R.in.P Noddy's Ryde

40 years ago

Oh. My nanny just told me. Rest in peace Noddy. I used to love your shoulders.

Noddy's Ryde was a brilliant novice chaser trained by Gordon Richards who fought out a memorable finish with Bobsline in the 1984 Arkle Chase. He was tragically killed at Exeter at the beginning of the following season.


41 years ago

think I saw him win a bumper at Newcastle

Of course Howard I knew it was the 84 arkle and because it was the next season I added a year on but of course it’s the same year.

Not sure where he started of but a Newcastle bumper would be likely,I have a picture of him and bobsline jumping the last in the arkle it looks a mirror image .

Apologies, Sirs, I meant Noddy's horse that Bregawn one. or was it the Badsworth Boy one who won the Grand National when it was cut to two miles?

So sad that one of the reasons why he made his seasonal debut at that venue, was that GW Richard’s roots were in that part of the country and he thought it fitting to give the regulars a treat in allowing letting them see a class act - remember the north was still very strong in the NH sphere and the south west relatively weakish.

I remember the day after  walking around a ropey estate with a colleague, looking for somewhere to eat. We approached a restaurant, my colleague looked through the window, I asked in a hopeful tone “ What's it look like"?,   he shook his head and replied, " Noddy's Ryde and chips".  Unfortunately  I always remember that when that wonderful horse comes to mind.

i recall seeing noddy's ryde win at nottingham all those years ago over fences . a lovely fresh, cold clear frosty day . think gaye brief won the champion hurdle trial same day before winning the big one .

Windsor that Nottingham fixture was always a good one the likes of uncle Ernie and royal gait another 2 that spring to mind ran in late February it was an idea time back then for the festival

See You Then,he might've ran @ Nottingham?

He did Penzance after his 3 champion hurdles and pretty sure after he had been retired he was brought back into training he finished behind royal derbi tabor owned ,he then finished he career at wincanton I think the same day kildimo beat dessie

Royal Derbi, that name is a blast from the past. I was at Huntingdon and backed it the day it started at a huge price in a three runner race and backed it again at an even bigger price at the Kempton meeting before Cheltenham. I dread to think how long ago that was...

I'm sure the horse once won at 4/11. I'm sure of that.

Was @ Nottingham for City trial hurdle in 82 when Broadsword won under top weight before running 2nd in champion to For Auction( who had run unplaced in the schweppes previously receiving 20 odd pound frm Ekbalco who i think was 2nd) despite the weight turn around Ekbalco could only finish 3rd in the Champion. On the same card recall Marnik winning for Michael Dickenson who had joined him from Neville Crump.

Yes, yesl; I remember Ekbalco. How strange the horse's name was buried deep in my memory and the mention unleashes its memory from back in the early 1980s

Fruitcake.

He's more of a nutty cluster.

No, sorry, Gentlemen, can't ever remember those two chasers ever running back in the seventies.

Think Royal Derbi was the horse MT hired a helicopter  to fly to Nottingham  his car had broken down  had 5 bets with Gal all got beat went to back Royal Derbi in the last Gal had gone home.No doubt he would have had extra portions  that evening.
Just had a lovely beef casserole.
Ronnie.

i remember ekbalco for 3 very different reasons ; when he went so , so close to nicking a top irish hurdle ( david ' gypsy ' goulding on board ? ), his ultimate demise when falling in the fighting fifth when brough scott on tv said " this can be a glorious game , but also a ghastly one " and on a bizarre note someone tried to sell half share in him even though 2 half shares were already done !...

Yes, sadly, racing can have truly awful moments. Lydia Lipslop was perhaps the biggest faux pas from the BBC.