Your Favourites

UrbanSea

Seeing as this forum has gotten very quiet since the end of the NH season,thought I'd start this up to see other posters' favourites in racing.

Favourite flat horse: Henrythenavigator or Sea The Stars

Favourite jockey:Jimmy Fortune

Favourite jumps horse:Searabad,a grey from the Bowen yard,he didn't run this season,don't know why

Favourite jumps jockey:Adrian Maguire,has turned into a really good rider. I think Adrian Heskin has the ability to be a super one in future too.

Favourite race: Has to be the 2009 Arc,watching Sea the Stars weave through the field and burst to the front. Made the hair stand up on my neck,what a superstar.


What are your favourites?

Colonel Sanders

greetings wrote: »

Seeing as this forum has gotten very quiet since the end of the NH season,thought I'd start this up to see other posters' favourites in racing.

Favourite flat horse: Henrythenavigator or Sea The Stars

Favourite jockey:Jimmy Fortune

Favourite jumps horse:Searabad,a grey from the Bowen yard,he didn't run this season,don't know why

Favourite jumps jockey:Adrian Maguire,has turned into a really good rider. I think Adrian Heskin has the ability to be a super one in future too.

Favourite race: Has to be the 2009 Arc,watching Sea the Stars weave through the field and burst to the front. Made the hair stand up on my neck,what a superstar.


What are your favourites?

Not a bad idea


Favourite flat horse: I loved Giant's Causeway because of his toughness & Montjeu because of his immense class

Favourite flat jockey: Kieran Fallon. A flawed genius but a genius never the less

Favourite jumps horse: Really hard one to call her. Moscow Flyer, Istabraq and Kauto Star to name but a few of the contenders. My opinion on this on would probably change daily if I was asked daily! I'm gonna ignore the big names though and go for Fondmort. A great, tough horse and one of the best jumper's I've seen

Favourite jumps jockey: Huge AP McCoy fan and have to respect the natural ability of Ruby even if I'm not a fan of his personality or the fact he's untouchable wrt the Stewards Room but Paul Carberry is an absolute legend and would be my pick.

Favourite race: 2004 Tingle Creek where Moscow Flyer put Azertyuiop in his place. A great race fought out by three great 2m chasers. Simon Holt's commentary is top class. Icing on the cake was the fact you could clearly see me in the photo on front of that Sunday's racingpost


Gonna add one more category though....

Favourite Trainer: Charles Byrnes. As shrewd as they come (others would also add other words to that description!) and a talented trainer not just at landing gambles. Unlike Tony Martin if he gets a good horse he trains them like good horses.

UrbanSea

Favourite Trainer: Henry Cecil,a true gentleman and a fantastic trainer. I loved the piece that AtTheRaces did on him,I think it was during Royal Ascot,got a good insight into him,also good to see him healthy again and his horses are flying this season,I also like Barry Hills a lot.
Feel free to add other sections as you see fit,

HigginsJ

Favourite Flat Horse: One Cool Cat (Horse that started my love affair with racing 2003 Phoenix and National Stakes)

Favourite Jumps Horse:Moscw Flyer (the greatest ever)

Favourite Flat Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Faourite Jump Jockey: AP

Favourite Race: 2004 Tingle Creek. Moscow, beats Azertuiop and Well Chief. 1 1/2 lenghts seperating 2 top class horses and a Great.

Favourite Trainer: Jessie Harrington because of Moscow or else Aidan O,Brien. Yes he has some of the most talented horses but he gets the best from his horses and he never hides a good one from a challenge

supremenovice

Favourite flat horse: Deep Impact - should have won the Arc

Favourite flat jockey: Seamie Heffernan - he gets the short end of the stick at Ballydoyle, he should have more Group 1s to his name.

Favourite jumps horse: Harchibald - needs no introduction.

Favourite jumps jockey: Ruby

Favourite race: 2004 Christmas Hurdle - Rooster Booster sails into a 20 length lead for 1m 7.5f of the 2m race only to be nabbed by Harchibald near the line. Everyone thought they gave Rooster too much of a lead - a really gripping race.

westlife2010

(I am very old)

Favourite flat horse: Dancing Brave - win in the arc... breathtaking!

Favourite flat jockey:Steve Cauthen - The best jock ever for setting a pace at the right fractions

Favourite jumps horse: Istabraq -

Favourite jumps jockey: Barry Connell-makes me laugh every time i see him

Favourite race: 2004 Tingle Creek- Moscow beating Well Chief and Azertyuiop, incredible race with 3 of the all time greats..... 2 milers going at it at over fences, no better specticle( have just seen CS selection... not a copy! if anybody remembers Bobsline vs Noddys Ryde in the Arkle along time ago...classic!)

Favourite Trainer: Paul Nicholls

Morgans

Favourite flat races:

Most stunning performance Ive seen was Arazi Breeders Cup:

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

Never seen a faster horse Dayjur's Nunthorpe:

Greatest finish: Galileo vs Fantastic Light at leopardstown

Favourite jumps horse: Moscow Flyer. Tingle Creek 2004 greatest jumps race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17P9ipuJwSY

UrbanSea

This is my favourite finish.
2008 Irish Oaks,Moonstone just grabs outsider Ice Queen. I had Moonstone backed,every time I watch it I still think Ice Queen won it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXzFzw0dlo
I don't know how to put in a video like above.

gscully

I'm old too...but not yet 40

Favourite flat horse(s) - I grew up watching all the Sangster horses like El Gran Senor, Caerleon, Salmon Leap and Saddlers Wells and loved them all, but I think in recent times my favourite horses were Oratorio (loved his fast finish in the Guineas and the way he subsequently dismantled Motivator in the Eclipse) and Dylan Thomas (great fight with Ouija Board in the Champion?).

Favourite flat jockey - Johnny Murtagh (cheeky character but honest love for the horse).

Favourite flat trainer - Aidan O'Brien. Probably too obvious, but I like his polite manner when being interviewed and loved reading the excerpt about how well he knows his horses and Yeats in particular. Serious, serious mention also for Dermot Weld - what a gentleman and still the only European to train the winner of the Melbourne Cup?

Favourite flat race - Zarkava winning the Arc was amazing. I also loved the battle between Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun at Goodwood, and the fourth leg of Yeats remarkable dominance of the Ascot Gold Cup. When he stole those vital lengths at the home turn and then pulled away again in the last furlong, I had a lump in my throat.

Favourite jumps horse - Of the well-knowns, it would have to be Denman & Hurricane Fly. My favourite horse of all, for personal reasons is King Rama. He owes me nothing!

Favourite jumps jockey - AP McCoy. Just his desire to win. Wichita Lineman at Cheltenham is a great example.

Favourite jumps trainer - don't really have one to be honest. I look out for Willie Mullins' & Noel Meades' horses. Not a fan of Nicholls, but I do love his absolute honesty in interviews.

Favourite jumps race - Denman winning last year's Hennessy. I almost did cry! Dawn Run winning the Gold Cup...'and the mare's beginning to get up!'

Anyone else have favourite lines of commentary that never fail to raise the hairs?

rob308

Anyone else have favourite lines of commentary that never fail to raise the hairs?[/QUOTE]

Duke of Marmalade vs Papal Bull in the King George. High Chaparral/Johar Breeders Cup.

UrbanSea

My favourite commentary goes with my favourite race. Jim Best,2009 Arc,just when Sea the Stars moves to the front,about him being a champion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f824CU-F3rc

Warper

One of my favourite horses was Zarkava. Her Arc win was brilliant as was all of her wins but the one performance where you just seriously go "Wow" was her performance in the Prix Vermeille. She fell out of the stalls. It really was something special.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8h62nadtuw

Warper

HigginsJ wrote: »

Favourite Flat Horse: One Cool Cat (Horse that started my love affair with racing 2003 Phoenix and National Stakes)
Favourite Jumps Horse:Moscw Flyer (the greatest ever)

Favourite Flat Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Faourite Jump Jockey: AP

Favourite Race: 2004 Tingle Creek. Moscow, beats Azertuiop and Well Chief. 1 1/2 lenghts seperating 2 top class horses and a Great.

Favourite Trainer: Jessie Harrington because of Moscow or else Aidan O,Brien. Yes he has some of the most talented horses but he gets the best from his horses and he never hides a good one from a challenge

LOL, you had to bring that horse up. We had a picture of him up on our door in 2004. He was one of the best 2 year olds I have seen so obviously I lumped on him for the Guineas. What a donkey of a 3 year old and people couldnt get enough of him. He won some G3 sprint at 3-1 and was sent off a gambled on fav for the Nunthorpe (3-1 fav) and the Haydock Sprint Cup (6-4 fav). He cost punters millions in 2004 but he was a great 2 year old and just had that something about him.

deccy15

Favourite flat horse: George Washington what a character of a horse!
Favourite flat jockey: Fran Berry
Favourite jumps horse: Moscow Flyer soft spot for forpadydeplasterer too
Favourite jumps jockey: AP McCoy absolute legend
Favourite race: Denman's win in last years hennessy after been practically written off

UrbanSea

Just though,my favourite course has to be Longchamp,particularly when they're the opposite side to the stands,how scenic and a gorgeous track if ever there was one.

krustydoyle

Favourite Flat Horse: Footstepsinthesand (who knows what might of been)
Favourite Flat Jockey: Jamie Spencer/Richard Hughes.
Favourite Jumps Jockey: Anthony McCoy
Favourite Race: Any of Sea the Stars victories.
Favourite Track: Punchestown/ The Curragh.

HigginsJ

Warper wrote: »

LOL, you had to bring that horse up. We had a picture of him up on our door in 2004. He was one of the best 2 year olds I have seen so obviously I lumped on him for the Guineas. What a donkey of a 3 year old and people couldnt get enough of him. He won some G3 sprint at 3-1 and was sent off a gambled on fav for the Nunthorpe (3-1 fav) and the Haydock Sprint Cup (6-4 fav). He cost punters millions in 2004 but he was a great 2 year old and just had that something about him.

He will brilliant at 2. Utter speed. Lost a few bob on him in the Guineas myself. He captured my imagination. Really George Washington became what One Cool Cat should have been

supremenovice

My favourite commentary ever: Jim McGrath on the 2009 Coral Eclipse...

"A furlong left to go."
"Sea the Stars is answering the call..Heeerres Rip van Winkle though, hes coming up on the outside, Sea the Stars has to dig deeper, he ACCELERATES!!!! Its Sea the Stars. Hes come away to become a stellar racehorse...."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Ur9CVtQOA

westlife2010

supremenovice wrote: »

My favourite commentary ever: Jim McGrath on the 2009 Coral Eclipse...

"A furlong left to go."
"Sea the Stars is answering the call..Heeerres Rip van Winkle though, hes coming up on the outside, Sea the Stars has to dig deeper, he ACCELERATES!!!! Its Sea the Stars. Hes come away to become a stellar racehorse...."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Ur9CVtQOA

I respect that its a decent commentary.... but i could give you numerous examples of horrible ones from this man. I understand that it is about 'my favourite commentary' but i would not include anybody on my list that was not,most of the time, top notch at their respective game

UrbanSea

I quite like listening to Jim McGrath. Also like Tommo.

westlife2010

greetings wrote: »

I quite like listening to Jim McGrath. Also like Tommo.

:eek: :rolleyes:

UrbanSea

Different strokes for different folks.

Nulty

Its difficult to pick just one in any category! I've only been watching racing 2 years but there are a few I've caught up with that I love. Thanks Morgans for Dayjur video. Some horse!


Favourite flat horse: Giant's Causeway for intimidating his opponents. Weekend Hussler for getting me into racing and winning G1 at 6f-9f and 1 1/4l behind Scenic Blast over 5f. (!) Sea The Stars completes the top 3.

Favourite flat jockey: Fallon is genius but Kinane is the greatest. I like Jimmy Fortune, he seems to bring me luck.

Favourite jumps horse: Albertas Run - my first Cheltenham winner and Burton Hall (could be a Gold Cup winner ) Solwhit is my favorite hurdler.

Favourite jumps jockey: Only enjoyed one jumps seasson so its tough to call but Choc Thornton is a good guy. Modest but not entirely convinced about his ability. McCoy and Walsh are unbelievable but Richard Johnston is my overall favorite.

Favourite race: 2009 Arc de Triomph. Never been so nervous or relieved about a race. Privileged to witness such a brilliant horse take his place in history.

Favourite commentary: 2009 Eclipse. Perfect.

Favourite Trainer: John Oxx, Brian Meehan, Ed Harty, Venetia Williams and Edward O'Grady

Favorite Finish: Mastercraftsman -v- Delegator, St James Palace (2009) - too much like 'The Iron Horse'
___NEW___

Favorite Sire: Dubawi. Has produced a Guineas winner from first crop and I have an inclination to any of his progeny. Direct line to Dubai Millenium so obviously good pedigree.

Colonel Sanders

I'll add my favourite finish. Edredon Bleu just collaring Direct Route in the 2000 Champion Chase under an absolute master class of a ride from Tony McCoy

Morgans

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

I'll add my favourite finish. Edredon Bleu just collaring Direct Route in the 2000 Champion Chase under an absolute master class of a ride from Tony McCoy

I always think that anytime McCoy wins a driving finish he gets all of the credit, but the driving finishes that he loses are glossed over. However, that champion chase was him at his very best and few jockeys would have got the horse back up to win. Great finish. Someone mentioned Johar/High Chapparal breeders cup finish as well earlier. One of the very very best.

Sprouts

Flat jockey-Fallon is out on his own.
Flat trainer-Sir Mark Prescott, John Oxx NB.
Nh Jockey-Paul Carberry just ahead of McCoy
Nh trainer-Arthur Moore

the groutch

favorite horse: persian punch

favorite jockey: tony mc

favorite trainer: tony martin

favorite race: that tingle creek

favorite finish to a race: amberleigh house coming from miles back to win the 2004 grand national

Warper

Fav horse: Montjeu or Zarkava (cant split)
Fav trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Fav jockey: Fallon / Geraghty
Fav race: Aintree GN (jumps) and the Arc (Flat)
Specific race: Moscow's Tingle Creek and Zarkava's Prix Vermeille

TBH I never really took to STS, maybe the fact that I never backed him but he never really got my imagination going. A great champion and all.

Nulty

Warper wrote: »

Fav horse: Montjeu or Zarkava (cant split)
Fav trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Fav jockey: Fallon / Geraghty
Fav race: Aintree GN (jumps) and the Arc (Flat)
Specific race: Moscow's Tingle Creek and Zarkava's Prix Vermeille

TBH I never really took to STS, maybe the fact that I never backed him but he never really got my imagination going. A great champion and all.

I never won a penny off STS either. I had FAG in the Derby, Rip ew in the Eclipse and traded out of the Arc out of pure stress (:o) Decided I'd enjoy it more if I had nothing riding on it. Incredible season all down to that horse.

UrbanSea

Haha,Fame And Glory = FAG

Sprouts

I used to love Jack Berry's sprinters, especially when it came to the likes of Chester, haven't seen the likes of him since the way he had them ready to fire from the stalls everytime.

RichieLawlor

'Denman and Sam Thomas, Driven out, relentless, remorseless, THE ANSWER IS DENMAN, Denman won the Gold Cup'

Sprouts

RichieLawlor wrote: »

'Denman and Sam Thomas, Driven out, relentless, remorseless, THE ANSWER IS DENMAN, Denman won the Gold Cup'

Most of those Presenting are the most impressive looking animals, Denman, War of Attrition Dunguib.

Colonel Sanders

Favourite commentary

If I went on purely selfish monetary reasons I'd go with Graham Goode as Barton approaches the last in the 1999 RSA hurdle "almost too good". It wasn't my biggest ever winner but was in 6th year in school and it was worth a relative fortune at the time

Istabraq's 3rd champion for non monetary reasons....

"Istabraq strikes the front, with just his favourite hill to climb...."

Edit: I actually love all his 3 champions. "Its an annihilation for Istabraq" in 1999 always brings a tingle down my spine

Colonel Sanders

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

What a race

Colonel Sanders

Istabraq tribute with his 3 champions among other races

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVB6_HvBv8U

deewhy

Lost a horse last week I had a share in - King Rama.

A fantastic dual purpose horse who won 10 races for us. He never knew when he was beaten and some of the best jockeys around win on him - including Ruby winning on the flat in Wexford. Although he won 10 races, he was unlucky picking up injuries at the wrong time including the week before he was due to go off favourite for the Galway Hurdle. Even if I wasnt involved with the horse, he would be high up on my favourites . He will be sadly missed by all involved

UrbanSea

RichieLawlor wrote: »

'Denman and Sam Thomas, Driven out, relentless, remorseless, THE ANSWER IS DENMAN, Denman won the Gold Cup'

Love it.

westlife2010

deewhy wrote: »

Lost a horse last week I had a share in - King Rama.

A fantastic dual purpose horse who won 10 races for us. He never knew when he was beaten and some of the best jockeys around win on him - including Ruby winning on the flat in Wexford. Although he won 10 races, he was unlucky picking up injuries at the wrong time including the week before he was due to go off favourite for the Galway Hurdle. Even if I wasnt involved with the horse, he would be high up on my favourites . He will be sadly missed by all involved

UL

Nulty

deewhy wrote: »

Lost a horse last week I had a share in - King Rama.

A fantastic dual purpose horse who won 10 races for us. He never knew when he was beaten and some of the best jockeys around win on him - including Ruby winning on the flat in Wexford. Although he won 10 races, he was unlucky picking up injuries at the wrong time including the week before he was due to go off favourite for the Galway Hurdle. Even if I wasnt involved with the horse, he would be high up on my favourites . He will be sadly missed by all involved

Very sorry to hear that DW. How did it go down?

gscully

gscully wrote: »

Favourite jumps horse - Of the well-knowns, it would have to be Denman & Hurricane Fly. My favourite horse of all, for personal reasons is King Rama. He owes me nothing!

deewhy wrote: »

Lost a horse last week I had a share in - King Rama.

A fantastic dual purpose horse who won 10 races for us. He never knew when he was beaten and some of the best jockeys around win on him - including Ruby winning on the flat in Wexford. Although he won 10 races, he was unlucky picking up injuries at the wrong time including the week before he was due to go off favourite for the Galway Hurdle. Even if I wasnt involved with the horse, he would be high up on my favourites . He will be sadly missed by all involved

Ok, now I'm devastated. I love that horse. Followed him from his second run with John Kiely. Apparently he had been mistakenly entered and run in a 6f race - his first for Kiely - at the Curragh a few days before, yet acquitted himself well. John was in a hospital bed opposite my dad (they had known each other years back), so when I went to visit, John told me that he had a horse running in Roscommon that night. He said no more, but I backed him for our gamblers club in work and picked up €250. I always had a small bet after that and loved it when he began (resumed) his hurdling career with three smart wins on the trot. I had 50 e/w on him ante-post for the Galway Hurdle, and forfeited that when he was injured, but all I cared about was seeing him race again. My dad met John again in Dungarvan and John told him he didn't think he'd ever make it back onto the track again as he was in a bad way. He never won again, but did race a year later, and did try.

I'll never forget the blanket finish where he beat Kempes. His finishing speed was remarkable.

I'm assuming from your post that his injury in his last run was fatal? As a fan, I'm deeply saddened, so I can only guess how the Brainwave Syndicate must feel. Thank you for the good times!

:-(

UrbanSea

Nulty wrote: »

Very sorry to hear that DW. How did it go down?

I assume it was this,proved to be a fatal race for two horses.


p.u. King Rama (USA) 11-8 (Brainwave Syndicate) (Blinkers)
(Opened 7/1 13/2) SP 7/1
J P Cahill
P Carberry
held up towards rear, bad mistake 6th, soon pulled up injured
fell Killy Fryer (IRE) 10-13 (E McCay)
(Opened 5/2) SP 2/1fav
Mrs John B Ross
K M Donoghue(5)
settled 3rd, improved to lead 5 out, fell next, dead