Is Nick a good trainer, I see that his Dad's memorial race is on tomorrow, and haven't noticed him amongst the winners lately. I remember Nick having a lot of winners and his jockey Richard Rowe, they formed a very successful partnership, back in the day.
He did have a potentially very good horse in rouble who suffered a horrible fatal accident in the sun alliance hurdle won by galileo,also desperately had straw bear caught right on the line by noland in the supreme novice hurdle no in running then but I would be confident the 1.01 would have been matched ,other than that he is pretty useless really,gets winners at plumpton and fontwell but all in all an underachieving trainer.
He did have a potentially very good horse in rouble who suffered a horrible fatal accident in the sun alliance hurdle won by galileo,also desperately had straw bear caught right on the line by noland in the supreme novice hurdle no in running then bu
I'll never forget him training Pasha Bere to win the first charity race at the Cheltenham Festival. It was ridden by his sister Tina and the race was a memorial to Josh. It won at odds of 11/1 , I think, There was a bunch of us in a local bar which had a bookies two doors along. We each had £40 on it to win purely because of the connections. One of the funniest race finishes I've ever seen, as Tina was struggling in third place leading up to the hill. The two jockeys in front kept looking behind them, as if to see where she was, seemingly waiting for her to catch up and overtake. Last time I spoke to Tina she still had the horse.
These days "Stretch" (Nick) has only a few horses in training. He doesn't lack for effort but there has been little investment in the facilities. It is still a joy to walk on top of the downs watching his string exercise.
He still has one decent horse in training - JP Mc Manus's Aworkinprogress.
I'll never forget him training Pasha Bere to win the first charity race at the Cheltenham Festival. It was ridden by his sister Tina and the race was a memorial to Josh.It won at odds of 11/1 , I think, There was a bunch of us in a local bar which ha
The Findon yard that Nick Gifford now occupies has seen a lot better days especially when Captain Ryan Price used to train there.
War hero commando Captain Price was hit by a German bullet during the Normandy landings but managed to swim to the shore and continue his part of the invasion.
He was discharged from the army and moved to Downs House stables in Findon which is a few miles north of Worthing Sussex.
Ryan Price was champion trainer five times and also won the Grand National with Kilmore and also the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
However most will remember Captain Ryan Price as winning The Schweppes Trophy with his stable jockey Josh Gifford which caused an uproar at the time with the crowd booing at the result.
I was led to believe that trainer Gary Moore named his sons Ryan and Josh after Ryan Price and Josh Gifford.
The Findon yard that Nick Gifford now occupies has seen a lot better days especially when Captain Ryan Price used to train there.War hero commando Captain Price was hit by a German bullet during the Normandy landings but managed to swim to the shore
There are probably plenty of trainers who could do better with better ammunition, but plenty are just feeding off scraps. I would sooner concentrate on trainers who do have the ammunition, but are not producing. Someone like O'Neill instantly springs to mind. It's beyond me - I have raised it on here - what big spending owners get out of that yard, other than disappointment.
Initially, I called Gifford out for continually running Aworkinprogress over the wrong trip, but hey presto he is upped in trip and couldn't stop winning. He was unlucky to be balloted out of more than one race at the Festival. All being well he could still have a big pot in him. Health permitting, very surprised if he isn't a good deal better than 121, in fact they probably need him to be higher to get into the better races.
There are probably plenty of trainers who could do better with better ammunition, but plenty are just feeding off scraps. I would sooner concentrate on trainers who do have the ammunition, but are not producing. Someone like O'Neill instantly springs
Makaldar , Hill House and Le Vermentois as I recall , my old man backed all 3 . Remember Rouble at HQ , was there and on after it had beaten that decent French animal at Fontwell ,such a shame.
Makaldar , Hill House and Le Vermentois as I recall , my old man backed all 3 . Remember Rouble at HQ , was there and on after it had beaten that decent French animal at Fontwell ,such a shame.
Aworkinprogress got the job done again today, but having travelled well it looked quite hard work over the last two. Might still be keeping a little bit to himself, but anything more than 4lbs for that might prove difficult. Still quite an achievement to win six in a row.
Aworkinprogress got the job done again today, but having travelled well it looked quite hard work over the last two. Might still be keeping a little bit to himself, but anything more than 4lbs for that might prove difficult. Still quite an achievemen
He trained a hurdler for Charles St George,used to get miles behind in running and come flying at the end,Paul Kellaway used to ride IIRC?
great trainer Ryan Price. He trained a hurdler for Charles St George,used to get miles behind in running and come flying at the end,Paul Kellaway used to ride IIRC?
"Sadly one of the Captain’s best horses emerged in the Nijinsky era. Giacometti."
Giacometti became the only the fourth colt to be placed or better in all its available classics since WW2. The third to achieve the feat was Nijinsky, four years earlier.
"Sadly one of the Captain’s best horses emerged in the Nijinsky era. Giacometti."Giacometti became the only the fourth colt to be placed or better in all its available classics since WW2. The third to achieve the feat was Nijinsky, four years earl
Ok, I got the wrong horse. Nijinsky that is. I knew Giacometti had run well in its Classics but was always the bridesmaid, which is tough luck for a really talented horse. Well looked up.
Ok, I got the wrong horse. Nijinsky that is. I knew Giacometti had run well in its Classics but was always the bridesmaid, which is tough luck for a really talented horse. Well looked up.
I feel that if Ryan Price had trained his horses at Lambourn , Newmarket or Middlenham he would have had even better success.
As much as Cissbury Ring which is an old Iron age hill fort on the South Downs is a beautiful place there were no gallops. No all weather surfaces to get horses fit
Basically all he had was steep hills on the Sussex downs to train his horses on.
Also his owners were under orders as it was never to turn up at the Captains stables wearing jeans!
No one would want to upset Captain Ryan Price if they had any sense.
I feel that if Ryan Price had trained his horses at Lambourn , Newmarket or Middlenham he would have had even better success.As much as Cissbury Ring which is an old Iron age hill fort on the South Downs is a beautiful place there were no gallops. No
LoyalHoncho15 Nov 25 21:49Joined: 28 May 10 | Topic/replies: 18,999 | Blogger: LoyalHoncho's blog Ok, I got the wrong horse. Nijinsky that is. I knew Giacometti had run well in its Classics but was always the bridesmaid, which is tough luck for a really talented horse. Well looked up.
No criticism intended and you were right. For several reasons I know quite a lot about Giacometti. I saw him on the gallops several times; My Uncle Jack was a "friend" of H R Price.
LoyalHoncho15 Nov 25 21:49Joined: 28 May 10 | Topic/replies: 18,999 | Blogger: LoyalHoncho's blogOk, I got the wrong horse. Nijinsky that is. I knew Giacometti had run well in its Classics but was always the bridesmaid, which is tough luck for a re
A post on Captain Price from some years ago....... blackbarn07 Mar 17 22:29Joined: 02 Jan 05 | Topic/replies: 13,900 | Blogger: blackbarn's blog Well done chaps. Romeo Romani - Norfolk stakes first time out. People forget (Well Lord Oaksey never did) just what a great flat trainer Captain Henry Ryan Price was. My Uncle Jack was convinced he only took up training flat racers to prove to the Jockey Club that he was a "proper" trainer. I met him several times, although as a kid/teen, he was never less than gracious, although a bit intimidating.
A post on Captain Price from some years ago.......blackbarn07 Mar 17 22:29Joined: 02 Jan 05 | Topic/replies: 13,900 | Blogger: blackbarn's blogWell done chaps. Romeo Romani - Norfolk stakes first time out. People forget (Well Lord Oaksey never did)