fair the landlord did his best ,the sound wasn’t much better either but I did here the words pollys brother had won.
Doesn't ring a bell jimnast , i'm doubting myself now re: Able Albert but it would have been when JF was involved with C4 otherwise he wouldn't have been in their team , just thought it began with A.
Quick question no looking it up when would anyone think the silver cup started
No 2007 was the year i went solo punting , worked for two other companies between the quiz and 2007.
Two - Instant - and outstanding Memories for me ....
ROMAN WARIOR - Nigel Angus - 10st top-weight (Record) - Won on a Friday - race delayed, too, seem to recall
COASTAL BLUFF - David Barron - 6/1 Ante-post - 3/1 Fav on the day.... Quite possibly on of my largest-ever Wins
Other Notable mentions...
JOHN SPLENDID - on his beloved Heavy ground
BLUE CASHMERE - in Stoute's early days - maybe his first year training
LOCHSONG - ridden by apprentice Francis Arrowsmith - instead of Frankie Dettori.
ROMAN WARIOR - Nigel Angus - 10st top-weight (Record) - Won on a Friday - race delayed, too, seem to recall
COASTAL BLUFF - David Barron - 6/1 Ante-post - 3/1 Fav on the day.... Quite possibly on of my largest-ever Wins
Other Notable mentions...
JOHN SPLENDID - on his beloved Heavy ground
BLUE CASHMERE - in Stoute's early days - maybe his first year training
LOCHSONG - ridden by apprentice Francis Arrowsmith - instead of Frankie Dettori.
Gold cup,silver cup,bronze ffs what next cardboard cut out……
I think channel 4 used to show the thing in the nineties…..
I think channel 4 used to show the thing in the nineties…..
Anyone know the year of the first silver cup it surprised me 
DANDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Cheating bastardo but great fun trying to spot his Ayr Gold Cup prospects.
Comparing RPRs and ORs on the day for his winners, not many were accidents.
2000 Bahamian Pirate 33/1 Up 24lbs July-September with 3 wins en route RPR 14 pts above OR on the day
2001 Continent 10/1 - Down 5lbs and kept under the radar with no wins. RPR 13 pts above OR on the day. Versatile
2002 Funfair Wane 16/1 - Down 2lbs. RPR 15 pts above OR on the day
2004 Funfair Wane 33/1 - Down 5lbs. RPR 16 pts above OR on the day
2008 Regal Parade 18/1 - Up 13lbs March-September RPR 13 pts above OR on the day
2010 Redford 14/1 - Down 4lbs. RPR 18 pts above OR on the day
Heartbreaker he never got Kimberella past the post. 5th in 2016.
Trotter a nap to get there at some point.
Cheating bastardo but great fun trying to spot his Ayr Gold Cup prospects.
Comparing RPRs and ORs on the day for his winners, not many were accidents.
2000 Bahamian Pirate 33/1 Up 24lbs July-September with 3 wins en route RPR 14 pts above OR on the day
2001 Continent 10/1 - Down 5lbs and kept under the radar with no wins. RPR 13 pts above OR on the day. Versatile
2002 Funfair Wane 16/1 - Down 2lbs. RPR 15 pts above OR on the day
2004 Funfair Wane 33/1 - Down 5lbs. RPR 16 pts above OR on the day
2008 Regal Parade 18/1 - Up 13lbs March-September RPR 13 pts above OR on the day
2010 Redford 14/1 - Down 4lbs. RPR 18 pts above OR on the day
Heartbreaker he never got Kimberella past the post. 5th in 2016.
Trotter a nap to get there at some point.
2000 to 2004 incl. Dandy nearly got to keep Jim Goldie
How about a memory of a winner today? Distant imo, ships on the horizon fading to grey
Ffs lads, wakey wakey, it's 2023.
Ffs lads, wakey wakey, it's 2023.
As Jimnast says when Able Albert won, coming up the stands rail, racecourse commentator didn't spot him and never gave him a mention! He called Alakh( J.Tree/Pat Eddery?) as the winner! Confusion and chaos...before the Judge managed to call the correct result! I watched many punters throw away their Able Albert tickets when commentator didnt even mention it....fortunately I saw the horse coming up the rails and knew the commentator had dropped a bollock...so kept my ticket! As for Sparkling Boy winning a couple of years later...I think he was owned or part owned by Alec Bird, who at that time was seriously ill. I saw him in the parade ring...but didn't take the hint that he'd obviously made the long journey north for a very good reason. I didn't have the brains to put two and two together!
^
Judge Bob Speer did not spot it and called wrong result. He corrected it a few minutes later after stewards had informed him of mistake.
Judge Bob Speer did not spot it and called wrong result. He corrected it a few minutes later after stewards had informed him of mistake.
My memory is playing tricks! I think the horse Alec Bird had an interest in was Final Shot... not Sparkling Boy!
Not So Silly, a Terry Ramsden Gamble, i think it was 25s in the morning
Definitely final shot julio ran in Peter hursts name a real character
The Alex Bird (involved with the Owner - a local 'businessman') was Final Shot 1990
The horse had finished 3rd, beaten a head twice, in the previous year's (then) big prize-money Rous Selling Stakes (for 2-y-olds) at the Ebor meeting - and Alex Bird bought the horse off Owner Ian Bray - but the horse stayed with Trainer M H 'Peter' Easterby (father of current trainer, Tim).
Final Shot was a 3-yr-od - of which - only 6 have Won the Ayr Gold Cup in the past 33 years ....
But - 4 Three-year-olds Won the race in the 10 years before Final Shot.
The horse had finished 3rd, beaten a head twice, in the previous year's (then) big prize-money Rous Selling Stakes (for 2-y-olds) at the Ebor meeting - and Alex Bird bought the horse off Owner Ian Bray - but the horse stayed with Trainer M H 'Peter' Easterby (father of current trainer, Tim).
Final Shot was a 3-yr-od - of which - only 6 have Won the Ayr Gold Cup in the past 33 years ....
But - 4 Three-year-olds Won the race in the 10 years before Final Shot.
Some real old favourites in final shots ayr gold cup,Bertie Wooster,Cumbrian waltzer and hard to figure who was a very good horse
Hard To Figure Won the AYR Gold Cup 3 years later - a real regular in all the big Sprint Handicaps
Remember it winning the Great St Wilfred, too.
Remember it winning the Great St Wilfred, too.
Onlooker are you sure the York seller was at the ebor meeting?
2:05 York 23 Aug 1989
Same day as the Gimcrack
Still a 3-day meeting then - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Think they only downgraded the Seller, and then moved it, when the Ebor meeting went to 4 days
Same day as the Gimcrack
Still a 3-day meeting then - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Think they only downgraded the Seller, and then moved it, when the Ebor meeting went to 4 days
Your right onlooker I remember him winning on the July Saturday but that was not a seller it was a couple of months before he won the Ayr gold cup
Poor hard to figure spent the later part of his career running around that sh.thole bath in claimers
Couldn't remember exactly when seller finished at the Ebor meeting but way before the 4 days.
Hello ribero you will remember the owner of final shot I would think
Yes always at Haydock although I know Ian Bray better,he's still about,think he lives in Harrogate,owned Cybrandian of course.
Just checked the seller at the Ebor meeting as couldn't remember betting on it,looks like 99 was the last time at the Ebor meeting,my first year!
Must admit jimnast first time Hard to Figure was mentioned i thought of Bath
Agree with the Bath assessment.
Agree with the Bath assessment.
Didn’t cybrandian lead over the last in the delayed gold cup won by the thinker
Blue colures
Blue colures
Not seen Peter hurst for a long time ribero probably at York the last time,there was a very moderate horse named after me who actually did win at Southwell,his name originated from something Peter hurst said to me at the breeze up sales.
Hayden
By a long way the worst racecourse in the uk,probably the world in every aspect
By a long way the worst racecourse in the uk,probably the world in every aspect
Correct,red cross of Lorraine,used to see Ian in our local after racing most Saturdays in the summer in the mid 70's,he went with a group of friends,didn't see him for a few years and suddenly he was owning horses,he'd been to work in Dubai and obviously made a few bob.
Last time I saw him would be at The Spread Eagle at Midhurst Goodwoo week,early 2000's,he was with Veitch and Nigel Tinkler.
He was right hand man to both the two mentioned on this thread he did once tell me one was totally different class.
Just had to watch the Cybrandian finish again after reading , about a length clear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tst2QSoQtkw
That's the day some bookmakers broke the law ( well mine did anyway ) and went past the 6.30pm max closing time when Half Free won the last.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tst2QSoQtkw
That's the day some bookmakers broke the law ( well mine did anyway ) and went past the 6.30pm max closing time when Half Free won the last.
That’s correct Hayden in those days the last was the Cathcart it soon reverted back to the country hurdle which it still should be.
We've maybe exhausted our memories so back to the future , what wins today
This REALLY will not be last. It Takes Time with a wee group of 6 whizzing up the stands rails on the fresher ground.
Silver Cup run middle to low.
So confident, I bet my place into the first 3 market.
Silver Cup run middle to low.
So confident, I bet my place into the first 3 market.
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