Desert Orchid.

What's in a name? When it comes to Desert Orchid, it says a lot. His stats show him to be a top class race horse. Winner of the King George VI on four occasion, a win in the Irish Grand National and a three time winner of the Gainsborough. Throw in a Tingle Creek, Victor Chandler, a Whitbread, Martell Cup, the Racing Post under a massive 12s 3p and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and you get the picture. He was more than just this though, he was adored as few others are. They saw in "Dessie" something we all admire in any athlete, courage, stamina and a fighting spirit that lifts them to levels the likes of which are rarely reached. Desert Orchid was loved. The roar from the 60,000 strong crowd on that memorable day at Cheltenham when he ground his way through the mire to run down the mud loving Yahoo, nearly lifted the roof off the grandstand. Time and again, he fought off defeat until in the shadows of the post, Yahoo finally hoisted the surrender flag. Enough was enough. After the race, Simon Sherwood said of the horse. "I've never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go". Richard Dunwoody would go on to say. "He was a fantastic horse to ride and without doubt the best horse I ever rode in my entire career." And Colin Brown. "He was a different class. It was like driving a Ferrari rather than a Cortina."

In a poll taken some time around 2004, Racing Post voters elected Desert Orchid the most loved racehorse of all time, beating out the wonderful Red Rum. The beloved grey passed away in 2006 aged 27 years. The clip below says it all.

[video=youtube;Hsau32l_vYI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsau32l_vYI[/video]

 

I have watched that race so many times and I still can't sit still as I urge Dessie up the hill, glasses steaming up. It's as though I don't know the result. The most amazing horse ever in my opinion.

There was another amazing horse who doesn't get the widespread credit he deserved, due to the presence of Red Rum, and that was of course the brilliant 2 miler who almost gave upwards of 2 stone to Red Rum in the GN. If only that race had been run at Wetherby.

 

You know Ron, I can still remember Crisp's bold front running style. On hard fast tracks here, the big black cut a dashing figure as he bowled along in front. He's even inducted into the Hall of Fame here. The same year as Black Caviar.

 

Ron I found Crisp's career runs. They make for an interesting read. I didn't realise he had 10 UK wins.

http://www.racerate.com/Crisp.htm

 

The Crisp/Red Rum Grand National was the first one I remember watching

2 years later the family were watching and we decided to put 5p coins on the table. The only rule being if your horse placed you got the money.

I picked L'Escargot
My younger brother picked Red Rum
My mum picked Spanish Steps
My big brother picked Money Market

Wish we had taken a trip to the bookies and put on a forecast...

 

Two great horses Oddy.

I'm sure fans of Flyingbolt could legitimately argue that he was even more versatile and more classy.

As a snapshot he won the 1966 Champion 'Chase by an easy 15L before turning out 24 hours later to finish a close third in the Champion Hurdle,beaten 3L after a mistake cost him any chance..(just like TNO )

He finished that season by carrying 12st7lb to victory in the Irish National over 3m2f.

Quite a C.V.

 

Yes Dex he was another exceptional horse that didn't get anything near the credit he deserved. Flyingbolt and Crisp were alike in that respect in that, Arkle and Red Rum, although undoubtedly deserving the credit they got, in terms of achievement and ability the amount of credit given to Flyingbolt and Red Rum respectively was/is totally disproportional.

I am one of the biggest Kauto fans but to be fair I think he did actually get the credit he so much deserved