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30 Dec 24
18:34
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01 Mar 07
Knock Hill ran in it 8 years on the trot if my memory is correct!
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The ASW HCap Chase at Cheltenham? That was a long time ago.
Isn't that the race Malcolm Batters won on Martinstown DG carrying all that overweight , early eighties i think ?
Much funnier was the story surrounding Martinstown’s effort. Mrs Mita Easton, in error, declared her amateur rider, Malcolm Batters, who also happens to be her principal barman in Cranborne, to ride the horse in the valuable Bass Handicap Steeplechase instead of Colin Tinkler. The mistake was noticed too late for Tinkler who had spent the morning in a sauna bath in order to ride her horse at his allotted weight. With only 20 minutes’ notice Batters who, at 6ft 3in must be one of the tallest men race riding today, had to jump into the hot seat. He did so wearing someone else’s breeches and boots, Tinkler’s crash helmet and carrying his whip. Batters, it should be added. was only at the course because he had driven the horsebox. Further- more he was putting up 24lb overweight. No wonder Martinstown was comparatively friendless in the betting market. Still that did not stop him from winning and causing the handicapper considerable embarrassment. Happilv for Tinkler, he did at least end up bv riding a winner. And that was Mood Music who outjumped his rivals in the Fairford Handicap Steeplechase.
Much funnier was the story surrounding Martinstown’s effort. Mrs Mita Easton, in error, declared her amateur rider, Malcolm Batters, who also happens to be her principal barman in Cranborne, to ride the horse in the valuable Bass Handicap Steeplechase instead of Colin Tinkler. The mistake was noticed too late for Tinkler who had spent the morning in a sauna bath in order to ride her horse at his allotted weight. With only 20 minutes’ notice Batters who, at 6ft 3in must be one of the tallest men race riding today, had to jump into the hot seat. He did so wearing someone else’s breeches and boots, Tinkler’s crash helmet and carrying his whip. Batters, it should be added. was only at the course because he had driven the horsebox. Further- more he was putting up 24lb overweight. No wonder Martinstown was comparatively friendless in the betting market. Still that did not stop him from winning and causing the handicapper considerable embarrassment. Happilv for Tinkler, he did at least end up bv riding a winner. And that was Mood Music who outjumped his rivals in the Fairford Handicap Steeplechase.
Yes, thats the same race Hayden, Martinstown the 1981 winner of the four miler.
Knock Hill won it 3 times, the last time in 1989 as a 13yo.
Just brought an old thread ttt, 50lbs out of the weights!
There was a 4m chase at Exeter back in the day . I backed Just So (Each way @ 100/1) for the Grand National on the back of his winning this race only to see him collared by Minniehoma at Aintree 
There was also a 4m chase at Ayr (mid/late December) which is no longer run .
There was also a 4m chase at Ayr (mid/late December) which is no longer run .
there's still a 4 mile chase at hexham isn't there or has that gone ?
The Fred Withington was first run on Dec 29, 1952. Previously, it was simply called the Stayers Handicap Speeplechase, and was run over 4m. In 1951 it was run on Dec 31. I don't know when it moved to Jan 1.
Fred died in late 1951. He trained the first Cheltenham Gold winner, Red Splash in 1924, and was active as a steward until his death. He also trained Don Sancho to win the 4m National Hunt Chase (1930), and an Irish Grand National. That horse finished 2nd in the 2m Coventry Cup (the closest thing then to the 2m Champion Chase) at Cheltenham in 1929, but there only 2 runners, and he fell 2 out when upsides the winner and was remounted - by a spectator (Major H Misa), who was only able to draw the correct weight of 12-3 because he was wearing an overcoat.
Fred died in late 1951. He trained the first Cheltenham Gold winner, Red Splash in 1924, and was active as a steward until his death. He also trained Don Sancho to win the 4m National Hunt Chase (1930), and an Irish Grand National. That horse finished 2nd in the 2m Coventry Cup (the closest thing then to the 2m Champion Chase) at Cheltenham in 1929, but there only 2 runners, and he fell 2 out when upsides the winner and was remounted - by a spectator (Major H Misa), who was only able to draw the correct weight of 12-3 because he was wearing an overcoat.
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